Tōgane

Coordinates: 35°33′35.8″N 140°21′57.9″E / 35.559944°N 140.366083°E / 35.559944; 140.366083
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Tōgane
東金市
Tōgane sakura matsuri & Lake Hakkaku Hakkaku-tei Myosen-ji Subaru bookstore Minori-no-sato road station downtown Tōgane
Tōgane sakura matsuri & Lake Hakkaku
Hakkaku-tei Myosen-ji
Subaru bookstore Minori-no-sato road station
downtown Tōgane
Flag of Tōgane
Coat of arms of Tōgane
Location of Tōgane in Chiba Prefecture
Location of Tōgane in Chiba Prefecture
Tōgane is located in Japan
Tōgane
Tōgane
Coordinates: 35°33′35.8″N 140°21′57.9″E / 35.559944°N 140.366083°E / 35.559944; 140.366083
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureChiba
Government
 • MayorNaohara Shiga (since April 1998)
Area
 • Total89.12 km2 (34.41 sq mi)
Population
 (December 1, 2015)
 • Total57,780
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeRakan Maki
- FlowerYoshino Sakura
Phone number0475(50)1111
Address1-1 Higashi-Iwasaki, Tōgane-shi, Chiba-ken 283-8511
WebsiteOfficial website
Tōgane City Hall (Dec 11, 2011)

Tōgane (東金市, Tōgane-shi) is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2020, the city had an estimated population of 57,780 in 26,907 households and a population density of 650 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 89.12 square kilometres (34.41 sq mi).

Tōgane is home to the Kurenai-kai School of Japanese embroidery, which produces handmade obi and kimono in the traditional Japanese style.

Geography[edit]

Tōgane is located in center-eastern Chiba Prefecture at the border of the Bōsō Hill Range. It is approximately 25 kilometers from the prefectural capital at Chiba and 50 to 60 kilometers from downtown Tokyo. The city has a number of large exclave surrounded by the city of Sanmu, and Sanmu likewise has two enclaves within with borders of the Tōgane exclave.

Surrounding municipalities[edit]

Chiba Prefecture

Climate[edit]

Tōgane has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tōgane is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1575 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.9 °C.[2]

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Tōgane has recently plateaued after several decades of growth.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 34,495—    
1960 32,826−4.8%
1970 32,065−2.3%
1980 35,603+11.0%
1990 45,179+26.9%
2000 59,605+31.9%
2010 61,751+3.6%
2020 58,219−5.7%

History[edit]

During the Edo Period, Tōgane was the location of a villa on Lake Hakkaku used by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada for falconry. The town of Tōgane was founded on April 1, 1889 as part of Sanbe District, Chiba Prefecture with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Sanbe District became Sanbu District on April 1, 1897. The town expanded on April 1, 1953 through annexation of the neighboring villages of Okayama, Masaki, Toyonari, Kohei and a portion of the village of Yamato. It was elevated to city status on April 1, 1954 after further expansion through annexation of parts of the neighboring villages of Hara and Fukuoka.

Government[edit]

Tōgane has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Tōgane contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy[edit]

Tōgane is known for strawberry picking in February and March. Strawberries are grown in greenhouses. Because there is not much industry remaining in some rural areas of Japan like Tōgane, antique markets are gaining popularity as old farmhouses are torn down.

Education[edit]

  • Josai International University
  • Tōgane has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation[edit]

Railway[edit]

JR EastTōgane Line

Highway[edit]

Sister city relations[edit]

Noted people from Tōgane[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Tōgane city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Tōgane climate data
  3. ^ Tōgane population statistics
  4. ^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.

External links[edit]