Ōta, Gunma

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**Ōta**
**太田市**
Ōta's location in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	176.49 km² (68.14 sq mi)
Population (as of 2006)
Total	217,038
Location	36°17′N, 139°23′E
Symbols
Flag
Ōta Government Office
Address	〒373-8718 2-35, Hama-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken
Phone number	0276-47-1111
Official website: http://www.city.ota.gunma.jp/

Ōta (太田市, Ōta-shi^?) is a city located 50 miles northwest of Tokyo, in Eastern Gunma, Japan. This city is located between the Tone and Watarase rivers. As a result, the new city reached a total population of 217,038, making it the third most populous city in Gunma.

Ōta's leading industry is manufacturing, centered in the southeast part of the city. Ōta leads the prefecture in manufacturing revenue. It is the home of the car manufacturer Subaru, a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. However, the northern part of Ōta is characterized by its farms, most of which produce rice. Also, Ōta is a major transportation hub in the Tomo (Eastern Gunma) region and the home of the Sanyo Wild Knights rugby team.

The original city of Ōta lasted from May 31, 1948 till March 27, 2005. The mayor of the new city of Ōta is Masayoshi Shimizu, the last mayor of the original city of Ōta.

Ōta is also known as having one of the largest selections of bars in Japan. Many of them are found to the south of Ōta Station, in the downtown area. A large number of these bars are hostess bars with surprisingly conspicuous names such as Pub Sexy and Club the Minge (in English).

The city became a special city on April 1, 2007 (next door neighbor Isesaki will also become a special city on the same day).

1 Places of Interest
2 Transportation
3 Demographics
4 Municipal History
5 Mayor
6 External links

[edit] Places of Interest

Daikoin Temple - Founded in 1618. Popular with nickname Kosodate Donryu (meaning kid-raising Saint Donryu). Located 2.4 km northwest of the downtown.
Kanayama Castle - A Kamakura-era castle on the top of Mt. Kanayama (244 m). Located 3.2 km north of the downtown.
Tenjin'yama Kofun - A large ancient burial mound (from around the 5th century).
Yabuzuka Onsen - Ōta's hot springs. Originally it was Yabuzukahoncho Town area annexed by Ōta. 9.7 km northwest of the downtown.
Snake Center - Located in Yabuzuka Onsen area. Famous for collection of rare kinds of snakes.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Rail

Ōta Station is one of Tobu Railway's hub stations. The Isesaki Line, Kiryu Line, and Koizumi Line all meet here. Ōta Station is also an express stop on the JR Ryomo Line. Following are approximate times by train from Ōta:

Takasaki, Gunma: 1 hr
Maebashi, Gunma: 50 min
Isesaki, Gunma: 30 min
Kiryu, Gunma: 20 min
Ashikaga, Tochigi: 10 min
Tatebayashi, Gunma: 25 min
Tokyo: 1 hr 20 min (by Express Ryomo)

[edit] Bus

There is bus coverage, both local and inter-city, such as to Kumagaya, Saitama.

[edit] Roads

National Route 122- connects to Tokyo, Saitama City, Tatebayashi, Kiryu, and Nikkō.
National Route 407- connects to Higashimatsuyama, Kumagaya, and Ashikaga.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Municipal History

The city's name was taken from Ōtajuku (太田宿, Ōtajuku^?).

[edit] Original City of Ōta

On April 1, 1889, as the modern town and village system was introduced, town of Ōta and villages of Kuai, Sawano, Shimanogō, Gōdo and Hōsen were incorporated in Nitta District and villages of Niragawa and Morita were incorporated in Yamada District.
On July 15, 1893, villages of Yabagawa and Kyūhaku independed from Niragawa.
On April 1, 1940, Ōta, Kuai, Sawano and Niragawa merged to form new town of Ōta.
On November 1, 1943, Ōta absorbed Shimanogō.
On May 3, 1948, Ōta gained city status (the current city of Hitachiota in Ibaraki Prefecture had the same name in the past, while Hitachiota was a town as Ōta.
On April 1, 1957, the city absorbed the village of Kyodo from Nitta District and the village of Kyuhaku from Yamada District.
On July 1, 1960, the city absorbed parts of the village of Yabakawa from Yamada District.
On April 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Hosen from Nitta District.
On December 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Kesatoda from Yamada District.
In 1977, "Belltown," located in front of Ōta Station opens (Uni Ota store was also opened at the same time ※closed on January 2007)
In 1995, Masayoshi Shimizu (current mayor) defeated Hisao Tozawa to become the mayor of Ōta until the former city of Ōta dissolves.
In 1998, the new city hall building (the current city hall) completed.
On October 10, 1998, FM Taro launched it's airwaves from Ota Hall located next to the city hall.
On December 5, 2003, the largest shopping center in the Kita-Kantō Region, "Aeon Ota Shopping Center" opened at Ishihara-cho, northwestern area of the city.
On November 25, 2004, Ōta station was elevated to an overcross station.
On March 27, 2005, the old city of Ōta closes.

[edit] The new city of Ōta (March 28, 2005-present)

On March 28, 2005, the old city of Ōta and the towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahon from Nitta District were replaced, and the area became the new city of Ōta.
- As of the merger, the total area is 176.49km², and the population went over 200,000 with 217,000 people.
- The former city of Ōta had a population of 152,000, with a total area of 97.96km².
  The city hall is located at the former Ota City Hall and the former town halls of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahon became synthesis branch offices.
On April 17, 2005, the mayor election was held upon this merger and the former mayor of the old city of Ōta, Masayoshi Shimizu, was elected as the first mayor of the new city of Ōta.
On July 1, 2005, the city's seal was selected.

[edit] Scheduled

In 2006, The new train station building of Ōta will be completed.
On April 1, 2007, the city will became a special city. (Next door neighbor Isesaki will also became a special city on the same day)
In September 2007, Ōta and Yabutsuka interchanges on the Kita-Kantō Expressway will open.

[edit] Mayor

[edit] the post-merger of the city of Ōta

1st: Masayoshi Shimizu(清水聖義, April 18, 2005~)
- intrim mayor: Akira Yamazaki (山﨑昭, the former mayor of the town of Nitta, March 28~April 17, 2005)

[edit] former city of Ōta

preceding：Hisao Tosawa (戸澤久夫, ~1995)
last:Masayoshi Shimizu(currently the mayor of Ōta, 1995~March 27, 2005)

※Also, the city council has it own council from the old city of Ōta, and the old towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahonmachi, with a combined council members of 73.

[edit] City Hall Information

Ota City Hall

〒 373-8718

2-35, Hama-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-47-1111

Nitta Synthesis Branch Office (the old Nitta Town Hall)

〒 370-0392

29, Nittakanai-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-57-1111

Ojima Synthesis Branch Office (the old Ojima Town Hall)

〒 370-0495

520, Kasukawa-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-52-1511

Yabuzuka Synthesis Branch Office (the old Yabuzukahon Town Hall)

〒 379-2393

661-1, Obara-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0277-78-2111

[edit] External links

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