city, Fukui ken (prefecture), Honshu, Japan. It is situated on the alluvial fan of the Hino River. During the Tokugawa period (1603–1867), it was a castle town and a provincial capital. The city's traditional industry is the manufacture of cutlery. During the Meiji period (1868–1912), silk manufacture was introduced, and Takefu now produces silk, paper, fertilizers, petrochemicals, and electrical appliances. Pop. (2005) 87,742.