Gunma Prefecture

See Gunma (disambiguation) for other places whose name is Gunma in Japan.

Gunma Prefecture (or Gumma) (群馬県; Gunma-ken) is located in the Kanto region on Honshu island, Japan. The capital is Maebashi.

Contents

1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Cities 2.2 Towns and Villages 2.3 Mergers 2.3.1 Numata expansion 2.3.2 Isesaki expansion 2.3.3 Maebashi expansion 3 Economy 4 Demographics 5 Culture 6 Tourism 7 Prefectural symbols 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links

History

In the past, Gunma was joined with Tochigi and called Kenu Province. This was later divided into Kami-kenu (Upper Kenu) and Shimo-kenu (Lower Kenu). For most of Japanese history, Gunma was known as the province of Kouzuke .

Geography

Gunma is the northwestern-most prefecture of the Kanto, and is mostly mountainous in the north, with more of the population concentrated in the southern half facing Saitama Prefecture. It has a colder climate more like the Hokuriku region than the lower parts of the Kanto.

Gunma is said to be shaped like a crane in flight (Jomo Karuta).

Cities

• An'naka
• Fujioka
• Isesaki
• Kiryu
• Maebashi (capital)
• Numata
• Ota
• Shibukawa
• Takasaki
• Tatebayashi
• Tomioka

Towns and Villages

Agatsuma Agatsuma Azuma Kuni Kusatsu Naganohara Nakanojo Takayama Tsumagoi Gunma Gunma Haruna Kurabuchi Misato Kanra Kanra Myogi Nanmoku Shimonita Kitagunma Ikaho Komochi Onogami Shinto Yoshioka Nitta Kasakake Nitta Ojima Yabuzukahon

Oura Chiyoda Itakura Meiwa Oizumi Oura Sawa Tamamura Seta Akagi Azuma Fujimi Kitatachibana Kurohone Niisato Tano Kanna Onishi Shin Ueno Yoshii Tone Katashina Kawaba Minakami Niiharu Showa Tsukiyono Usui Matsuida Yamada Omama

Mergers

Numata expansion

On February 13, 2005, the former villages of Shirasawa and Tone from Tone District merged into the expanded city of Numata.

Isesaki expansion

On January 1, 2005, the former towns of Akabori and Sakai and former village of Azuma from Sawa District merged into the expanded city of Isesaki.

Maebashi expansion

On December 5, 2004, the former town of Ogo and former villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi from Seta District merged into the expanded city of Maebashi.

Economy

Gunma's modern industries include transport equipment and electrical equipment, concentrated around Maebashi and the eastern region nearest Tokyo. More traditional industries include silk and agriculture.

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

Many places in Gunma are famous for their hot spring resorts. Another draw to the mountainous Gunma is the ski resorts.

Prefectural symbols

The prefectural symbol consists of the first kanji of the word 'Gunma' surrounded by three stylized mountains symbolizing the three important mountains of Gunma Prefecture: Mt. Haruna, Mt. Akagi, and Mt. Myogi.

Miscellaneous topics

External links

• Official Gunma Prefecture homepage