| Niiza | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Emblem of Niiza, Saitama.svg |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Emblem |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Coordinates: | 35.7935°N 139.5653°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kantō |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Saitama |
| Established Title: | Town settled |
| Established Date: | March 1, 1955 |
| Established Title2: | City settled |
| Established Date2: | November 1, 1970 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | (from July 2016) |
| Area Total Km2: | 22.78 |
| Population Total: | 166208 |
| Population As Of: | January 1, 2021 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | City Symbols |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | – Tree |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Acer palmatum |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | – Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | magnolia kobus |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | – Bird |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Phone number |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 048-477-1111 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | 1-1-1 Nobitome, Niiza-shi, Saitama-ken 352-8623 |
is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 166,208 in 76,639 households and a population density of 7300 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 22.78sqkm.
Niiza is located at the southernmost tip of Saitama Prefecture, and is essentially a suburb of the Tokyo conurbation. The entire city is located on the Musashino Plateau, with the Yanase River running through the western part of the city, and the Kurome River running through the eastern part of the city.Niiza includes the southernmost point of Saitama Prefecture, which faces Nishitōkyō of Tokyo.
Niiza has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Niiza is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1449 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 4.1 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Niiza has increased rapidly from the 1960s to the present day.
The area of modern Niiza has been settled since prehistoric times. It was part for Shinra County within Musashi Province in the Nara period. Shinra County (新羅郡) was originally written with the same kanji as the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla, and the area was settled by immigrants from Silla in 758 AD. The name was changed to Niikura County (新座郡) in the Heian period.[4]
The town of Owada was created within Niikura District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern 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 becoming Niiza Town, which was raised to city status on November 1, 1970.[5]
Niiza has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 26 members. Niiza contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.In the 2021 Japanese general election, from Saitama 4th district, was elected.
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.
Colleges and universities:
Primary and secondary schools:
United States Air Force, Owada Communication Site
Owada Communication Site is former communication site of Imperial Japanese Navy.
Niiza is twinned with:
Jyväskylä, Finland, since 1997[6]
Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan, since 2000 Tōkamachi, Niigata, Japan, since 2002On 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.[8] Later in 2004, the theme music from the TV series would eventually be used to signal the departure of a train at JR Niiza Station on the JR Musashino Line.