TATEBAYASHI

city, Gumma ken (prefecture), Honshu, Japan. It lies in the northern Kanto Plain along the Isesaki line of the Tobu railway, north of Tokyo. Founded in the 16th century as a castle town, it developed as a commercial centre for the surrounding rice-producing region. Long known for its silk, the city now also produces woolen textiles, beverages, and processed foods. The Morin Temple is nearby. Tsutsujigaoka Prefectural Park is a well-known azalea garden, and Tatebayashi Park has many cherry trees. Pop. (1990) 76,223.