is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. The ward refers to itself as Nerima City. , the ward has an estimated population of 721,858, with 323,296 households and a population density of 15,013 persons per km2, while 15,326 foreign residents are registered and 21.6% of the ward's population is over the age of 65. The total area is 48.08 km2. Districts and neighborhoods Kamiitabashi Area Asahigaoka Kotakechō Kaminerima Area Asahimachi Doshida Hikarigaoka Kasugacho Mukōyama Nukui Tagara Takamatsu Nakaarai Area Nakamura Nakamurakita Nakamuraminami Toyotamakami Toyotamakita Toyotamaminami Toyotamanaka Nerima Area Hayamiya Hazawa Heiwadai Hikawadai Kitamachi Nerima Nishiki Sakaemachi Sakuradai Ōizumi Area Higashiōizumi Minamiōizumi Nishiōizumi Nishiōizumimachi Ōizumichō Ōizumigakuen-chō Shakujii Area Fujimidai Kamishakujii Kamishakujiiminami-chō Miharadai Minamitanaka Sekimachikita Sekimachihigashi Sekimachiminami Shakujii-chō Shakujiidai Shimoshakujii Tachinochō Takanodai Tanihara Tatenochō History In the Edo period, the area was mostly farmland producing daikon radishes, gobo burdocks, and potatoes. After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, many people from central Tokyo moved to the area. On October 1, 1932, Nerima town, and Kami-Nerima, Naka-Arai, Shakujii and Ōizumi Villages were incorporated in Old Tokyo City. Prior to the creation of the ward on August 1, 1947, the area had been part of Itabashi. In 1952, the Japan Self-Defense Forces established a base there. The first division of the eastern group of the Ground Self-Defense Force has its headquarters there. The United States Forces Japan already had a base, Grant Heights, which it returned to Japanese control in 1973. Grant Heights had been Narimasu airfield under the Imperial Japanese Army until the end of World War II. The runway is now the main street in front of the IMA department store in Hikarigaoka. Geography Nerima lies at the northwestern edge of the 23 central wards of Tokyo. Neighboring wards are Itabashi (to the east), Suginami, Toshima and Nakano (to the south), as well as the cities of Musashino (to the southwest) and Nishi-Tokyo (to the west). To the north lie three cities in Saitama Prefecture: Wako, Asaka and Niiza. Climate Economy Toei Animation has its headquarters in the Ohizumi Studio in Nerima. Anime International Company has its headquarters in the AIC Digital Building. In addition, Studio Comet, and Mushi Production have their headquarters in Nerima. Education Colleges and universities Musashino Academia Musicae Musashi University Nihon University Ekoda Campus Sophia University Shakujii Campus: Faculty of Theology National schools Tokyo Gakugei University Oizumi Elementary School (東京学芸大学附属大泉小学校) Prefectural high schools 9 high schools are operated by