Maebashi is the capitalcity of Gunma Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. The surrounding cities comprise an urban zone of over 1 million people, separated by farmland to the south from the built up areas of Greater Tokyo. As of October 1, 2019, the city had an estimated population of 332,999 and a population density of 1069 persons per km². Its total area is 311.59 km². It was the most populous city within Gunma Prefecture until Takasaki merged with nearby towns between 2006 and 2009. Maebashi is known to be the "City of Water, Greenery and Poets" because of its pure waters, its rich nature and because it gave birth to several Japanese contemporary poets, such as Sakutarō Hagiwara.
Geography
Maebashi is located at the foot of Mount Akagi in the northeast corner of the Kantō Plain. It is also surrounded by Mount Haruna and Mount Myōgi. Two rivers run through the city: the Tone River, Japan's second-longest, and the Hirose River. Maebashi is the farthest from the sea of all Japanese prefectural capitals.
Maebashi has a humid subtropical climate. In the winter, the "karakaze", or "dry wind" blows through Maebashi from the north. This is due to the snow clouds coming from the Sea of Japan being blocked by the Echigo Mountain Range between Gunma and Niigata Prefectures. Because of this, the city has a dry winter and is one of the sunniest places in Japan at over 2,210 hours of sunshine per year. In the summer, it is hot since the location is inland, although less hot than coastal Tokyo on average. On July 24, 2001, Maebashi hit, the fifth-hottest temperature ever in Japan.
History
The modern town of Maebashi was established within Higashigunma District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. Maebashi was raised to city status on April 1, 1892. In 1901, it annexed a portion of Kamikawabuchi village from Seta District. On August 5, 1945 approximately 64.2% of the urban core of the city was destroyed during World War II during air raids which followed the dropping of propaganda leaflets warning of the impending attacks. In 1951, a portion of Kaigaya Village from Seta District was merged into Maebashi. The city expanded further on April 1, 1954 by annexing the villages of Kamikawabuchi, Shimokawabuchi, Azuma, Minamitachibana, Kaigaya, Haga, Motosōja, and Sōja from Seta District, followed by a portion of Jōnan village in 1957. On April 1, 1960 a portion of Tamamura Town and another portion of Jōnan village were merged into Maebashi, which finally anned the remainder of Jōnan village in 1967. Maebashi hosted the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships. On April 1, 2001, Maebashi was designated a special city with increased local autonomy. On December 5, 2004 the town of Ōgo, and the villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi were merged into Maebashi. On May 5, 2009, the village of Fujimi was merged into Maebashi. Seta District was dissolved as a result of this merger. Maebashi became a core city on April 1, 2009.
Name Origins
Maebashi area was called Umayabashi during the Nara period. This name finds its origins in the fact that there was a bridge crossing the Tone River and not far from the bridge there was a small refreshment house with a stable, often used by people travelling on the Tōzan-dō. The spelling was officially changed into Maebashi in 1649 during the Edo period when Maebashi became a castle town and the center of Maebashi Domain, a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.
