Seto
瀬戸市
City

Upper stage：Jōkō-ji temple in Seto
Lower stage：Skyline of Seto City
Flag of Seto
Flag
Official seal of Seto
Seal
Location of Seto in Aichi Prefecture
Location of Seto in Aichi Prefecture
Seto is located in Japan
Seto
Seto
 
Coordinates: 35°13′24.9″N 137°05′3.1″E / 35.223583°N 137.084194°E / 35.223583; 137.084194
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
PrefectureAichi
Government
 • MayorYasunori Ito
Area
 • Total111.40 km2 (43.01 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2019)
 • Total127,659
 • Density1,100/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Official treeIlex rotunda
Official flowerCamellia
Phone number0561-82-7111
Address64-1 Oiwake-chō, Seto-shi, Aichi-ken 489-8701
WebsiteOfficial website

Seto (瀬戸市, Seto-shi) is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the city had an estimated population of 127,659 in 56,573 households,[1] and a population density of 1,146 persons per km2. The total area was 111.40 square kilometres (43.01 sq mi).

Geography

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 setomono (瀬戸物). 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[2](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.[3]

Surrounding municipalities

Aichi PrefectureAichi Prefecture
Gifu PrefectureGifu Prefecture

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Seto has been increasing over the past 60 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 64,793—    
1950 68,415+5.6%
1960 82,101+20.0%
1970 92,681+12.9%
1980 120,774+30.3%
1990 126,340+4.6%
2000 131,650+4.2%
2010 132,240+0.4%

History

Middle Ages

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.[5]

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

City hall

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.

External relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

International

Sister city
Friendship city

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

Nagoya Gakuin University Seto campus

University

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[7] is located in Seto

Transportation

Map of Meitetsu Seto Line
The Kilometre Zero of Seto

Railways

Conventional lines

Aichi Loop Railway
Meitetsu

Roads

Expressway

Japan National Route

Local attractions

Notable people from Seto

References

  1. ↑ Seto City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ↑ Seto homestay programme
  3. ↑ Seto climate data
  4. ↑ Seto population statistics
  5. ↑ "瀬戸市". www.city.seto.aichi.jp.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ Home page. Aichi Korean 7th Elementary School. Retrieved on October 14, 2015. "愛知県瀬戸市にある在日コリアン児童が通う民族学校です"
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