right|thumb|270px|Minoh City Hall

is a city in northwestern Osaka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 139,118 in 62451 households and a population density of 2900 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is . It is a suburban city of Osaka City and a part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area. Its name is commonly romanized as "Minō" or "Minoo"; however, the city government officially uses the transliteration "Minoh" in romaji.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Minoh has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.

History

The area of the modern city of Minoh was within ancient Settsu Province. The village of Minoh was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889. It was raised to town status on 1 January 1948. Minoh merged with the village of Toyokawa and was raised to city status on 1 December 1956.

Government

Minoh has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 23 members. Minoh, together with Toyono District, contributes two members to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Osaka 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Minoh is a regional commercial center and is also a commuter town due to its proximity to Osaka.

Education

Minoh has 12 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Osaka Prefectural Department of Education. There are also one private combined elementary/middle/high school and one private combined middle/high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped. The Osaka Aoyama College is located in Minoh.

Transportation

Railway

20px Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway

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22px Hankyu Railway Hankyu Minoo Line

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Highway

  • Mino-Todoromi Interchange
  • 21px|alt=|link=423 Minō Toll Road

Sister cities

Minoh is twinned with:

  • Cuernavaca, Mexico
  • Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Local attractions

Minoh is best known for Meiji no Mori Minō Quasi-National Park, one of Japan's oldest national parks, which is home to a large population of wild monkeys and has a picturesque waterfall.

The 1200-year-old Buddhist temple Katsuō-ji, famous for its huge collection of Daruma dolls is located in Minoh.

Minoh Onsen next to Hankyu train station is a popular with the locals. It is one of the few natural hot springs in Osaka. Minoh Onsen also have a hotel that is popular with overseas tourist.

Notable people

  • Shōta Chida, Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 7-dan
  • Dream Ami, Japanese singer, dancer, model, television personality and J-pop idol (Dream and E-girls; Real Name: Ami Nakashima, Nihongo: 中島 麻未, Nakashima Ami)
  • Don Fujii, Japanese professional wrestler (Real Name: Tatsuki Fuji, Nihongo: 藤井 達樹, Fujii Tatsuki)
  • Kazuki Hiramine, Japanese racing driver, co-winner of the 2022 Super GT GT500 class.
  • Haruka Hirota, Japanese Olympic trampoline gymnast
  • Sakiho Juri, Japanese performing artist and former member of the Takarazuka Revue
  • Jyongri, Zainichi Korean pop singer (Real Name: Cho Jyong-ri, Hangul: 조종리)
  • Masashi Kamekawa, Japanese football player (V-Varen Nagasaki, J2 League)
  • Kenji Kasahara, Japanese entrepreneur and the founder of mixi
  • Takuya Kimura, Japanese actor, singer, and radio personality (SMAP; Born in Tokyo, Japan, but raised in Minoh until entrance to elementary school in Chiba)
  • Yūki Mizuhara, Japanese actress
  • Ryōichi Sasakawa, Japanese businessman, politician, and philanthropist
  • Takumi Shimohira, Japanese football player (JEF United Chiba, J2 League)
  • Masaki Suda, Japanese actor and singer (Kamen Rider W; Real Name: Taishō Sugō, Nihongo: 菅生 大将, Sugō Taishō)
  • Anju Suzuki, Japanese actress, television presenter, and former singer (Real Name: Kakuko Yamagata, Nihongo: 山形 香公子, Yamagata Kakuko)
  • Ken Tajiri, Japanese football player (Gainare Tottori, J3 League)
  • Teruzakura Hiroyuki, former sumo wrestler (Real Name: Hiroyuki Ozaki, Nihongo: 尾崎弘之, Ozaki Hiroyuki)
  • Yuka Uda, Japanese road cyclist
  • Yui Watanabe, Japanese voice actress and singer
  • Yutaka Yamamoto, Japanese anime director and co-founder of Ordet

References

  • Minoh City official website
  • Minoh City official website