Maebashi, Japan

Maebashi is the capital city of Gunma in Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1892, by the samurai Makuba Kawai. On December 5, 2004 the former town of Ōgo and former villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi from Seta District merged into the city. As of this merger, but with 2003 population data, the city has an estimated population of 321,813 and a density of 1,334 persons per km². The total area is 241.22 km². It was traditionally the most populous city in Gunma until Takasaki merged with nearby towns. Maebashi hosted the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships. Maebashi is located at the foot of Mt. Akagi in the northeast corner of the Kantō Plain. The Tone River, Japan's second-longest, runs through the western part of the city. Also, Maebashi is farthest from the sea (about 120km) among all Japanese prefectural capitals. In the winter, the Karakaze, or "dry wind" blows through Maebashi from the north. This is due to the snow clouds coming from the Sea of Japan being blocked by the Echigo Mountain Range between Gunma and Niigata. Because of this, the city has a mild winter. In the summer, it is hot since the location is inland. On July 24, 2001, Maebashi hit 40℃, the fifth hottest temperature ever in Japan.