Kunitachi (国立市, Kunitachi-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2021[update], the city had an estimated population of 76,423 in 38,825 households, and a population density of 9,400 persons per km2. Approximately 41.9% of the city population is over 65 years in age.[1] The total area of the city is 8.15 square kilometres (3.15 sq mi).
Kunitachi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kunitachi is 13.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1647 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.5 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kunitachi expanded rapidly in the postwar decades and has continued to grow at a slower rate since then.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
2,611
—
1930
3,814
+46.1%
1940
10,052
+163.6%
1950
14,679
+46.0%
1960
32,609
+122.1%
1970
59,709
+83.1%
1980
64,144
+7.4%
1990
65,833
+2.6%
2000
72,187
+9.7%
2010
75,510
+4.6%
2020
77,130
+2.1%
History
Kunitachi lies along the historical Kōshū Kaidō, a route that connected Edo with Kofu in the province of Kai (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture). The area was noted for its abundant spring water. The villages of Ishida, Aoyagi and Yabo were created within Tama District of Kanagawa Prefecture during the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The district was transferred from Kanagawa to Tokyo in 1893. In the 1920, much of the land was obtained by Kojiro Tsutsumi, the founder of Seibu, who began large-scale development of a planned community, which he intended to become a university town modeled after Göttingen in Germany. The Tokyo University of Commerce (Hitotsubashi University) was relocated from central Tokyo to this location, and a train station was opened on Chūō Main Line in 1926. The station was named "Kunitachi", taking one kanji from the names of the stations to either side, namely Kokubunji Station and Tachikawa Station. The three villages were merged to form Kunitachi town in 1951. Kunitachi was elevated to city status on January 1, 1967.
Government
Kunitachi City Hall
Kunitachi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Kunitachi, together with Kokubunji, contributes two members to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokyo 21st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Kunitachi remains a university town, but is also increasing a commuter town for central Tokyo, with an estimated 25.1% of the population commuting to central Tokyo daily, per the 2015 census.
The city was originally home to Kunitachi College of Music. The tertiary-level branch of the conservatory is now located far outside the city, but its attached high school and business affiliate, Kunitachi Gakki (Western Tokyo's largest community music center), remain in central Kunitachi.
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