Geography

When the old Musashi Country was divided into two, the southern part became Tokyo and the northern part Saitama. This inland prefecture is situated in the west central part of the Kanto district and covers a rather small area. However, it stretches more than 100 kilometers from the east where the Edo River borders Chiba to the west where it meets Nagano. The western region is a series of high mountain ranges including the Chichibu Basin. The east is marked by hills and highlands. The northern border has changed a number of times as the flow of Tone River changed its shape over the years.

Industry & Economy

Saitama is blessed with vast flat lands. Its percent of cultivated area is one of the highest in the nation, even though the percent of full-time farmers is relatively low. The demands of the neighboring consumer city of Tokyo boost agricultural production levels of vegetables, etc. producing significant revenue. Kawaguchi City is located in the eastern section and is famous for its metal-casting industry. Stretching north along the Takasaki and Tohoku train lines is an industrial belt which houses iron, machinery, and manufacturing industries. Besides its many modern industries, Saitama has many traditional industries. For example, nearly half of the nation's dolls used for Children's Day and Girl's Day festivals are manufactured in Konosu and Iwatsuki.

Cultural Background

The flat lands occupying much of the prefecture are being urbanized, creating the feeling that it is simply an extension of Tokyo. There are efforts to develop a pride in the prefecture itself. An example of this is the huge suburban development in Urawa and Omiya. Because of the emphasis on transportation to Tokyo, Saitama's train network joining the east and west is very inefficient. Often it is faster for people to ride into Tokyo, make a transfer there, and then go back into another section of Saitama. Another major issue is the noticeable cultural gap between the highly urbanized east and the west which is suffering from a severe population exit.

Religious Milieu

Three well-known religious sites are: Hikawa Shrine at Omiya (the principal temple of Musashi), Kitain Temple of Kawagoe (famous for its association with the Tokugawa family), and Chichibu Shrine (known for its night festivals). Mountain farming villages still maintain religious beliefs deeply rooted in folklore and superstition, and many of the younger generation and newcomers participate in regional festivities. On the other hand, many people of urban areas participate in "new religion" activities or follow heretical beliefs.

The Mission

Kyuemon Kojima started his missionary work in Sugito, Iocated in the eastern part of Saitama. He had been in Yokohama on business when he came in contact with the gospel and was baptized by a missionary. In 1878, he started the Wato Church in his home at Sugito, and then built one of the first church buildings in Japan. Today's urbanization has had a significant effect on people's lives. Residents in the newly developed areas are relatively free from old restraints and beliefs, and often search for the spiritual dimensions that have been lost in this new life. Aggressive evangelism is needed here. The planting of new churches is scarcely keeping up with the rapid population growth.