Kasukabe, Saitama

Kasukabe
春日部市
Special city

Flag

Location of Kasukabe in Saitama Prefecture
Kasukabe

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 35°59′N 139°45′E / 35.983°N 139.750°ECoordinates: 35°59′N 139°45′E / 35.983°N 139.750°E
Country Japan
Region Kantō
Prefecture Saitama Prefecture
Government
  Mayor Ryozo Ishikawa
Area
  Total 65.98 km2 (25.48 sq mi)
Population (2010)
  Total 236,106
  Density 3,580/km2 (9,300/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
- Tree Paulownia tomentosa
- Flower Wisteria
- Bird Black-headed gull
Address 6-2 Chuo, Kasukabe-shi, Saitama-ken
344-8577
Phone number 048-736-1111
Website www.city.kasukabe.lg.jp

Kasukabe (春日部市 Kasukabe-shi) is a city in eastern Saitama Prefecture, Japan, approximately 30 kilometers (19 mi) north of Tokyo. It was formerly located in Kitakatsushika and Minamisaitama Districts. Kasukabe once prospered as part of the Nikkō Kaidō highway, an important trade route that linked Edo with Nikkō.

Overview

The city was founded on July 1, 1954 and its mayor is Ryozo Ishikawa.

On October 1, 2005, Kasukabe City absorbed the town of Shōwa (from Kitakatsushika District) to create the current and expanded Kasukabe City.

As of 2003 before the merger, the city had an estimated population of 204,109 and a population density of 5,395.43 persons per km², with a total area of 37.83 km². As of March 1, 2010, the estimated population is of 236,106 and the population density of 3,580 persons per km². The total area is 65.98 km².

Kasukabe is famous for the production of kiri-tansu (桐箪笥), traditional dressers made from paulownia wood. The cultural and economic value of the paulownia is reflected in its designation as the official town tree. The city's official flower is the wisteria.

Kasukabe is also well known in Japan as the setting of the manga and anime series Lucky Star and Crayon Shin-chan. Shin-chan's creator Yoshito Usui also lived in Kasukabe.[1]

The public entrance to the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel is located here. Also known as G-CANs, this huge underground flood control system was completed in 2009. The monumental main storage chamber, sometimes called the "underground temple", has been the setting for TV shows and commercials. It is open to tours.

Transport

Kasukabe Station

Kasukabe Station is served by the Isesaki and Noda lines of the private Tobu Railway; they connect to the JR East train network at Shin-Koshigaya and Omiya stations, respectively.

Education

Shopping

Kasukabe is home to what was formerly one of the two Robinsons department stores in Japan, which became a Seibu department store in March 2013. The large, seven-story American-style store is a landmark for local residents. It is located on the east side of Kasukabe Station. Close to the west entrance to the station is a shopping mall, known as Lala Garden. There is also an Itoyokado near the station. In March 2013, an Aeon mall opened on National Route 16, which shoppers can either reach by car, or by taking a regularly scheduled bus from the east entrance of the station. This mall, as well as Lala Garden, has a movie theatre.

Sister cities

Pasadena, California's Junior Chamber of Commerce does an exchange program each summer, alternating every year with Kasukabe residents going to Pasadena one summer and Pasadena residents coming to Kasukabe the next.[2][3]

References

  1. "Crayon Shin-chan Manga Creator Usui Missing Since Friday". Anime News Network. September 15, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  2. "Japan Visitation". pasadenajaycees.org. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  3. "公益社団法人春日部青年会議所". kasukabe-jc.com. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

External links

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