The name "Kamata" has been used to refer to the area since at least the 900s AD. Historically, the area was famous for
Japanese apricots (
ume). Kamata was first linked to nearby towns of
Kawasaki, Kanagawa and
Ōmori, Tokyo by rail in 1901 with the opening of
Kamata Station (now
Keikyu Kamata Station) on the
Keihin Electric Railway. This was followed in 1904 by the opening of a separate
Kamata Station on the
Tokaido Line providing connection to Tokyo and Yokohama. Kamata became a ward of
Tokyo City in October 1932, incorporating the historical towns of Kamata, Yaguchi, Rokugo and Haneda. Kamata merged with the neighboring ward of
Omori to form the ward (city) of Ota in March 1947. == Education ==