Maebashi (前橋市,Maebashi-shi;Japanese pronunciation:[ma.eꜜ.ba.ɕi,maꜜ.e-,ma.e.ba.ɕiꜜ.ɕi],locally[ma.e.ba.ɕi][2]) is thecapitalcity ofGunma Prefecture, in the northernKantō region of Japan.[3] As of 31 August 2020[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 335,352 in 151,171 households,[4] and apopulation density of 1100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 311.59 km2 (120.31 sq mi). It was the most populous city withinGunma Prefecture untilTakasaki merged with nearby towns between 2006 and 2009.[5] Maebashi is known to be the "City of Water, Greenery and Poets" because of its pure waters, its rich nature and because it gave birth to several Japanese contemporary poets, such asSakutarō Hagiwara.[6]
The Maebashi area was calledUmayabashi (厩橋) during theNara period. This name finds its origins in the fact that there was a bridge (hashi,橋) crossing theTone River and not far from the bridge there was a small refreshment house with a stable (umaya,駅家), often used by people travelling on theTōzan-dō (the road connecting the capital to the eastern regions of Japan). The spelling was officially changed intoMaebashi (前橋) in 1649 during theEdo period when Maebashi became acastle town and the center ofMaebashi Domain, afeudal domain under theTokugawa shogunate.[7]
The town of Maebashi was established withinHigashigunma District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system after theMeiji Restoration. Maebashi was raised to city status on April 1, 1892. In 1901, it annexed a portion of Kamikawabuchi village fromSeta District.[citation needed]
On August 5, 1945, approximately 64.2% of the urban core of the city was destroyed duringWorld War II duringair raids which followed the dropping of propaganda leaflets warning of the impending attacks.[8][9]
In 1951, a portion of Kaigaya Village from Seta District was merged into Maebashi. The city expanded further on April 1, 1954, by annexing the villages of Kamikawabuchi, Shimokawabuchi, Azuma, Minamitachibana, Kaigaya, Haga, Motosōja, and Sōja from Seta District, followed by a portion of Jōnan village in 1957. On April 1, 1960, a portion of Tamamura Town and another portion of Jōnan village were merged into Maebashi, which finally annexed the remainder of Jōnan village in 1967.[citation needed]
On December 5, 2004, the town ofŌgo, as well as the villages ofKasukawa andMiyagi (all from Seta District), were merged into Maebashi. On May 5, 2009, the village ofFujimi (Seta District) was merged into Maebashi. Seta District was dissolved as a result of this merger.[11]
Maebashi is located at the foot ofMount Akagi in the northeast corner of theKantō Plain. It is also surrounded byMount Haruna andMount Myōgi. Two rivers run through the city: theTone River, Japan's second-longest, and the Hirose River. Although it is located inland more than 100 kilometers away from the coast, the elevation of the southern part of the city is only around 100 meters. The highest elevation is 1823 meters above sea level on the south side of Mt. Kurohino, a peak ofMount Akagi. Maebashi is the farthest from the sea (about 120 km) of all Japanese prefectural capitals. The surrounding cities comprise an urban zone of over 1 million people, separated by farmland to the south from the built up areas of Greater Tokyo.
Maebashi has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa). In the winter, thekarakkaze, 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 andNiigata Prefectures. Because of this, the city has a dry winter and is one of the sunniest places in Japan at over 2,210 hours of sunshine per year.[13] In the summer, it is hot since the location is inland, although less hot than coastalTokyo on average. On July 24, 2001, Maebashi hit 40 °C (104 °F), the fifth-hottest temperature ever in Japan.
Climate data for Maebashi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1896−present)
Maebashi has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 38 members. Maebashi contributes eight members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofGunma 1st district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Maebashi has 54 public elementary schools and 21 public middle schools operated by the city government, and two private elementary and two private middle schools. The city has nine public high schools operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education and one by the city government. There are five private high schools and one private combined middle/high school.
^"UEA Code Tables". Center for Spatial Information Science, University of Tokyo. Archived fromthe original on January 9, 2019. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2019.
^NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, ed. (24 May 2016).NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典 (in Japanese). NHK Publishing.
^Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO),"Maebashi area"; retrieved 2015-05-10.
^アクセス. Gunma Korean Elementary and Junior High School. December 11, 2007. Archived fromthe original on December 11, 2007. RetrievedOctober 14, 2015.群馬朝鮮初中級学校 群馬県前橋市荒牧町 2-2
^Yagyū, Toshinaga (1957, 1989)Shōden Shinkage-ryū. Kōdansha, reprinted by Shimazu Shobō,ISBN4-88218-012-X.
^ab"国際交流" (in Japanese). Maebashi. Retrieved2025-09-22.
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