Aira, Kagoshima (Aira)

nihongo|Aira|姶良町|Aira-chō is a town located in Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. It is located west of Kajiki and north of Kagoshima.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 44,029 and the density of 429.47 persons per km². The total area is 102.52 km². It is accessed with the Kyūshū Expressway at interchange 26, the Aira Interchange and runs north of Aira. The interchange was first opened on December 13, 1973.

Much of Aira is mountainous. Farmlands and agrucultural lands surround the valley in which Aira is located.

Aira has a number of junior high schools, elementary schools, and kindergartens, although it has no high school.

Aira's claim to fame is a stone gate in the village of Yamada, where a shochu factory is located.

A plan to amalgamate Aira with neighboring towns of Kajiki and Kamō was defeated in 2005.

Hisao Fukumoto, the mayor of Aira, was found hanged in his home on the morning of March 6, 2006, necessitating a mayoral election to be held in spring 2006.

A planned merger of municipalities will be implemented in March 2010. The Aira District towns of Aira, Kajiki, and Kamō will merge into the City of Aira. Aira District will be left with one municipality.http://www.kokudo.or.jp/new/cities/sub/kyusyu/46.htm]

References

External links

* [http://www.town.aira-aira.kagoshima.jp Aira homepage] (in Japanese)