History

Saku is located in former Shinano Province, and by the Sengoku period it was home to the Ochiai clan, a samurai family that sided with Uesugi Kenshin during his conflict with Takeda Shingen in the 1550s. The Ochiai clan consequently fought for the Uesugi during the Siege of Katsurayama in March 1557; all Ochiai members who took part in the battle were killed in combat or committed suicide. the population of Saku has remained relatively steady over the past 60 years.

Government

Saku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.

Economy

The economy of Saku is largely agricultural, with rice, and carp fish farming as major components. The manufacturing sector includes electronics.

Education

Universities and colleges

  • Saku University
  • Shinshu Junior College

Primary and secondary education

Saku has 17 public elementary schools and 7 public middle school operated by the city government, and one private middle school. There are five public high school operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

  • 20px East Japan Railway Company - Hokuriku Shinkansen
  • 20px East Japan Railway Company - Koumi Line
  • - - - - - - - - -

Highway

  • 24px|link=|alt=E18 Jōshin-etsu Expressway
  • 24px|link=|alt=E52 Chūbu-Ōdan Expressway

External relations

  • Sister cities
  • - Avallon (Yonne, Burgundy, France, sister city since July 14, 1976
  • Friendship cities
  • - Kōzushima, Tokyo, Japan
  • - Saku, (Harju County, Estonia, since May 1, 2007
  • - Yurihonjō, Akita, Japan
  • - Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
  • - Sükhbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, since August 4, 2008

Notable people from Saku, Nagano

  • Seishiro Endo, 8th dan ranked Aikikai aikido master teacher
  • Miho Nakayama (1970 – 2024, Nihongo: 中山美穂) Japanese actress and singer.
  • Buronson, Japanese manga writer, and one of the creators of both Fist of the North Star and Heat (Real Name: Yoshiyuki Okamura, Nihongo: 岡村 善行, Okamura Yoshiyuki/Sho Fumimura, Nihongo: 史村 翔, Fumimura Shō)
  • Jiro Okabe, Japanese politician, former member of House of Representatives, Rikken Seiyūkai, Chūseikai and Kenseikai
  • Toru Owashi, Japanese professional wrestler (Real Name: Toru Ito, Nihongo: 伊藤 透, Itō Tōru)
  • Yusuke Shirai, Japanese voice actor
  • Shinji Takahashi, Japanese religious leader, corporate manager and hardware engineer, founder of God Light Association
  • Yoshimi Takeuchi, Japanese Sinologist
  • Yuichiro Ueno, Japanese long-distance runner, who specializes in the 1500 and 5000 metres events

Local attractions

  • Kasuga Onsen
  • Former Nakagomi School
  • Saku Balloon Festival
  • Saku Ski Garden "Parada"
  • Shinkai Sansha Shrine
  • Tatsuoka Castle Site
  • Usuda Star Dome

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File:Tatsuoka Castle 1975.jpg|Tatsuoka Castle Site

File:Saku balloon fes.jpg|Saku Hot Air Ballon Festival

File:Usuda Star Dome.png|Usuda Star Dome

</gallery>

References

Bibliography

  • Official Website