Kiryū 桐生市 | |
|---|---|
 Kiryū city hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Kiryū in Gunma Prefecture | |
  Kiryū | |
| Coordinates:36°24′18.6″N139°29′50.1″E / 36.405167°N 139.497250°E /36.405167; 139.497250 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Gunma |
| Area | |
• Total | 274.45 km2 (105.97 sq mi) |
| Population (July 2020) | |
• Total | 108,991 |
| • Density | 397.13/km2 (1,028.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 0277-46-1111 |
| Address | 1-1 Orihimechō, Kiryū-shi, Gunma-ken 376-8501 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Salvia splendens |
| Tree | Sweet Osmanthus |
Kiryū (桐生市,Kiryū-shi) is acity located inGunma Prefecture,Japan. As of 31 July 2020[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 108,991 in 49,745 households,[1] and apopulation density of 400 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 274.45 square kilometres (105.97 sq mi).
Kiryū is in the southeast part of Gunma, in the northernKantō Plain near the Tochigi border. It is located approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) northwest of Tokyo. The city is also not far fromMount Akagi, a large but dormant volcano. The city consists of two separate geographic areas, with the city ofMidori sandwiched in between. Situated at the foot of Mount Akagi, the city boasts one of the most beautiful settings in theKantō region. Two rivers, the Kiryū and theWatarase River, run through the heart of the city and it is likewise surrounded by picturesque mountains to the north. Umeda, a district on the north side of the city, is well known for its cedar trees, while red pines are also common in other areas.
Kiryū has aHumid continental climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kiryū is 14.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1297 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C.[2]
| Climate data for Kiryū (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.7 (65.7) | 22.8 (73.0) | 26.5 (79.7) | 32.2 (90.0) | 35.4 (95.7) | 37.6 (99.7) | 39.9 (103.8) | 40.5 (104.9) | 37.4 (99.3) | 32.9 (91.2) | 27.6 (81.7) | 24.1 (75.4) | 39.9 (103.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.0 (48.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 13.6 (56.5) | 19.2 (66.6) | 24.0 (75.2) | 26.6 (79.9) | 30.2 (86.4) | 31.6 (88.9) | 27.4 (81.3) | 21.7 (71.1) | 16.4 (61.5) | 11.4 (52.5) | 20.1 (68.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) | 4.3 (39.7) | 7.8 (46.0) | 13.2 (55.8) | 18.1 (64.6) | 21.5 (70.7) | 25.2 (77.4) | 26.2 (79.2) | 22.5 (72.5) | 16.7 (62.1) | 10.8 (51.4) | 5.7 (42.3) | 14.6 (58.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) | −1.1 (30.0) | 2.3 (36.1) | 7.5 (45.5) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 21.1 (70.0) | 22.2 (72.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 12.4 (54.3) | 5.7 (42.3) | 0.5 (32.9) | 9.8 (49.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.6 (18.3) | −8.6 (16.5) | −8.3 (17.1) | −2.2 (28.0) | 3.2 (37.8) | 9.5 (49.1) | 11.3 (52.3) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.3 (46.9) | 2.1 (35.8) | −2.7 (27.1) | −7.6 (18.3) | −8.6 (16.5) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 33.2 (1.31) | 28.4 (1.12) | 63.9 (2.52) | 83.9 (3.30) | 110.0 (4.33) | 152.8 (6.02) | 201.3 (7.93) | 180.1 (7.09) | 178.6 (7.03) | 155.3 (6.11) | 53.1 (2.09) | 28.5 (1.12) | 1,269.1 (49.96) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.5 | 4.0 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 10.3 | 13.2 | 14.7 | 12.1 | 12.0 | 9.6 | 6.0 | 3.8 | 105.8 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 223.0 | 210.4 | 210.5 | 203.9 | 194.5 | 136.2 | 150.7 | 177.0 | 137.9 | 153.6 | 183.2 | 204.3 | 2,185.1 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[3][4] | |||||||||||||
Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Kiryū peaked around the year 1980 and has declined steadily over the past 50 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 37,674 | — |
| 1930 | 52,906 | +40.4% |
| 1940 | 86,086 | +62.7% |
| 1950 | 95,533 | +11.0% |
| 1960 | 138,224 | +44.7% |
| 1970 | 146,489 | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 147,744 | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 142,838 | −3.3% |
| 2000 | 134,298 | −6.0% |
| 2010 | 121,704 | −9.4% |
| 2020 | 106,445 | −12.5% |
Kiryū is located within traditionalKōzuke Province and has been noted since theNara period for production of fabrics. The place name appears in theKamakura periodAzuma Kagami. During theEdo period, most of the area of present-day Kiryū was part of thetenryō holding under the direct administration of theTokugawa shogunate, with the exception of the commercial center and temple town of Kiryū-shinmachi, noted forsericulture since the Nara period, which was part ofShōnai Domain ofDewa Province. The area also prospered from its location on the Kiryū and Watarase rivers.
