Kiryu, Gunma
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Kiryū (桐生市; -shi) is a city located in Gunma, Japan. The characters of the city name translate as 'paulownia tree' and 'life.'
As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 112,690 and the density of 819.74 persons per km². The total area is 137.47 km2.
The city was incorporated on March 1, 1921.
While Kiryu is considered both a city and to be part of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area, it is still widely thought of as a rural area. Its population has been in steady decline since the early 1990s, due to both a national population stagnation as well as a steady migration of young people to metropolitan areas (principally Tokyo).
Kiryu's principle industries were the manufacturig of silk and woven products as well as the manufacture of pachinko machines. However the decreased demand for silk goods and the closure of several area manufacturing concerns have left the local economy in poor straits.
Nevertheless, the city still boasts one of the most beautiful settings in the Kanto region. Two rivers, the Kiryu and the Watarase run through the heart of the city and it is likewise surrounded by picturesque mountains to the north.
Nearby cities include Ōta and Ashikaga in Tochigi Prefecture.
External links
- Official website (http://www.city.kiryu.gunma.jp/) in Japanese
- Kiryu International Exchange Organization (http://www.kiea.jp/) in English/Japanese