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Maebashi
Maebashi; 前橋
	— Core city —
前橋市 · Maebashi City
	A view of Maebashi with Mt. Akagi, from the top of the Prefectural Government building (Kencho)
	; Flag
	; Flag
	Location of Maebashi in Gunma
	; Maebashi
	Coordinates: 36°23′N 139°4′E / 36.383°N 139.067°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma
	Government
- Mayor	Masao Takagi
	Area
- Total	241.22 km2 (93.1 sq mi)
Population; (2007)	324,644
- Density	1,345/km2 (3,483.5/sq mi)
	City Symbols
- Tree	Ginkgo & Zelkova
- Flower	Rose & Azalea
Website	Maebashi
Phone number	27-224-1111
	Address 2-12-1, Ote-Machi, Maebashi-shi, Gunma-ken; 371-8601

Ogo Green Flower Pasture

Maebashi (前橋市, Maebashi-shi^?) is the capital city of Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

The city was founded on April 1, 1892, by the samurai Makuba Kawai.

On December 5, 2004 the town of Ōgo, and the villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi, all from Seta District, were merged into Maebashi.

As of this merger, but with 2003 population data, the city has an estimated population of 321,813 and a density of 1,334 persons per km². The total area is 241.22 km². It was traditionally the most populous city in Gunma until Takasaki merged with nearby towns.

Maebashi hosted the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

[edit] Geography

Maebashi is located at the foot of Mt. Akagi in the northeast corner of the Kantō Plain. The Tone River, Japan's second-longest, runs through the western part of the city. Also, Maebashi is farthest from the sea (about 120km) among all Japanese prefectural capitals.

[edit] 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. Because of this, the city has a mild winter. In the summer, it is hot since the location is inland. On July 24, 2001, Maebashi hit 40℃, the fifth hottest temperature ever in Japan.

[edit] Surrounding municipalities

Gunma Prefecture
- Isesaki
- Kiryū
- Shibukawa
- Takasaki
- Shintō
- Tamamura
- Yoshioka

[edit] History

1892 - Maebashi was founded
1901 - A portion of Kamikawabuchi village is merged into Maebashi
1951 - A portion of Kaigaya village is merged into Maebashi
1954 - Kamikawabuchi village, Shimokawabuchi village, Azuma village, Minamitachibana village, Kaigaya village, Haga village, Motosōja village, and Sōja village are merged into Maebashi
1957 - A portion of Jōnan village is merged into Maebashi
1960 - A portion of Tamamura town and another portion of Jōnan village is merged into Maebashi
1967 - Jōnan village is merged into Maebashi
2004 - Mayor Masao Takagi is elected
2004 - Ōgo town, Miyagi village, and Kasukawa village are merged into Maebashi
A planned merger of municipalities was implemented on May 5, 2009; the village of Fujimi, from Seta District, was merged into Maebashi. Seta District ceased to exist as a result.^[1]