Tama, Tokyo
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Tama (多摩市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan.
As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 145,722 and the density of 6,912.81 persons per km². The total area is 21.08 km². Tama was the last town in the former Minamitama District.
On April 1, 1889, Tama Village was founded in what was then Minamitama District from the merger of 10 pre-Meiji villages.
On April 1, 1964, Tama Village became Tama Town.
On November 1, 1971, Tama Town became Tama City, dissolving Minamitama District.
Tama is home to Tama Hills, a recreational facility of the U.S. Air Force, intended for use by United States service members and their families, as well as Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force service members and their families.
It is also home to the well known Sanrio theme park, Sanrio Puroland ("Hello Kitty-land").
Its southern flanks form part of the Tama New Town project, Japan's largest residential development, constructed in the 1970's.
The city is situated within a much larger area in southwestern Tokyo, known traditionally as Tama hills, spanning Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures. Therefore there are many place names scattered throughout the area with references to the name "Tama" which are not within the city limits. For example, Tama is the name of a ward several kilometres away under the jurisdiction of Kawasaki City in Kanagawa prefecture.
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Institutions
Transport
Tama can easily be reached by Keio line or the Odakyu Tama line from Shinjuku, central Tokyo.
Tama in Fiction
Tama is the location for the animated feature films Whisper of the Heart and Pom Poko by Japan's Studio Ghibli, the latter of which depicts a fictionalized account of the city's construction.
It has been speculated that The Cat Returns, also by Studio Ghibli, is similarly set in Tama.
External links
- Tama official website in Japanese
- Wikitravel: Tokyo/Tama