Takasaki 高崎
—  Core city  —
高崎市 · Takasaki
Flag
Location of Takasaki in Gunma
Takasaki
Coordinates: 36°19′N 139°0′E / 36.317°N 139°E / 36.317; 139Coordinates: 36°19′N 139°0′E / 36.317°N 139°E / 36.317; 139
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma
Government
- Mayor	Kenji Tomioka (since May 2011)
Area
- Total	459.41 km2 (177.4 sq mi)
Population (November 1, 2010)
- Total	375,342
- Density	817.01/km2 (2,116/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Zelkova serrata, Cyclobalanopsis
- Flower	Sakura
- Bird	Japanese Bush-warbler
Website	City of Takasaki

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.

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

As of November 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 375,342 and a total area of 459.41 km², giving a population density of 817.01 persons per km².

History

Mergers

• On January 23, 2006, the towns of Gunma, Kurabuchi and Misato, all from Gunma District, and the town of Shin, 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.

Surrounding municipalities

• Gunma Prefecture
  • Maebashi
  • Annaka
  • Fujioka
  • Kanra
  • Shibukawa
  • Shintō
  • Tamamura
  • Naganohara
  • Higashiagatsuma
• Nagano Prefecture
  • Karuizawa
• Saitama Prefecture
  • Kamisato

Daruma dolls at Daruma-ji temple

Takasaki City Hall

Notable people

• Yasuhiro Nakasone - former Prime Minister of Japan
• Hirofumi Nakasone - politician (Yasuhiro Nakasone's son)
• Takeo Fukuda - former Prime Minister of Japan
• Yasuo Fukuda - former Prime Minister of Japan (Takeo Fukuda's son)
• Kyosuke Himuro - musician (former member of BOØWY)
• Tomoyasu Hotei - musician (former member of BOØWY)
• Tsunematsu Matsui - musician (former member of BOØWY)
• Famous German architect Bruno Taut lived for some time in Takasaki
• Fujio Masuoka - inventor of flash memory
• Kenji Tsukagoshi - navigator and aviator

Sport

• Arte Takasaki - football (soccer) club

Sister cities

In Japan

• Higashikurume, Tokyo

Outside Japan

• Battle Creek, Michigan, United States
• Santo Andre, Brazil
• Chengde, China
• Pilsen, Czech Republic
• Muntinlupa City, Philippines

Sightseeing

• Takasaki Castle
• Mount Haruna
• Lake Haruna
• Haruna Shrine
• Minowa Castle

Japan portal

Gunma Prefecture Cities Annaka | Fujioka | Isesaki | Kiryū | Maebashi  (capital) | Midori | Numata | Ōta | Shibukawa | Takasaki | Tatebayashi | Tomioka Districts Agatsuma | Kanra | Kitagunma | Ōra | Sawa | Tano | Tone See also: Towns and villages by district