About Owariasahi City

• Features of Owariasahi
• Industry
• Climate
• Population
• Health & Sanitation
• Welfare
• Education
• City planning
• Sports and recreation
• Cultural properties

Features of Owariasahi

Owariasahi is located in the northwest of Aichi,in the center of Japan’s main island.
It is between Nagoya, 4th biggest city in Japan, and Seto, which is famous for its pottery and ceramics.
It is about 15 km from Nagoya and takes about 20 mins by train or car.
Transportations for traveling are quite convenient.
The biggest park, called “Aichi Forest Park“ accounts for 1/6(3.62 square kilometers) of the city area.
It has been selected as one of the hundred Phytoncide Forest parks in Japan.
There are many various parks and reservoirs for farming, where people can enjoy lots of greenery, and the countryside.
The city has the advantages both of the convenience of a city and the atmosphere of a good environment.
The city has been focusing on fundamental maintenance, and is getting safer from crimes or disasters.

Industry

Owariasahi was one of the farming villages surrounding Nagoya.
Rice farming and sericulture were its main industries until the first half of the Meiji era (1868-1912).
As pottery and ceramics grew in Seto in the latter half of the Meiji era, many people in Owariasahi began to work in pottery and ceramic factories.
A large number of people in Owariasahi worked in those factories in the late Taisho era (1912-1926), and some of those factories transferred to Owariasahi in the Showa era (1926-1989).
Therefore, Owariasahi’s industry shifted from agriculture to ceramics.
Some major Japanese electric factories have moved into Owariasahi since 1960, and the main industry has changed from ceramics to electrical production.

Climate

Generally, Owariasahi has a genial climate and many fine days.
Owariasahi’s rainfall is a little bit less than average for the Pacific coast and occasionally we have very hot and sunny days for long periods in summer.

Population

Although the population and number of households increased rapidly due to progressive urbanization, the recent rise in the average life expectancy and the fall in birth rates have caused an aging population, with few children contributing to population growth.
Gross population (As of January, 2025)
83,782 people (40,980 men 42,802 women) 37,471 households
People per household (As of January, 2025) 2.2 people
Rate of population decrease (compared to 2024) 0.2%
Expected future population (2024 Owariasahi City Fundamental Design)
2045 81,000 people

Health & Sanitation

Owariasahi was admitted to WHO (World Health Organization) in 2004 and has promoted a plan for the well-being of the people and the city.
In particular, family doctors and family dentists are required to prevent and cure diseases which demonstrate the significant role medical institutions play in bringing this idea to fruition.
Pharmacists are requested to give advice about medicines and provide information on how to use them to maintain good health.
179 medical institutions (As of October, 2022)
2 hospitals 71 clinics 47 dental clinics
54 pharmacies 5 midwifery clinics

The project to reduce garbage started in 1996.
The amount of separated waste collection by type was promoted, along with recycling, which has succeeded in reducing the rapid increase in garbage output.
This project should continue to develop, however, in accord with the social change driving further reductions in waste.
Garbage disposal (2022) 22,929t
Flammables 13,688t
Nonflammables 475t
Bulky garbage 248t
Recycling 2,659t
Garbage from restaurants and factories, etc 5,859t

Welfare

Child care
The number of nuclear families has grown recently.
The numbers of double income families and one parent families have also been increasing. Most parents are too busy to take care of their children full-time because they work hard.
It is important to raise children well, so parents need a good system of child care.
Residents and the municipality have been working together to create an environment where safe and comfortable child care is provided.
The number of nursery schools (as of April, 2023) 15
The number of children in the nursery schools (as of April, 2023) 1,337 children
The number of out-of-school childcare centers (as of April, 2023) 9

Education

Students are well educated to become a member of society at our schools.
The board of education has set up an environment appropriate to develop students’ knowledge, emotional capacity, strong will and sound body, in order for them to grow up in good health, to be educated in peace and to be able to spend the required time in leisure, to ensure that students are equipped to lead the next generation.
The number of elementary schools
(As of May, 2023) 9 (4,623 students)
The number of junior high schools
(As of May, 2023) 3 (2,306 students)
The number of high schools
(As of May, 2023) 1 (1,069 students)
The number of university and junior college (As of May, 2023) 2 (961 students)
Public library (As of March, 2023)
Books ・・・225,072 books
The number of annual loans ・・・146,464

City planning

We have continued to promote fundamental maintenance for the city.
Our land readjustment project and the building of facilities mean that residents can live a healthy and comfortable life in our city.
Land readjustment (As of March, 2023)
Finished 16 districts 582.2ha
Under construction 1 district 53.2ha
Public drainage ditches (As of March, 2023)
Service area 1,005.6ha
Coverage 86.77%
Parks
84 sites 407.4ha
82 public parks 60.1ha (As of March, 2024)
2 private parks 347.3ha (As of March, 2024)

Sports and recreation

These days more people have their own cars,and the public transportation systems have been well-developed. Besides this,we have many electric appliances at home, so we don’t need to use our bodies compared to earlier days.
The way we spend our spare time is important as one solution to this inactivity.
Facilities
City gymnasium, Shiroyama baseball field, City swimming pool,
The south ground, Asahigaoka athletic field, Haruoka athletic field,
Japanese archery field, Shiroyama tennis courts,Asahigaoka tennis courts,
Haruoka tennis courts, Asahigaoka campsite

Cultural properties

There are four intangible cultural properties which have been designated by the city and Aichi prefecture.
Each property has its own conservation group.
These groups have been trying to hand down their traditional style and skills and to train players.
These properties are our treasures, enabling us to pass our tradition and history down from generation to generation.

Bo-no-te
It is said that Bo-no-te came from mountaineering ascetics who created the art of self-defense with a wooden stick and a wooden sword.
The primary stage of Bo-no-te was a ceremony to pray to God for an abundant harvest.
In the next stage, Bo-no-te involved performing fighting techniques to show the participants’ brave skills to audience.
The present style of Bo-no-te was developed in Meiji era (1868-1912).There are five schools of Bo-no-te in Owariasahi.
Each school has been trying to keep its own traditional ways.

Uchi-hayashi
Uchi-hayasi is a drum and pipe band which plays sacred Shinto music for the Shinto festival.
The band is composed of young men in each region. And band members hand down the way of Uchi-hayashi from generation to generation, along with Okagura, which is the Shinto dance.
When they perform Uchi-hayasi the members offer “Sakaki”, a sacred tree, to God.
Then they play traditional sacred music while they parade to their own Shrine.

Zaiodori
Zaiodori has been performed since ancient times at the Bon dance festival.
The dance is performed mainly by girls, as a memorial service for their ancestor’s soul.
Zai is a bamboo pipe, 40cm long, and at its edges, strips of paper 28cm-long and dyed red and whiteare attached.
They dance with these in both hands.
This gives it the name “Zai dance”.

Omanto
Horses have been dedicated to thank gods for rich harvests, or pray for rain,
since the Edo era (1603-1867) the horses are decorated with many ornaments which are called Hyougu, and are dedicated to shrines or temples.

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Have you enjoyed reading about Owariasahi?
We have more historical and cultural heritage, many tourist facilities and wonderful natural areas surrounding our city.
Why don’t you come and stay with us? You can enjoy life in Owariasahi.
Do you need more information?
Please come to the city hall or contact us by phone or e-mail.

The English version of this site was made with the cooperation of the Asahi Sunrise English Group of volunteers.