Seto, Aichi

Seto is located in the hilly northern region of Aichi Prefecture, bordering Gifu Prefecture, approximately 35 minutes from Nagoya by way of the Meitetsu Seto Line. In English, the name of "Seto" translates to "the place where the river runs quickly". However, while there is a river in Seto, it is neither significantly large nor quick-moving. The city of Seto is famous for its pottery and ceramics, so much so that the generic word for ceramics in Japanese is . The main street along the river is lined with dozens of pottery shops. Every third Saturday and Sunday in September, there is a very large pottery festival called Setomono Matsuri(瀬戸物祭り) This festival attracts about 20,000 visitors from around Japan and abroad every year. Climate The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Seto is 14.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1810 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.1 °C. Surrounding municipalities ;Aichi Prefecture • Kasugai • Nagakute • Nagoya (Moriyama-ku) • Owariasahi • Toyota ;Gifu Prefecture • Tajimi • Toki ==Demographics==

Per Japanese census data, the population of Seto has been increasing over the past 60 years. ==History==

Feudal period The area had been famous for its ceramics production since at least the Kamakura period. Early modern period During the Edo period, the area of modern Seto was controlled by the Owari Tokugawa of Owari Domain. Late modern period During the Meiji period, Seto village was organized in 1888 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, becoming a town in 1892. After annexing the neighboring village of Akatsu in 1925, Seto was raised to city status on October 1, 1929. Much of the city was destroyed by air raids in 1945 during World War II. Contemporary history In the postwar period, the city grew as a bedroom community for Nagoya and as a tourist designation. On March 25, 2005, Expo 2005 opened with its main site being in Nagakute and additional activity in Seto. The expo continued until September 25, 2005. ==Government==

Seto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. The city contributes two members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. ==Sister cities==

;Sister cities • Limoges, Haute-Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, since November 18, 2003 ;Friendship cities • Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China, since October 1996 ==Economy==

The economy of Seto remains dominated by ceramics, both for traditional works for private consumption, and also modern industrial ceramics for the electronics industry. ==Education==

Seto campus University • Nagoya Gakuin University – Seto campus Schools • Primary and secondary education Seto has 20 public elementary schools and eight public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one private junior high school. The city has four public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. and two private high schools. The city operates one and the prefecture operates two special education schools for the handicapped. International school The Aichi Korean 7th Elementary School (愛知朝鮮第七初級学校) – North Korean school is located in Seto ==Transportation==

of Seto Railways Conventional lines ; Aichi Loop Railway • Aichi Loop Line: - – – – – ; Meitetsu • Seto Line: - - – – Roads Expressway • Tōkai-Kanjō Expressway Japan National Route • • • File:MT-Owari-SetoStation.jpg|Owari Seto Station File:Seto-Akazu Interchange 01.jpg|Seto-Akazu Interchange File:Aichi Prefectural Road Route 22 (Seto Takane).jpg|Japan National Route 363 ==Local attractions==

• Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum • Jōkō-ji, Buddhist temple and mausoleum of Tokugawa Yoshinao of the Owari Domain. • Setogura Museum Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum-01.jpg|Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum Setogura１.JPG|Setogura Museum Setomonomatsuri.JPG|Setomono Festival Unkouji1.JPG|Unkō-ji Joukouji3.JPG|Jōkō-ji Kamagaki3.JPG|Kamagaki no Komichi Kamagaki4.JPG|Hongyō kiln ==Notable people from Seto==

• Sayaka Aoki, comedian • Sōta Fujii, professional shogi player • Toru Hasegawa,– professional soccer player • Hayata Ito, professional baseball player • Asaka Seto, actress • Junji Suzuki, politician • Manpei Takagi, actor ==References==