| Toki | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |
| Coordinates: | 35.4192°N 137.1833°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chūbu |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Gifu |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Nobuhiko Ōno |
| Area Total Km2: | 116.02 |
| Population Total: | 58567 |
| Population As Of: | December 31, 2018 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | City symbols |
| Blank Info Sec1: | |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | - Tree |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | - Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Balloon flower |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | - Bird |
| Blank4 Name Sec1: | - Fish |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Phone number |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0572-54-1111 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | 2101 Tokiguchi, Tokitsu-chō, Toki-shi, Gifu-ken 509-5192 |
is a city located in Gifu, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 58,567 in 24485 households,[1] and a population density of 500 persons per km2. The total area of the city was 117.01sqkm. Toki is known as one of the largest producers of Japanese pottery, generally referred to as Mino ware.
Toki is located in southern Gifu Prefecture, to the southeast of Gifu City and approximately 30 kilometers north of Nagoya. The Toki River runs through the downtown area. Mount Mikuni is the highest point in the city, with an elevation of 701m (2,300feet).
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Toki is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1902 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.2 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Toki has declined gradually over the past 40 years.
The area around Toki was part of traditional Mino Province. The history of pottery making in Toki area appears to have started more than 1300 years ago, with of Mino ware dating to the 16th century during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. During the Edo period, much of the area was tenryō territory under the direct control of Tokugawa shogunate. In the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, Toki District in Gifu Prefecture was created, and the village of Tokiguchi was established on July 1, 1889 by the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on November 5, 1889 and was renamed Tokitsu. The city of Toki was incorporated on February 1, 1955, with the area formerly divided among 5 towns (Tokitsu, Oroshi, Tsumagi, Dachi, and Izumi) and 3 villages (Tsurusato, Sogi and Hida). In January 2004, a referendum held to decide whether Toki should merge with its neighboring municipalities, the cities and town of Tajimi, Mizunami and Kasahara, failed to obtain majority support.
Toki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members.
The current Mayor of Toki is Yasunari Katō. Previous Mayors include:
Toki is increasingly a bedroom community for nearby Gifu and Nagoya. The city is known for its production of ceramics. In Spring 2005, a luxury outlet mall with many name-brand stores, called Toki Premium Outlets, was opened on the outskirts of the city. Besides pottery, this outlet mall is one of the biggest tourist spots. The city is home to the Large Helical Device, a stellarator investigating plasma physics with an eye towards fusion power generation.
Toki has eight public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has three public high schools operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education.
Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (est. October 23, 1979)