Kure, Hiroshima

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**Kure**
呉市
Kure's location in Hiroshima, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'yō)
Prefecture	Hiroshima
Physical characteristics
Area	353.74 km² (136.58 sq mi)
Population (as of January 2008)
Total	246,118
Density	696 /km² (1,803 /sq mi)
Location	34°15′N, 132°34′E
Symbols
Tree	Oak
Flower	Camellia
Flag
Kure Government Office
Mayor	Kazutoshi Komura
Address	〒737-8501 4-1-6 Chūō, Kure-shi, Hiroshima-ken
Phone number	0823-25-3100
Official website: Kure City

Kure train station.

Kure (呉市, Kure-shi^?) is a city located in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.

As of the January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 246,118 and a density of 696 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².

The city was founded on October 1, 1902. Up until the end of the Second World War, it served as a military and naval center. Headquarters of Independent Field Records was situated there in 1956.

Kure was the home base of the largest battleship ever built, the Yamato. A museum with a 1:10 scale model of the ship is located in the city.

July 1, 1889 Kure Army base founded
October 1, 1902 Washō Town, Futagawa Town, Miyahara Village, and Sōyamada Village merge to form Kure City
November 10, 1903 Kure Naval Arsenal established
April 1, 1928 The towns of Kegoya, Yoshiura, and Aga merge into Kure
April 21, 1941 Nigata Town and Hiro Village merge with Kure
May 5, 1945 Bombing of Hiro Naval Arsenal
June 22, 1945 Bombing of Kure Naval Arsenal
July 1, 1945 Kure Air Raid
July 24 - July 28, 1945 Battle of Kure, American bombers attack the remaining fleet in Kure Naval Base
July 1, 1954 Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces founded
October 1, 1956 Tennō Town (天応町) and Shōwa Village (昭和村) in Aki District and Gōhara Village (郷原村) in Kamo District merge into Kure
November 1, 2000 Kure becomes a Special City
April 1, 2003 Shimokamagari Town in Aki District merged into Kure
April 1, 2004 Kawajiri Town in Toyota District merged into Kure
March 20, 2005 The towns of Ondo, Kurahashi, Kamagari in Aki District and the towns of Yasuura, Toyohama and Yutaka were merged into Kure.