Isesaki, Gunma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Isesaki**
**伊勢崎市**
Isesaki's location in Gunma, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma
Physical characteristics
Area	139.33 km² (53.80 sq mi)
Population (as of April 1, 2008)
Total	210,706
Density	1,512.28 /km² (3,917 /sq mi)
Location	36°19′N, 139°12′E
Symbols
Tree	Pine
Flower	Azalea
Flag
Isesaki Government Office
Address	〒372-8501 2-410 Imaizumi-chō, Isesaki-shi, Gunma-ken
Phone number	0270-24-5111
Official website: City of Isesaki

Isesaki is a city in Gunma Prefecture. For the district in Yokohama, see Isezakicho.

Isesaki (伊勢崎市, Isesaki-shi^?) is a city located in Gunma, Japan. The current population is 209,000.

A small city located near the geographic center of Japan's main island of Honshū, Isesaki is the fourth largest city in Gunma Prefecture and it is one of the growing cities within Gunma Prefecture. The center of the city is 15km (9mi) away from central Maebashi, 95km (59mi) from Central Tokyo, and it is located in the northwestern portion of the Kantō region and is next door neighbor to Saitama Prefecture across the Tone River.

On January 1, 2005 the towns of Akabori and Sakai and the village of Azuma from Sawa District merged with the city.

The city was founded on September 13, 1940.

Isesaki is the birthplace of Mitsuru Adachi, the creator of the baseball manga Touch, as well as several others.

J-List, the Japanese export company, is based in Isesaki, as is Japanese photographer Satoshi Kizu, discoverer of Yulia Nova, a Russian nude idol popular in Japan and on the Internet.

Isesaki is famous for silk fabrics (along with neighboring Kiryu). This craft is known as Isesaki Meisen. It has been made since the late 17th century, and became popular during the Meiji and Taisho eras. Now, however, due to the ubiquity of Western-style clothes, its popularity is decreasing.