Shintō, Gunma

Shintō (榛東村, Shintō-mura) is a village located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2015, the village had an estimated population of 14,343, and a population density of 514 persons per km². Its total area is 27.92 km².

Shintō 榛東村
Village
Shintō village office
Flag Seal
Location of Shintō in Gunma Prefecture
Shintō
Coordinates: 36°26′18.18″N 138°58′1.7″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma Prefecture
District	Kitagunma
Area
• Total	27.92 km^2 (10.78 sq mi)
Population  (February 2015)
• Total	14,343
• Density	514/km^2 (1,330/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Cryptomeria
• Flower	Lilium auratum
• Bird	Japanese bush-warbler
Phone number	0279-54-2211
Address	1258-1 Yamakoda, Shintō-mura, Kitagunma-gun, Gunma-ken 370-3593
Website	http://www.vill.shinto.gunma.jp/

Geography

Located in central Gunma, Shintō sits between the slopes of Mount Haruna and the Tone River region.

Surrounding municipalities

• Gunma Prefecture
  • Takasaki
  • Maebashi
  • Shibukawa
  • Yoshioka

History

The area of present-day Shintō contains numerous kofun burial mounds from the 6th century. On April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration, Momonoi village was established within Nishigunma District, Gunma. In 1896, Nishigunma District was united with Kataoka District to create Gunma District, which was subsequently divided in 1949 with Momonoi village becoming part of Kitagunma District. The village was the scene of the Girard incident in 1957, in which an American soldier stationed at Shintō shot and killed a Japanese civilian, sparking a jurisdictional dispute between the Japanese and American governments.[1] In 1957, a portion of Sōma village was merged with Momonoi village. Momonoi was renamed Shintō on August 1, 1959.

Economy

Traditionally, the economy of Shintō was heavily dependent on agriculture; however, the area has developed into a bedroom community for neighboring Takasaki and Maebashi. The village also hosts JGSDF Camp Soumagahara, home of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force JGSDF 12th Brigade

Education

• Shintō Middle School
• Kita Elementary School
• Minami Elementary School

Transportation

Shintō is not served by any railway services. The nearest station is Gumma-Sōja in the city of Maebashi to the south. Shintō is not served by any national highways.

References

1. Time Magazine article

External links

Media related to Shintō, Gunma at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in Japanese)