Iruma, Saitama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Iruma**
**入間市**
Iruma's location in Saitama, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama
Physical characteristics
Area	44.74 km² (17.27 sq mi)
Population (as of 2003)
Total	150,176
Density	3,356 /km² (8,692 /sq mi)
Location	35°50′N, 139°23′E
Symbols
Tree	keyaki
Flower	tea blossom
Bird	lark
Flag
Iruma Government Office
Mayor	KINOSHITA Hiroshi
Address	〒358-8511 1-16-1toyooka
Phone number	04-2964-1111
Official website: Iruma

Iruma (入間市, Iruma-shi^?) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, and is located on the island of Honshū.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 150,176 and the density of 3,356.64 persons per km². The total area is 44.74 km².The city is consisted of 6 areas, Toyooka, Kaneko, Higashikaneko, Fujisawa, Miyadera-Nihongi and Seibu.

Iruma and neighboring Sayama are famous for the tea they produce. Japanese teas are categorized in 3 ways, by their tint, scent and taste. Sayama tea is famous for the taste. Iruma also has well-known baking industries.

During the Edo period, Iruma was famous as a market and post-station town.

Iruma Air Base, being located in Iruma and Sayama, takes its name from its host city. Iruma Air Base is a facility of the Air Self Defence Force. Aircraft based here are YS-11, Kawasaki T-4, and Kawasaki C-1. The base holds an Aircraft Festival annually in early November. This air base was once known as Johnson Air Base while under the control of the United States Air Force.

The city was founded on November 1, 1966.

[edit] For foreign residents

About 1,500 foreign residents live in Iruma.The City Office has a section for foreign residents.Information Desk in English is held on every Tuesday,9:00a.m. to noon. The City Office issues a newspaper "IRUMA COM+COM" in English. Iruma International Friendship Society, a private group also supports foreign residents.