Niiza, Saitama

Niiza 新座市
City
Niiza City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Niiza in Saitama Prefecture
Niiza Location of Niiza in Saitama Prefecture
Coordinates: 35°47′36.6″N 139°33′55.1″E / 35.793500°N 139.565306°ECoordinates: 35°47′36.6″N 139°33′55.1″E / 35.793500°N 139.565306°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama Prefecture
Area
• Total	22.78 km^2 (8.80 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
• Total	162,652
• Density	7,140/km^2 (18,500/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Acer palmatum
- Flower	magnolia kobus
Phone number	048-477-1111
Address	1-1-1 Nobitome, Yoshikawa-shi, Saitama-ken 352-8623
Website	Official website

Niiza (新座市 Niiza-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, in the central Kantō region of Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 162,652 and a population density of 7140 persons per km². Its total area was 22.78 square kilometres (8.80 sq mi).

Geography

Located in far southern Saitama Prefecture, Niiza is essentially a suburb of the Tokyo conurbation. The Meguro River flows through the eastern part of the city.

Surrounding municipalities

• Saitama Prefecture
  • Asaka
  • Shiki
  • Tokorozawa
  • Miyoshi
• Tokyo Metropolis
  • Nerima-ku
  • Kiyose
  • Nishitokyo
  • Higashikurume

History

The area of modern Niiza has been settled since prehistoric times. Nara period records indicate that immigrants from Silla on the Korean peninsula came to the area in 758 AD.

The town of Owada was created within Niikura District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Niikura District was abolished in 1896, becoming part of Kitaasachi District. On March 1, 1955, Owada annexed the neighboring village of Katayama and was raised to city status on November 1, 1970.^[1]

Economy

Toppan printing has a large factory in Niiza, which is also home to a number of other light manufacturing, electronics and transportation/warehousing companies. However, due to its proximity to Tokyo, over a third of the workforce commutes daily, making Niiza largely a bedroom community.

Education

Colleges and universities:

• Atomi University
• Rikkyo University
• Jumonji University

Primary and secondary schools:

• Niiza has seventeen elementary schools, six middle schools, two combined middle/high schools, and three high schools.
• Private schools: Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Musashino Line
  • Niiza
• Tobu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line
  • Shiki

Highway

• Kan-Etsu Expressway
• Japan National Route 254
• Japan National Route 463

Sister city relations

Niiza is twinned with:

• Jyväskylä, Finland ^[2] (1997)
• Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan (2000)
• Tōkamachi, Niigata, Japan (2002)
• Jiyuan, China,^[2] (2002)
• Neuruppin,^[2] Germany (2003)

Local attractions

• Heirin-ji, a large Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple. The temple is located in Nobidome, close to Niiza City Hall. There is a very large stone gate (野火止大門 "Nobidome Daimon") along National Road 254, which runs through the middle of the city.

Noted people from Niiza

• Masaaki Taniai, politician
• Hiromi Miyake, Olympic weightlifter
• Yoko Mitsuya, gravure idol

In popular culture

On April 7, 2003, Niiza gave the anime character Astro Boy an honorary citizenship to mark the date given as his birthdate in the original manga.

References

1. Niiza City Living Guide
2. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)