Tatebayashi, Japan

Located within the Gunma Prefecture, Tatebayashi covers an area of 60.97 km2and has a total population of about 74,000. It sits in the heart of the Kanto Area and is about 100 km from Tokyo.

Tatebayashi is an industrial and commercial city dominated by manufacturing. It focuses on the development of food processing and manufacturing of transportation machinery, metal products, plastics and commercial machines. Amidindustry globalization, the city is making great efforts to develop its manufacturing technologiesand product development capabilities, and improve basic technologies and added-values of products. Its agricultural specialties such as cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes and strawberries are mainly supplied to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The city boasts rich water resources and a distinctive natural environment which is inhabited by a multitude of different animal and plant species.

In Japan, it is customary to hang carp streamers outdoors to pray for the healthy growth of boys. From late March to early May, Tatebayashi holds annual Carp Streamer Festivalswhere the beautiful night sky is charmingly decoratedby carp streamers, sakura and lanterns. In April, a sea of colorful azaleas, which is the flower of the city, blooms in Tatebayashi during the Azalea Festival. In July, the city holds a grand firework festival and temple fair where many traditional Japanese characteristics can be seen.

In May 2006, Kunshan and Tatebayashi became sister cities.