Tomioka, Gunma

For other uses, see Tomioka (disambiguation).

Tomioka (富岡市, Tomioka-shi) is a city located in Gunma, Japan.

As of August 1, 2007, the city had an estimated population of 54,132 (26,617 men and 27,515 women). The total area is 122.90 km².

On April 1, 1888, Tomioka became a town. The city of Tomioka was created on April 1, 1954. On April 1, 1960, Nyuu Village was incorporated into Tomioka City. On March 27, 2006, it further merged with neighboring Myōgi Town to form the new city of Tomioka.

Landmarks

File:TomiokaFactory.jpg

Japan's first modern silk reeling factory at Tomioka, designed by the French engineer Paul Brunat in 1872, essentially Japan's first modern factory of the Meiji Period.

Tomioka silk mill, or Tomioka Silk Factory (富岡製糸工場), built in 1872, was the first of its kind in Japan. The publicly owned brick building was designed by Paul Brunat, a French engineer. On a side note, the Tomioka Silk Factory is briefed by most Japanese students studying Japanese history, so it is well known.

Nukisaki Shrine is a moderately well-known shrine in Japan because of its design. Whereas a shrine's main building area is usually approached over flat ground or by an ascent, Nukisaki Shrine is entered via a descending flight of stone steps. During the New Year's holiday, an estimated 100,000 people visit Nukisaki Shrine to pray for happiness in the year ahead. This is the largest gathering of its kind in Gunma.

Gunma Safari Park was the 5th safari park built in Japan and the 1st built in eastern Japan. The park's approximate 1000 animals consist of around 100 species.

Tomioka Museum of Natural History houses 35 exhibits on Gunma's natural history, including about 30 dinosaur skeletons.

Famous people

Shinya Dan, a popular vaudevilliane comedian in Japan, was born and raised in Tomioka.

Eijiro Tono, a well known actor starring as Mito Kōmon in a show of the same name, was from Tomioka.

References

• "富岡市のデータ". Tomioka City Official Site. 2006-07. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) (Japanese)

External links

• Tomioka official website in Japanese