Kai (甲斐市, Kai-shi) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 December 2021, the city had an estimated population of 73,626,[1] and a population density of 1,100 persons per km². The total area of the city is 71.95 square kilometres (27.78 sq mi).

Kai
甲斐市
Kai City Hall
Kai City Hall
Flag of Kai
Official logo of Kai
Location of Kai in Yamanashi Prefecture
Location of Kai in Yamanashi Prefecture
Kai is located in Japan
Kai
Kai
 
Coordinates: 35°39′38.9″N 138°30′56.8″E / 35.660806°N 138.515778°E / 35.660806; 138.515778
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
PrefectureYamanashi Prefecture
Area
 • Total
71.95 km2 (27.78 sq mi)
Population
 (December 31, 2021)
 • Total
73,626
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
• TreeZelkova serrata
• FlowerSakura
Phone number055-276-2111 
Address2610 Shinohara, Kai-shi, Yamanashi 400-0395
WebsiteOfficial website
Shingen Embankment and Kamanashi River

Geography

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Kai is located in central Yamanashi Prefecture, orientated north-south along the banks of the Fuji River.

Surrounding municipalities

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Yamanashi Prefecture

Climate

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The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Kai is 14.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1240 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 2.4 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kai more than tripled between 1960 and 2000 and has grown at a slower pace since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 17,777—    
1950 24,497+37.8%
1960 22,951−6.3%
1970 27,075+18.0%
1980 45,337+67.4%
1990 60,765+34.0%
2000 71,706+18.0%
2010 73,807+2.9%
2020 75,313+2.0%

History

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The area of present day Kai was part of ancient Kai Province and have numerous Jomon period ruins. During the Sengoku period, warlord Takeda Shingen built embankments on the Kamanashi River for flood control and to open up new rice lands. During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The city of Kai was established on September 1, 2004, from the merger of the town of Futaba (from Kitakoma District), and the towns of Ryūō and Shikishima (both from Nakakoma District).[4] It takes its name from the old name for Yamanashi Prefecture, Kai Province.

Government

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Kai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 19 members.

Education

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Kai has eleven public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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Highway

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Sister cities

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Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ Kai city official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ Kai climate data
  3. ^ Kai population statistics
  4. ^ "市制施行15周年記念式典(まちできweb 2019年9月1日)|甲斐市". www.city.kai.yamanashi.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-08. 平成16年9月1日に旧竜王町・敷島町・双葉町の3町合併により誕生した「甲斐市」。
  5. ^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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  Media related to Kai, Yamanashi at Wikimedia Commons