Ōizumi, Gunma

Ōizumi (大泉町, Ōizumi-machi) is a town located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2015, the town had an estimated population of 39,996, and a population density of 2220 persons per km². Its total area is 18.03 km². Approximately 10% of the total population are foreign citizens, mostly Japanese Brazilians, who work at many factories in the town. Since 1990, Japanese descendants from foreign countries have been permitted to stay in Japan freely. It is estimated that 15% of the population speak Portuguese as their native language,[1] and as of 2007, Ōizumi has the highest concentration of Brazilians of any city in Japan.[2] More recently, Nepalese and other Asians have begun settling in the town.[3]

Ōizumi

大泉町
Town
Ōizumi town hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Ōizumi in Gunma Prefecture
Ōizumi
 
Coordinates: 36°14′52.2″N 139°34′17.7″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureGunma Prefecture
DistrictŌra
Government
 • MayorToshiaki Murayama
Area
 • Total18.03 km2 (6.96 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2015)
 • Total39,996
 • Density2,220/km2 (5,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeZelkova serrata
- FlowerTulip, Salvia splendens
Phone number0276-63-3111
Address55-1 Hinode, Ōizumi-machi, Gunma-ken 370-0595
Websitehttp://www.town.oizumi.gunma.jp/

Geography

Ōizumi is located in the extreme southern corner Gunma prefecture, bordered by Saitama Prefecture to the south. The Tone River flows through the southern part of the town.

Surrounding municipalities

History

The villages of Ōkawa and Koizumi were created within Ōra District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. Koizumi was elevated to town status on July 25, 1902. On March 31, 1957 Koizumi merged with the village of Ōkawa and was renamed Ōizumi. Plans to merge with neighboring Chiyoda in 2004 and with Ōta in 2008 were rejected by the local town assembly.

Economy

Ōizumi has an industrial base, with manufacturing facilities including plants from Ajinomoto, Sanyo, Toppan, Maruha Nichiro and Fuji Heavy Industries (which was previously the plant of the Nakajima Aircraft Company), located in the town.

Education

International schools:

  • Instituto Educacional Centro Nippo-Brasileiro - Brazilian school[4]
  • Instituto Educacional Gente Miúda - Brazilian school[4]

The city formerly housed the Escola da Professora Rebeca, another Brazilian international school.[5]

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister city relations

Local attractions
  • Koizumi Castle site (小泉城跡)
  • Ryusenji temple (竜泉寺)
  • Koizumi shrine (小泉神社)
  • Ainohara remains (間之原遺跡) of Jōmon period (3500 BC-3000 BC)

References
  1. JAPÃO: IMIGRANTES BRASILEIROS POPULARIZAM LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA
  2. Sugino, Toshiko, Ed. D. (Temple University). "Nikkei Brazilians at a Brazilian school in Japan: Factors affecting language decisions and education" (PhD thesis). Temple University, 2007. Publication Number 3293262. See profile at Google Books. cited: p. 56.
  3. https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/One-in-ten-Tokyoites-in-their-20s-are-now-foreigners
  4. "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.
  5. "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. February 7, 2008. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.

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