| Shibukawa 渋川市 |
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| — City — | |
| Location of Shibukawa in Gunma Prefecture | |
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Shibukawa
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Gunma Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sadaji Akutsu (since September 2009) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 240.42 km2 (92.8 sq mi) |
| Population (May 31, 2011) | |
| • Total | 84,160 |
| • Density | 350.05/km2 (906.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) |
| Phone number | 0279-22-2111 |
| Address | 80 Ishihara, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma-ken 377-8501 |
| Website | http://www.city.shibukawa.gunma.jp/index.html |
Shibukawa (渋川市 Shibukawa-shi) is a city located in the extreme northwest of the Kantō Plain, in the center of landlocked Gunma, Japan. Encompassing the juncture of the Tone River and Agatsuma River, it is about 120km from Tokyo. Due to its location at the geographical center of the nation, Shibukawa is known as the Bellybutton of Japan (日本のおへそ, nihon no oheso).
Shibukawa originally grew to prosperity as an inn town, but even today is in a central location between Numata and Maebashi. Also, anyone going to a number of famous hot spring resorts, such as Kusatsu, Shima, or Ikaho must pass through Shibukawa.
As of May 31, 2011, the city had a population of 84,160 with 31,289 households and a density of 350.05 persons per km². The total land area is 240.42 km².
The city was founded on April 1, 1954.
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Shibukawa is located at a central point (36°29′ N, 139°00′ E) of the Japanese Archipelago and is thus known as the Bellybutton of Japan (日本のおへそ, nihon no oheso). The city encompasses an area of 240.42 km².
To the west is Mt. Haruna, and to the east is Mt. Akagi. To the north are Mt. Onoko and Mt. Komochi. The Tone River flows from the north (between Mt. Akagi and Mt. Komochi) southward through the city, while the Agatsuma River flows from the west (between Mt. Onoko and Mt. Haruna), merging with the Tone River near the center of the city.
Shibukawa's highest altitude is 1,565m above sea level; its lowest point is 139m above sea level. The majority of the city lies between 200 and 800 meters above sea level.
Farmland covers 49.88km² (20.8% of the city), housing covers 20.31km² (8.4%), and mountains and forests cover 77.39km² (32.2%). The remaining 92.84km² (38.6%) has other land uses.
Shibukawa's population, as of April 2008, was 86,395. There were 42,313 males and 44,082 females. The number of households was 30,870. The population density was 359 persons per km².
Foligno in Umbria, Italy is Shibukawa's sister city. Logan City, Queensland, Australia is designated as a Friendship City with Shibukawa.
In the spring of 2008, high school students from Shibukawa visited their counterparts in Chico, California.
Shibukawa calls itself "The Bellybutton of Japan" (日本のおへそ) and hosts the Bellybutton Festival (へそ祭り) every year in late July. The festival is based on a traditional Japanese form of entertainment where revelers paint a face on their torsos and stomachs and pretend it is a head.A kimono is then wrapped around the waist and the person's real head is hidden by a large cloth hat. The belly button is traditionally painted into a mouth.These days, modern motifs and Japanese anime designs have crept in to the festival, which city officials said is all about having fun.[1][2][3]
Shibukawa has four high schools:
There are ten junior high schools:
Finally, there are seventeen elementary schools:
Shibukawa is the home town of Takumi Fujiwara, the main character in Initial D. Many scenes of the live action movie were taped on location in Shibukawa.
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