Hamura, Tokyo

Hamura 羽村市
City
Flag
Location of Hamura in Tokyo Metropolis
Hamura
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
Area
• Total	9.91 km2 (3.83 sq mi)
Population (June 1, 2010)
• Total	57,145
• Density	5,770/km2 (14,900/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
• Tree	Ginkgo
• Flower	Sakura
• Bird	Brown hawk owl
Phone number	042-555-1111
Address	5-2-1 Midorigaoka, Hamura-shi, Tokyo-to 205-8601
Website	www.city.hamura.tokyo.jp

Higashiyamato City Hall

Statue of Tamagawa brothers, engineers of Tamagawa Josui

Hamura (羽村市, Hamura-shi) is a city located in the western end of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan.

As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 57,145 and a population density of 5,770 persons per km². The total area is 9.91 km² (3.83 sq mi) . The J-Pop singing duet Cazacy calls Hamura home.

Geography

Hamura is approximately in the west-center of Tokyo Metropolis, on the Musashino Terrace. It flanks the Tama River about 50 kilometres (31 mi) upriver from the mouth.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ōme, Tokyo
• Akiruno, Tokyo
• Fussa, Tokyo
• Mizuho, Tokyo

History

The area of present-day Hamura has been inhabited since Japanese Paleolithic times, and numerous remains from the Jōmon, Yayoi and Kofun periods have been discovered. During the Nara period, it became part of ancient Musashi Province. The Tamagawa Josui, an artificial waterway completed in 1653 to divert water from the Tama River and carry it as drinking water to Edo, begins in what is now part of Hamura.

In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, several villages (one of which was named Hane-mura) merged to form Nishitama Village in Nishitama District, at that time part of Kanagawa Prefecture. The entire district was transferred to the control of Tokyo Prefecture on April 1, 1893. In 1956, Nishitama Village became the town of Hamura. On November 1, 1991, Hamura was elevated to city status.

Economy

Hamura is primary a regional commercial center, and a bedroom community for central Tokyo. Several electronic companies have light industrial or logistical facilities in Hamura. Hino Motors and Toyota have a plant and test track in the city.

Transportation

Rail

• JR East – Ōme Line
  • Hamura - Ozaku

Highways

• Ken-Ō Expressway
• National Route 16

Education

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Hamura High School.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan

Twin towns — Sister cities

Hamura has been twinned with Hokuto, Yamanashi in Japan since 1996.

Notable people from Hamura

• Shinji Jojo - professional soccer player
• Yuzo Kobayashi – professional soccer player
• Shizuka Kudo – actress, singer
• Takashi Toritani – professional baseball player

External links

• Hamura City official website (Japanese)
• Website for Hamura Zoo (Japanese)