From ancient hemp fields to modern suburbia, Asao Ward whispers tales of transformation. Asao Ward is nestled in the western corner of Kawasaki City. This area boasts a rich history, stretching back to the Yayoi period. Asao Ward’s name, meaning “hemp,” hints at its early agricultural importance. Records from the Heian period confirm this, showcasing the area’s prominence in hemp production.
Asao Ward wasn’t always part of Kawasaki. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate held control over this land. They governed it indirectly through various hatamoto. The area supplied charcoal, a vital resource in those times. After the Meiji Restoration, Asao Ward became part of Kanagawa Prefecture, split between Tachibana and Tsuzuki Districts. It was later, between 1938 and 1939, that Kawasaki City annexed these areas.
The mid-20th century brought dramatic change to Asao Ward. Large-scale housing projects transformed the landscape, giving rise to suburban developments like Yurigaoka Danchi. This influx of residents led to Asao Ward becoming part of Tama Ward in 1972 when Kawasaki City was divided into wards. However, Asao Ward’s unique character and growth led to its separation from Tama Ward just a decade later, in 1982. A new ward office, built in 1997, solidified Asao Ward’s independent identity.
Today, Asao Ward serves as a vibrant commercial hub and a peaceful bedroom community for those working in Kawasaki and Tokyo. Though its hemp fields are gone, Asao Ward’s agricultural past echoes in its reputation for delicious Japanese persimmons, a tradition dating back to the Meiji period. A fascinating discovery in 1913 revealed even more about Asao Ward’s ancient past. A fossilized Parastegodon tooth, dating back to the late Pliocene period, was unearthed in what is now Yurigaoka. This find suggests that while much of present-day Kawasaki was submerged, Asao Ward stood above water, possibly marking the ancient shoreline. Asao Ward, a place where history and modernity intertwine, offers a unique glimpse into Japan’s ever-evolving landscape.