Minami-ku, Saitama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Minami-ku**
南区
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama
Physical characteristics
Area	13.89 km² (5.36 sq mi)
Population (as of 2008)
Total	170,045
Density	12,240 /km² (31,701 /sq mi)
Location	35°50′N, 139°38′E
Symbols
Minami-ku Government Office
Official website: Minami-ku

Minami-ku (南区, Minami-ku^?) is one of the ten wards of Saitama located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

On April 1, 1889, various mergers took place in Kitaadachi District. On the same date in 1932, further mergers resulted in the formation of the town of Urawa. This town became a city with the same name in 1934. Separately, the village of Mutsuji became a town in 1938, and in 1942 it was absorbed into Urawa, still with the name Mutsuji. The following year saw further consolidation of surrounding territory, resulting in the formation of the village of Misasa. Mergers continued throughout the 1950s, and in 2001, the most recent merger formed the city of Saitama. When it became a city designated by government ordinance in 2003, it established Minami-ku as one of its wards.

Many facilities are located in Minami-ku. The city has a ward office there, as well as a culture center. There are two public parks, a horse-racing track, and a swimming pool, which in winter serves as a skating rink. Minami-ku is home to Lotte Urawa Stadium, second home field of the Chiba Lotte Marines baseball team. A theme park, Musashi Urawa Ramen Academy, is in the ward.

The Arakawa River and several others drain the area. Minami has three bodies of water: Besshonuma, Shirahatanuma, and Saiko.

Transportation facilities include railway stations and highways. East Japan Railway Company (JR East) has four stations on three lines serving Minami-ku. The Tokyo Gaikan Expressway is nearby, and National highway Routes 17 and 298, together with the Route 17 bypass, carry vehicular traffic.

Actor-singer Takashi Sorimachi and actress Yūko Takeuchi are from Minami-ku.