is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 73,626, and a population density of 1,100 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Kai is located in central Yamanashi Prefecture, orientated north-south along the banks of the Fuji River. Surrounding municipalities Yamanashi Prefecture Nirasaki Hokuto Minami-Alps Kōfu Shōwa Climate The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Kai is 14.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1240 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.4 °C. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Kai more than tripled between 1960 and 2000 and has grown at a slower pace since. History The area of present day Kai was part of ancient Kai Province and have numerous Jomon period ruins. During the Sengoku period, warlord Takeda Shingen built embankments on the Kamanashi River for flood control and to open up new rice lands. During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. The city of Kai was established on September 1, 2004, from the merger of the town of Futaba (from Kitakoma District), and the towns of Ryūō and Shikishima (both from Nakakoma District). It takes its name from the old name for Yamanashi Prefecture, Kai Province. Government Kai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 19 members. Education Kai has eleven public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation Railway Central Japan Railway Company - Chūō Main Line - Highway Chūō Expressway Chūbu-Ōdan Expressway Sister city relations Keokuk, Iowa, USA Notable people Shin Nakagomi – professional baseball player Youichi Imamura – professional racecar driver Karin Ogino – former idol References External links Official Website Cities in Yamanashi Prefecture