Takasaki, Gunma

Takasaki
Takasaki; 高崎
	— Core city —
高崎市 · Takasaki
	Takasaki White Wear Kannon Statue
	; Flag
	; Flag
	Location of Takasaki in Gunma
	Takasaki
	Coordinates: 36°19′N 139°0′E / 36.317°N 139.000°ECoordinates: 36°19′N 139°0′E / 36.317°N 139.000°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma
	Government
• Mayor	Kenji Tomioka (since May 2011)
	Area
• Total	459.41 km2 (177.38 sq mi)
	Population (November 1, 2010)
• Total	375,342
• Density	817.01/km2 (2,116.0/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Zelkova serrata, Cyclobalanopsis
- Flower	Sakura
- Bird	Japanese Bush-warbler
Website	www.city.takasaki.gunma.jp

Takasaki (高崎市, Takasaki-shi^?) is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1900. Takasaki is a regional transportation hub because its train station (Takasaki Station) is the junction of several rail lines as well as a Shinkansen ("bullet train") stop. As of November 1, 2010, the city had an estimated population of 375,342 and a total area of 459.41 km², giving a population density of 817.01 persons per km².

Takasaki is famous as the hometown of the Daruma doll, theoretically representing the Buddhist sage Bodhidharma and in modern practice a symbol of good luck.

History [edit]

Mergers [edit]

On January 23, 2006, the towns of Gunma, Kurabuchi and Misato, all from Gunma District, and the town of Shinmachi, from Tano District, merged into the expanded city of Takasaki.
On October 1, 2006, the town of Haruna, from Gunma District, merged into Takasaki. Gunma District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
On June 1, 2009, the town of Yoshii, from Tano District, merged into Takasaki.^[1]