status to become the town of Iriki. April 1, 1951 - The village of Mizuhiki was merged into the city of Sendai. December 1, 1952 - The village of Kami-Tōgō was elevated to town status to become the town of Tōgō. April 1, 1955 - The villages of Ōmura, Kuroki and Imuta were merged to become the town of Kedōin. September 30, 1956 - The villages of Takae and Nagatoshi were merged into the city of Sendai. April 1, 1957 Part of Shimo-Tōgō was merged into the town of Tōgō and the village of Taki (respectively). Remainder of Shimo-Tōgō was merged into the city of Sendai. January 1, 1960 - The village of Taki was elevated to town status to become the town of Taki. April 15, 1965 - The town of Taki was merged into city of Sendai. Satsumasendai (After 2004) October 12, 2004 - the city of Satsumasendai was created from the merger of the city of Sendai, Kagoshima, the towns of Hiwaki, Iriki, Kedōin and Tōgō, and the Koshikijima Islands (which consisted of the villages of Kamikoshiki, Kashima, Sato and Shimokoshiki) (all from Satsuma District). Festivals Sendai Otsunahiki Sendai River Fireworks Festival Neighboring municipalities Cities : Kagoshima, Kirishima, Izumi, Hioki, Akune, Aira, Ichikikushikino Towns : Satsuma Friendship cities Changshu, P.R. China Malu Town, Jiading District, P.R. China Transport Railways Kyushu Railway Company Kyushu Shinkansen Sendai Station Kagoshima Main Line Sendai Station - Kumanojo Station - Kobanchaya Station Hisatsu Orange Railway Hisatsu Orange Railway Line Nishikata Station - Satsuma-Taki Station - Kusamichi Station - Kamisendai Station - Sendai Station Former railway line Japan National Railway Miyanojo Line(1924-1987) Sendai Station - Satsuma-Shirahama Station - Kusumoto Station - Yoshinoyama Station - Hiwaki Station - Kamihiwaki Station - Iriki Station Roads Highways Minamikyushu Expressway Satsumasendai-Miyako IC National Highway Route 3 Route 267 Route 328 Route 504 References External links Satsumasendai City official website Kagoshima Prefectural Visitors Bureau official website Sendai Giant Tug-of-war The Asahi Shimbun, 2012/09/23 Cities in Kagoshima Prefecture Port settlements in Japan Populated coastal places in Japan