Kawaguchi

Kawaguchi City is the "casting city." Kawaguchi is in southern Saitama Prefecture. Adjacent to Tokyo. Kawaguchi's population is about 590,000. Kawaguchi's history is the casting industry. Since the Edo period, technology to melt iron and pour into molds. Many Kawaguchi residents are descendants of "casting craftsmen." For Kawaguchi residents, "iron" is pride. But modern Kawaguchi is a "bedroom town." Many Kawaguchi residents work in Tokyo. About 20 minutes by train. For Kawaguchi residents, "Kawaguchi" is where they sleep. "Tokyo" is where they work. Kawaguchi residents have the history of "casting city," but modern Kawaguchi residents are unrelated to the casting industry. For Kawaguchi residents, "cars" are unnecessary. Trains are convenient. No parking. Parking fees are expensive (over 30,000 yen per month). For Kawaguchi residents, no reason to "own a car." Kawaguchi has many foreign residents (about 35,000, about 6% of population). Especially Chinese and Kurdish communities. Kawaguchi is a "diverse city." But that diversity is "worker" diversity. Many foreign residents work in factories. For Kawaguchi residents, motorsport is "another world." Kawaguchi has no circuit. Nearest is Tsukuba Circuit (Ibaraki Prefecture, about 70km). Kawaguchi residents live in Saitama's city closest to Tokyo, yet are indifferent to motorsport. Kawaguchi residents look at "Tokyo." Don't look at "cars."