History of Inagi

Inagi in the Primitive and Ancient Times

In Inagi City, more than 160 prehistoric and ancient sites have been discovered. These date back to the Paleolithic period, approximately 20,000 years ago, and continue through the Jomon period, Yayoi period, Kofun period, and Nara period. From these sites, pottery, stone tools, and remains of pit dwellings used by people of that time have been found, telling the story of the lives of prehistoric and ancient people. Prehistoric and ancient sites are often discovered in the Tama Hills region, suggesting that the area of Inagi City at that time was a very livable place.
The pottery and stone tools discovered from the sites within the city can be viewed at the Inagi City Local History Museum.

Local History Room

• The address of the local history room is 1-9-1 Hirao, Inagi City. It is located on the second floor of Friend Hirao.
• The opening hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM. We are closed every Monday.

The following books are helpful for researching detailed information.

• Revised Edition of Inagi's Journey
• Such as 'History and Cultural Assets of Inagi'.

Inagi in the Primitive and Ancient Times

During the Edo period, people lived in units of villages. At that time, there were six villages in the Inagi City area: Yanokuchi Village, Naganuma Village, Omaru Village, Momura, Sakahama Village, and Hirao Village. These villages were centered around rice cultivation, and the village headman acted as the representative of the farmers in village politics.
One of the creations from the Edo period is the Omaru Irrigation Canal. This agricultural water was created by drawing water from the Tama River in Omaru and was used in the rice fields of Omaru Village, Naganuma Village, Yanokuchi Village, and the downstream villages. The water from the Omaru Irrigation Canal was extremely valuable for rice cultivation.
Materials from the Edo period and information about the Omaru Irrigation Canal can be viewed at the Inagi City Local History Museum.
For more detailed information, the following book is a useful reference.

• Revised Edition of Inagi's Journey
• Such as 'History and Cultural Assets of Inagi'.

Modern Inagi

The period from the Meiji era to the end of World War II in August 1945 is referred to as modern times. In April 1889, six villages merged to form Inagi Village. In 1893, it changed from Inagi Village in Kanagawa Prefecture's Minami-Tama District to Inagi Village in Tokyo's Minami-Tama District.
Since the Meiji era, pear cultivation in Inagi has flourished. In the 1890s, the production of pears such as "Chojuro" and "Nijisseiki" further boosted pear cultivation in Inagi. (The beginning of pear cultivation in Inagi dates back to the Edo period.)
In 1927, the Nambu Railway (now the Nambu Line) was extended to Omaru. Additionally, in 1935, the Tamagawahara Bridge was completed, gradually making life more convenient.
For more detailed information, the following book is a useful reference.

• Revised Edition of Inagi's Journey
• Such as 'History and Cultural Properties of Inagi City'.

Modern Inagi

The war ended in August 1945. The period that followed is referred to as the modern era. Due to the war, agriculture in Inagi had a reduced production volume, but it gradually recovered. In 1948, a agricultural cooperative was established, and rice and pear cultivation became increasingly active. The population of the village, which had temporarily decreased due to the war, also began to gradually increase.
In September 1949, the Oshitate area was incorporated into Inagi Village from Tama Village (now Fuchu City). In April 1957, with the increase in population, it became Inagi Town. At that time, the population was 10,145. In November 1971, with further population growth, it became Inagi City. At that time, the population was 36,800.
For detailed information, the following book is a useful reference.

• Revised Edition of Inagi's Journey
• Such as 'History and Cultural Properties of Inagi City'.