gunmajet.net

Description:
Gunma Prefecture (or Gumma if spelled phonetically) (群馬県; Gunma-ken) is located in the Kanto area of Honshu, Japan. The capital is Maebashi. The kanji for Gunma mean "herd of horses."
History
In the past, Gunma was joined with Tochigi Prefecture and called Kenu Province. This was later divided into Kami-kenu (Upper Kenu, Gunma) and Shimo-kenu (Lower Kenu, Tochigi). The area is sometimes referred to as Jomo (上毛, Jōmō). For most of Japanese history, Gunma was known as the province of Kozuke.
Geography
Gunma is the northwestern-most prefecture of the Kanto area. The northern part is mostly mountainous, with more of the population concentrated in the southern flatter half facing Saitama Prefecture. The northern part of Gunma has a colder climate more like the Hokuriku region than the lower parts of the Kanto plain. The southern part can be as hot as Tokyo in the summer.
Gunma is blessed with incredibly strong winds that rip through the area at typhoon-like speeds. There is a saying about Gunma that goes 「かかあ天下とからっ風」 which is akin to "Strong women and strong winds."
Gunma is said to be shaped like a crane in flight with its head at the south-east. Since Gunma is a land-locked prefecture, it is said that Gunma is a crane that has never seen the sea.
Cities, Towns, and Villages
12 cities are located in Gunma Prefecture.
An'naka
Fujioka
Isesaki
Kiryu
Maebashi (capital)
Midori
Numata
Ota
Shibukawa
Takasaki
Tatebayashi
Tomioka
The towns and villages of Gunma are divided into districts. These are the towns and villages in each district.
Agatsuma District
Higashiagatsuma
Kuni
Kusatsu
Naganohara
Nakanojo
Takayama
Tsumagoi
Gunma District
Haruna
Kanra District
Kanra
Nanmoku
Shimonita
Kitagunma District
Shinto
Yoshioka
Oura District
Chiyoda
Itakura
Meiwa
Oizumi
Oura
Sawa District
Tamamura
Seta District
Azuma
Fujimi
Tano District
Kanna
Ueno
Yoshii
Tone District
Katashina
Kawaba
Minakami
Showa
Mergers (as of Mar 27, 2006)
Like the rest of Japan, Gunma has been hit with a sweep of mergers of towns.
On April 1, 2003, the town of Manba and the village of Nakasato from Tano District merged to form the new town of Kanna.
On December 5, 2004, the town of Ogo and the villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi from Seta District merged into the expanded city of Maebashi.
On January 1, 2005, the towns of Akabori and Sakai and the village of Azuma from Sawa District merged into the expanded city of Isesaki.
On February 13, 2005, the villages of Shirasawa and Tone from Tone District merged into the expanded city of Numata.
On March 28, 2005, the towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahon merged into the expanded city of Ota.
On June 13, 2005, the villages of Niisato and Kurohone from Seta District merged into the expanded city of Kiryu.
On October 1, 2005, the village of Niiharu and the former town of Tsukiyono merged into the expanded town of Minakami.
On January 1, 2006, the town of Onishi merged into the expanded city of Fujioka.
On January 23, 2006, the municipalities of Gunma, Kurabuchi and Misato from Gunma District and the town of Shin from Tano District merged into the expanded city of Takasaki.
On February 20, 2006, the municipalities of Ikaho, Komochi and Onogami from Kitagunma District and the villages of Akagi and Kitatachibana from Seta District merged into the expanded city of Shibukawa.
On March 18, 2006, the town of Matsuida from Usui District merged into the city of An'naka. Usui District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
On March 27, 2006, the towns of Omama and Kasakake and the village of Azuma merged to form the city of Midori. Nitta District and Yamada District were dissolved as a result of this merger.
On March 27, 2006, the town of Myogi from Kanra District merged into the city of Tomioka.
On March 27, 2006, the towns of Agatsuma and Azuma from Agatsuma District merged to form the new town of Higashiagatsuma.
Prefectural Symbols
The prefectural symbol consists of the first kanji of the word 'Gunma' surrounded by three stylized mountains symbolizing Mount Haruna, Mt. Akagi, and Mt. Myogi. These three mountains are otherwise known as the "Joumo San-zan."
The current mascot of Gunma is Yuuma-chan. Yuuma-chan is a pony wearing a green hat. Some Yuuma-chan desktop wallpapers are available from the official Gunma website.
Miscellaneous
The street racing manga/anime Initial D takes place in Gunma Prefecture.
Gunma Prefecture is the setting for the NHK serial morning drama FIGHT (ファイト). The city of Takasaki is the hometown of heroine Kido Yuu.

Directions:
by Train
by Car

Web Address(es) (1):
www.pref.gunma.jp/english/index.html

(2):
www.pref.gunma.jp/