Handa, Aichi

Handa (半田市) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 118,259 in 51,846 households, and a population density of 2,494 persons per km2. The total area of the city was 47.42 sqkm.

Geography
Handa is located in northeastern Chita Peninsula in southern Aichi Prefecture, and is bordered by Mikawa Bay to the east.

Climate
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Handa is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1632 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 40.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around negative 4 °C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Handa has increased steadily over the past 70 years.

Neighboring municipalities

 * Aichi Prefecture
 * Hekinan
 * Tokoname
 * Takahama
 * Taketoyo
 * Agui
 * Higashiura

Early modern period
During the Edo period, the area of Handa was part of Owari Domain.

Late modern period
In the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889, the towns of Handa and Kamezaki were founded, as was the town of Narawa the following year. These three towns merged on October 1, 1937, to form the city of Handa.

Government
Handa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members. The city contributes two members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 8 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

International

 * Sister cities
 * 🇺🇸Midland (Michigan, United States of America)
 * since June 5, 1981.
 * 🇦🇺Port Macquarie (New South Wales, Australia)
 * since April 14, 1990.
 * Friendship city
 * 🇨🇳Xuzhou (Jiangsu, China)
 * since May 27, 1993

National

 * Sister cities
 * 🇯🇵Nanto (Toyama Prefecture Chūbu region)
 * since April 28, 1997.

Brewing
Handa has a strong historical connection with soy sauce, sake and vinegar brewing, and remains the worldwide headquarters of the Mizkan Vinegar Group.

Manufacturing
During World War II, Nakajima Aircraft Company established an aircraft production plant in Handa. In the post-war period, this was redeveloped into a heavy industrial zone, including a production plant by Dow Chemical. Handa and Midland, Michigan became Sister Cities in 1981, a relationship that continues to this day.

University

 * Nihon Fukushi University – Handa campus

Schools

 * Handa has thirteen public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.

Conventional lines

 * JR logo (central).svg Central Japan Railway Company
 * Taketoyo Line: - Kamezaki – Okkawa – Handa – Higashi-Narawa –
 * Meitetsu logomark 2.svg Meitetsu
 * Kōwa Line: - Handaguchi – Sumiyoshichō – Chita-Handa – Narawa –
 * KRR logomark.svg Kinuura Rinkai Railway
 * Handa Line: - (freight only)

Expressways

 * JP Expressway E87.svg Chitahantō Road
 * JP Expressway E87.svg Minamichita Road
 * JP Expressway E87.svg Chitaōdan Road

Local attractions

 * Handa Red Brick Building
 * Mizkan Museum
 * Niimi Nankichi Memorial Museum
 * Yakachi River
 * Jōraku-ji
 * CLACITY HANDA

Festival

 * Okkawamatsuri Festival
 * Kamesaki Festival

Notable people from Handa

 * Atsushi Harada, actor
 * Eiji Mitsuoka, mixed martial artist
 * Hiromi Makihara, professional baseball player
 * Keiko Lee, jazz singer
 * Nankichi Niimi, author
 * Nobuhiro Yamashita, film director
 * Ōikari Montarō, sumo wrestler
 * Satoru Akahori, author
 * Takaya Ishikawa, professional baseball player