Takasaki, city in central Japan, on Honshu Island, in southern Gunma Prefecture. Traditional products of Takasaki are silk, textile dyes, and flour; chemicals, metal goods, and machinery are also produced. Takasaki has long been a transportation hub because of its central location. An important railroad center, it is served by several passenger and freight lines. Since 1982 it has been on the Joetsu Shinkansen “bullet” train route, which connects it with Tokyo to the southeast and with Niigata to the northwest.
Attractions in Takasaki include a statue, 42 m (137 ft) tall, of Kannon, or Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of infinite compassion. A Daruma Fair is held in the city each January, when daruma dolls, a specialty of Gunma Prefecture, are sold. Daruma dolls represent the Indian monk Bodhidharma (also known as Daruma in Japan), who founded the Zen school of Buddhism in the 6th century. The round dolls, made of papier-mâché over a bamboo frame, are considered to be charms for the realization of a special wish.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Takasaki Information info
|
