Warabi, Saitama

Warabi 蕨市
—  City  —
Flag
Location of Warabi in Saitama
Warabi
Coordinates: 35°50′N 139°41′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama
Government
• Mayor	Hideo Yoritaka
Area
• Total	5.10 km2 (1.97 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	70,095
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Zelkova serrata
- Flower	Rhododendron indicum
Website	City of Warabi

Warabi (蕨市, Warabi-shi) is a city located in Saitama, Japan. Warabi is the name of a bracken. The city was founded on April 1, 1959.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 71,034 and a density of 13,928.24 persons per km². The total area is 5.10 km². Warabi is famous for being the most densely populated area of Japan.^{[citation needed]}

The city is served by Warabi Station on the Keihin-Tohoku Line.

Politics and government

The directly-elected executive mayor is Hideo Yoritaka, a member of the Japanese Communist Party. The legislative city assembly has 18 elected members.

Elections

• Warabi mayoral election, 2007
• Warabi city assembly election, 2007

Transportation

The west entrance of Warabi Station

Further information: Transportation in Greater Tokyo

The city is served by the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and the main station is Warabi Station.

Warabi schools

There are a total of seven elementary schools in Warabi city:

• Warabi Chūō Elementary 蕨市立中央小学校 (Central Elementary)
• Warabi Chūō-Higashi Elementary 蕨市立中央東小学校 (Central-East Elementary)
• Warabi Nishi Elementary 蕨市立西小学校 (West Elementary)
• Warabi Higashi Elementary 蕨市立東小学校 (East Elementary)
• Warabi Tsukagoshi Elementary 蕨市立塚越小学校 (Tsukagoshi Elementary)
• Warabi Kita Elementary 蕨市立北小学校 (North Elementary)
• Warabi Minami Elementary 蕨市立南小学校 (South Elementary)

Warabi Kita Elementary was refurbished in 2004 with a new wing added and various features added to improve disabled access (automated lifts, minimal steps, slopes for wheelchair access).

These Elementary schools feed a total of three Junior High Schools:

• Warabi City the First Junior High School (蕨市立第一中学校)
• Warabi City the Second Junior High School (蕨市立第二中学校)
• Warabi East Junior High (蕨市立東中学校)

There are also two High Schools in Warabi City:

• Warabi High School (蕨高等学校)
• Bunan High School (武南高等学校)

Notes of interest

Warabi city has played host to the all-Japan Chinese Wushu championships, and so is one of the few Japanese cities that have a strong Wushu tradition. Wushu is offered in some elementary schools as an after-school activity, and is practised by a significant number of Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students.

El Dorado County, California, USA is a sister municipality to Warabi city.

External links

• Warabi official website (Japanese)