Koriyama has grown steadily since the completion of the Asaka Plains and Canal project in the early Meiji period. The project involved bringing water from Lake Inawashiro to the dry plains of Asaka. Samurai warriors from around the country were encouraged by the government to relocate here and exchange their swords for farm implements in order to cultivate the land. Today, Koriyama benefits from its location at the crossroads of a modern high-speed transportation network including the north-south Tohoku Shinkansen and Expressway, the east-west Banetsu Expressway and Fukushima Airport. Citizens experience a comfortable life-style in our modern city, embracing our culture heritage and enjoying our clean environment.