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Midori, Gunma

Midori
みどり市
City
Midori city hall
Midori city hall
Flag of Midori
Flag
Official seal of Midori
Seal
Location of Midori in Gunma Prefecture
Location of Midori in Gunma Prefecture
Midori is located in Japan
Midori
Midori
 
Coordinates: 36°23′41.3″N 139°16′52.1″E / 36.394806°N 139.281139°E / 36.394806; 139.281139
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureGunma
Area
 • Total208.42 km2 (80.47 sq mi)
Population
 (August 31, 2020)
 • Total50,266
 • Density240/km2 (620/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeYoshino sakura
- FlowerErythronium japonicum; Chrysanthemum
- BirdGreen pheasant
Phone number0277-76-2111
Address2952 Shika, Kasakake-machi, Midori-shi, Gunma-ken 379-2395
WebsiteOfficial website
Mount Akagi and then outskirts of Kiryū and Midori cities

Midori (みどり市, Midori-shi) is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 August 2020, the city had an estimated population of 50,266 in 21,028 households,[1] and a population density of 240 persons per km². The total area of the city is 208.42 square kilometres (80.47 sq mi).

Geography

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Midori is located in eastern Gunma Prefecture in the northern Kantō Plains. The city is shaped like an inverse triangle, bordered by Tochigi Prefecture to the north, and by the city of Kiryū to the east and west. The Watarase River runs through parts of Midori City.

Surrounding municipalities

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Gunma Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture

Climate

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Midori has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Midori is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1296 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.7 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Midori has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 33,442—    
1970 34,969+4.6%
1980 44,064+26.0%
1990 49,502+12.3%
2000 51,266+3.6%
2010 51,900+1.2%
2020 49,648−4.3%

History

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The city of Midori was established on March 27, 2006, from the merger of the town of Ōmama (from Yamada District), the town of Kasakake (from Nitta District), and the village of Azuma (from Seta District). All three districts were dissolved as a result of this merger.

Government

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Midori has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Midori contributes one member to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Gunma 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Midori is noted for its production of tomatoes and eggplants.

Education

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Midori has seven public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped. Kiryu University and its associated junior college are located in Midori.

Hanawa Elementary School closed, and later became a museum.[4]

Transportation

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Railway

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JR East – Ryōmō Line

Watarase Keikoku Railway – Watarase Keikoku Line

Jōmō Electric Railway Company - Jōmō Line

Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Kiryū Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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Iwajuku ruins

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Midori City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Midori climate data
  3. ^ Midori population statistics
  4. ^ Mesmer, Philippe (2023-04-13). "In rural Japan, schools are closing due to population decline". Le Monde. Paris. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  5. ^ "岩宿遺跡" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
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Media related to Midori, Gunma at Wikimedia Commons