Hanyū, Saitama

City in Kantō, Japan

Hanyū　 Flag Seal
Location of Hanyū in Saitama Prefecture
36°10′21.5″N 139°32′54.5″E / 36.172639°N 139.548472°E / 36.172639; 139.548472
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama
Area
• Total	58.64 km² (22.64 sq mi)
Population (January 2021)
• Total	54,304
• Density	930/km² (2,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Osmanthus fragrans
- Flower	Wisteria floribunda
Phone number	048-561-1121
Address	6-15 Higashi, Hanyu-shi, Saitama-ken 348-8601
Website	Official website

Hanyū (羽生市, Hanyū-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2021^[update], the city had an estimated population of 54,304 in 23,487 households and a population density of 930 persons per km².^[1] The total area of the city is 58.64 square kilometres (22.64 sq mi).

Geography

Hanyū is located in the most northern part of Saitama Prefecture, with the Tone River on its northern border. Before the river was redirected to its current course to control flooding, it used to flow through the city. This river was used as a major shipping route for locally produced textiles and goods from further up river. Hanyū flourished as a stopping point on the long ride toward Tokyo. Today only an irrigation channel remains in the approximate location of the original river path.

Surrounding municipalities

Saitama Prefecture

Kazo
Gyōda

Gunma Prefecture

Climate

Hanyū has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hanyū is 14.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1300 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.4 °C.^[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[3] the population of Hanyū peaked in around the year 2000 and has declined slightly over the past 20 years.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1920	30,930	—
1930	32,714	+5.8%
1940	33,570	+2.6%
1950	42,623	+27.0%
1960	43,900	+3.0%
1970	45,001	+2.5%
1980	48,488	+7.7%
1990	53,764	+10.9%
2000	57,499	+6.9%
2010	56,204	−2.3%
2020	52,862	−5.9%

History

The village of Hanyū was created within Kitasaitama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On September 1, 1954 Hanyū merged with the neighboring villages of Shingō, Sukage, Iwase, Kawamata, Iizumi, and Tegobayashi and was elevated to city status. The village of Chiyoda was annexed on April 1, 1959.

Government

Hanyū has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Hanyū contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Traditional industries of Hanyū included textile dying and clothing production. The area was famous of its indigo production in the Edo period. Akebono Brake Industry is headquartered in Hanyū.

Education

Saitama Junshin Junior College
Hanyū has 11 public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education.The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

Tobu Railway - Tobu Isesaki Line

Minami-Hanyū - Hanyū

Chichibu Railway – Chichibu Main Line

Hanyū - Nishi-Hanyū - Shingō

Highways

Tōhoku Expressway – Hanyū Interchange – Hanyū Parking Area
National Route 122
National Route 125

Local attractions

Saitama Aquarium

Twin towns and sister cities

Baguio, Philippines,^[4] since February 11, 1969
Kaneyama, Fukushima, Japan (friendship city since 1982)
Durbuy, Belgium,^[4] since November 4, 1994
Millbrae, CA, USA (2014)^[5]

References

^ "Hanyū city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
^ Hanyū climate data
^ Hanyū population statistics
^ ^a ^b "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
^ "Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco".