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Shiroi (白井市; -shi) is a
city located in
Chiba,
Japan. As of
2003, the city has an estimated
population of 51,719 and the
density of 1,460.58 persons per
km². The total area is 35.41 km².
The city is roughly equidistant from central
Tokyo and the
New Tokyo International Airport. Its main commuter link to the city is
the
Hokuso Rapid Railway, by which one can get from Shiroi to
Tokyo Station in about 50 minutes.
During the Meiji era, Shiroi became a fruit-growing area. Local farmers
planted kiwis and grapes, but the most famous of Shiroi's fruits turned
out to be
pears. In the springtime, the pear trees still bloom alongside the
sakura (cherry blossoms).
As the Japanese economy grew in the 1970's, many people moved from the
country to the cities, and the growth of Tokyo sent many residents out to
suburbs that were popping up in the
Kanto countryside. Shiroi's real growth began during this period: its
rail connection to
Chiba City was completed in 1979, and it was linked directly to the
Tokyo railway network in 1991.
The municipal government was established on
April 1,
2001.
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