Kumagaya, Saitama

Kumagaya
熊谷市
Special city

Flag

Location of Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture
Kumagaya

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 36°9′N 139°23′E / 36.150°N 139.383°E / 36.150; 139.383Coordinates: 36°9′N 139°23′E / 36.150°N 139.383°E / 36.150; 139.383
Country Japan
Region Kanto
Prefecture Saitama Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Kiyoshi Tomioka
Area
 • Total 159.88 km2 (61.73 sq mi)
Population (April 1, 2010)
 • Total 203,089
 • Density 1,270/km2 (3,300/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Zelkova serrata(Keyaki)
 • Flower Sakura(Sakura)
 • Bird Skylark(Hibari)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address 2-47-1 Miya-machi, Kumagaya-shi
360-8601
Website www.city.kumagaya.lg.jp/english

Kumagaya (熊谷市 Kumagaya-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 203,089 (9th in Saitama) and a population density of 1,270 persons per km². The total area is 159.88 km².

The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight national highways and three railway lines serve the city. While many people commute towards south Tokyo, its daytime population is larger than the night population thanks to commuters from surrounding towns.

Historical Outline

The city was named for the 12th-century warrior Kumagai Naozane. The Kanji of "Kuma"(熊) means "Bear", and "Gaya"(谷) means "Valley". During the Edo Period, the city was a post town on the feudal-time national highway Nakasendō and silk market. It was designated as a city on April 1, 1933.

Kumagaya bears the dubious distinction of being the very last target of US aerial firebombing in Japan, thus representing the very final episode of World War II, on August 15, 1945, coinciding with Emperor Hirohito's announcement of the country's surrender.

On October 1, 2005, Kumagaya absorbed the towns of Ōsato and Menuma (both from Ōsato District) to create the new and expanded city of Kumagaya.

On February 13, 2007, Kumagaya absorbed the town of Kōnan (also from Ōsato District) to become the first city ever to have a population of more than 200,000 in Northern Saitama Prefecture. With these mergers, the city has fulfilled the requirements to become a special city, and the city has become a special city.

On August 16, 2007, the city recorded air temperature of 40.9˚C, breaking the 74-year-old record for the highest temperature recorded in Japan (the city of Tajimi in Gifu Prefecture also had the same record). The rest is described below.

Geography

The city is in northern Saitama Prefecture and on the east edge of Arakawa alluvial fan.

There are two rivers:

The Moto-Arakawa River is a habitat for the Musashi-Tomiyo (Pungitius), which can be seen only here in the world.

Transportation

Rail

Road

Neighboring cities and towns

Saitama Prefecture

Kumagaya and Gyoda are connected by National Highway Route 125, its by-pass and Chichubu Railway.

Kumagaya and Kounosu are connected by National Highway Route 17, its by-pass and Takasaki Line.

Neither railroad nor National Highway route connects the two cities.

Kumagaya and Kounosu are connected by National Highway Route 17, its by-pass, Takasaki Line and Chichubu Railway.

Gunma Prefecture

Kumagaya and Ōta are connected by National Highway Route 407.

Climate

Kumagaya has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) and is known for being one of the hottest areas in summer in Japan. This is caused by very hot winds from Tokyo and the Chichibu basin in the west of the prefecture. In Central Tokyo, the summer monsoon enhanced by sea breeze is heated by urban heat island. Also, from the Chichibu Mountains, the Fohn blows. The two winds converge above the city at about 2 pm.

On August 16, 2007, the city recorded air temperature of 40.9 °C (105.6 °F), breaking the 74-year record for the highest temperature recorded in Japan. "Very Hot! Kumagaya" (あついぞ！熊谷) is a catch phrase of the city.

There was a large hailstorm on June 29, 1917 at about 5pm. The hailstones had a diameter of 29.6 centimeters and weighed 3.4 kilogram.

There is a Kumagaya Local Meteorological Observatory of Japan Meteorological Agency.

Climate data for Kumagaya, Saitama
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 9.1
(48.4)		 9.5
(49.1)		 12.8
(55)		 18.8
(65.8)		 23.5
(74.3)		 25.9
(78.6)		 29.2
(84.6)		 31.4
(88.5)		 26.3
(79.3)		 21.0
(69.8)		 16.2
(61.2)		 11.6
(52.9)		 19.61
(67.29)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)		 3.9
(39)		 7.0
(44.6)		 12.9
(55.2)		 17.7
(63.9)		 21.1
(70)		 24.6
(76.3)		 26.2
(79.2)		 21.9
(71.4)		 16.0
(60.8)		 10.6
(51.1)		 5.6
(42.1)		 14.23
(57.62)
Average low °C (°F) −1.8
(28.8)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 2.0
(35.6)		 7.8
(46)		 12.6
(54.7)		 17.3
(63.1)		 21.2
(70.2)		 22.6
(72.7)		 18.5
(65.3)		 11.9
(53.4)		 5.9
(42.6)		 0.6
(33.1)		 9.81
(49.66)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 24.7
(0.972)		 40.8
(1.606)		 57.7
(2.272)		 86.3
(3.398)		 106.6
(4.197)		 169.8
(6.685)		 134.3
(5.287)		 159.2
(6.268)		 185.6
(7.307)		 116.8
(4.598)		 58.4
(2.299)		 27.3
(1.075)		 1,167.5
(45.964)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 5
(2)		 9
(3.5)		 4
(1.6)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 18
(7.1)
Average relative humidity (%) 55 56 57 64 68 76 80 77 79 72 66 60 67.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 206.5 179.1 197.6 175.2 193.2 123.0 129.3 170.8 116.0 149.4 162.7 195.0 1,997.8
Source: NOAA (1961-1990)[1]

Historical timeline

Administration

Kumagaya city hall

Mayors

Sister cities

Education

Universities

Senior high schools

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

References

  1. ↑ "Kumagaya Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  2. ↑

External links

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