Kiryū Town was created withinYamada District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system after theMeiji Restoration. It was raised to city status on March 1, 1921. Kiryū annexed the neighboring village of Sakaino on April 1, 1933 and village of Hirosawa on April 1, 1937. The city expanded further with the annexation of Umeda, Aioi and part of Kawauchi village on October 1, 1954.
On June 13, 2005, Kiryū absorbed the villages ofNiisato andKurohone (both fromSeta District).
Kiryū has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 22 members. Kiryū contributes three members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between theGunma 1st district and theGunma 2nd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Traditionally, Kiryū's principal industry wassericulture and silk textile manufacturing, with records dating silk production as far back as 713 AD.[citation needed]Pachinko manufacturing arrived in Kiryū afterWorld War II, during the period of industrial reconstruction, with the formation of two main companies—theHeiwa Corporation in 1949, and the Sophia Corporation in 1951. Kiryū's factories are responsible for manufacturing 60% of Japan's pachinko machines.[citation needed] However, the decreased demand for silk goods and the closure of several area manufacturing concerns have caused the local economy to suffer.
Mitsuba Corporation, a major manufacturer of automotive parts is headquartered in the city.[6]
Kiryū has 17 public elementary schools and ten public middle schools operated by the city government, and six public high schools operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education. There are also two private middle schools and two private high schools.The prefecture also operates three special education schools for the handicapped. The Engineering department ofGunma University is located in the Tenjin district of the city.
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JR East –Ryōmō Line
Jōmō Electric Railway Company -Jōmō Line
Tōbu Railway –Tōbu Kiryū LineHaving been virtually untouched by bombs during World War II, the city boasts one of the greatest concentrations of pre-war architecture in all of Japan.[citation needed]
Kiryu is especially known in the area forsaw-tooth roof structures. The official mascot of Kiryu city is a saw-tooth themed character named Kinopi (キノピー). Many of these saw-tooth structures are still in use today, re-purposed for various businesses.
Kiryū City officially released a manga titledThe Silk Weaver’s Apprentice and the Kiryū Spirit in collaboration with Tokyo-based publisher Manga Planet.[7] The series is being simultaneously released in both English and Japanese on Manga Planet's official website.[8]According to website,[9] in the manga Princess Shirataki, the spirit of the Kiryū traditional weaving art, takes the form of a young girl and appears suddenly before an apprentice of the Kiryū tradition and his childhood friend, a girl going to Tokyo College of Art. These three live together, learn the seven techniques of the Kiryū art and discover how to use it in modern-day fashion.
Hitachi, Ibaraki, since June 18, 1965
Biella,Piemonte,Italy, since October 12, 1963
Columbus,Georgia, United States, since June 16, 1977Naruto, Tokushima, since September 18, 1980Unofficial sources state that in thePokemon franchise, Route 3 in the Kanto Region was modeled after Kiryū.[10]
The manga seriesThe Flowers of Evil is set in Kiryū.[11]
Kiryu travel guide from Wikivoyage| Core cities |  | |
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