Minamikyūshū (南九州市, Minamikyūshū-shi, lit. "South Kyushu City") is a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2024, the city had an estimated population of 31,666 in 16189 households, and a population density of 180 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 357.91 km2 (138.19 sq mi).

Minamikyūshū
南九州市
From top:Mount Ōno, statue of Buddha at Shimizu-iwaya Park, tea plantation, Chiran-Tokkō Heiwa Hall
From top:Mount Ōno, statue of Buddha at Shimizu-iwaya Park, tea plantation, Chiran-Tokkō Heiwa Hall
Flag of Minamikyūshū
Official seal of Minamikyūshū
Map
Location of Minamikyūshū in Kagoshima Prefecture
Location of Minamikyūshū
Minamikyūshū is located in Japan
Minamikyūshū
Minamikyūshū
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°22′42″N 130°26′30″E / 31.37833°N 130.44167°E / 31.37833; 130.44167
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKagoshima
Government
 • MayorHiroyuki Nuruki
Area
 • Total357.91 km2 (138.19 sq mi)
Population
 (June 30, 2024)
 • Total31,666
 • Density88/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address6204 Chiran-cho kōri, Minamikyushu-shi, Kagoshima-ken 897-0392
Websitewww.city.minamikyushu.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerSunflower
TreeCherry blossom, Tea
Minamikyūshū City Hall
Chiran Historical Preservation District
Japan National Route 226 in Ei

Geography

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Minamikyūshū is located in the southern part of the Satsuma Peninsula, about 30 kilometers southwest of the city of Kagoshima, and faces the East China Sea to the south.

Adjacent municipalities

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Kagoshima Prefecture

Climate

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Minamikyūshū has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Minamikyūshū is 17.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2303 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 8.0 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Minamikyūshū is as shown below:

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 82,021—    
1960 74,059−9.7%
1970 56,744−23.4%
1980 50,261−11.4%
1990 47,498−5.5%
2000 44,137−7.1%
2010 39,065−11.5%
2020 33,080−15.3%

History

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The area of Minamikyūshū is part of ancient Satsuma Province and was part of the holdings of Satsuma Domain in the Edo period. On April 1, 1889, the village of Chiran in Kyuri District, villages of Kawabe and Katsume in Kawabe District, and village of Ei in Ewa District were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Kawabe was raised to town status on October 13, 1923, followed by Chiran on April 1, 1932 and Ei on August 1, 1950. Kawabe absorbed Latsume on September 1, 1956. On December 1, 2007 Kawanabe, Chiran and Ei merged to form the city of Minamikyūshū.[3]

Government

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Minamikyūshū has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Minamikyūshū contributes one member to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kagoshima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Minamikyūshū is agricultural. It is the largest producer of tea in Japan, and is famous for its "Chiran tea".

Education

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Minamikyūshū has 17 public elementary schools and five public junior high schools by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railways

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  JR Kyushu - Ibusuki Makurazaki Line

Ei - Nishi-Ei - Goryō - Ishikaki - Mizunarikawa - Ei-Ōkawa - Matsugaura - Satsuma-Shioya

Highways

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Local attractions

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Notable people from Minamikyūshū

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References

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  1. ^ "Minamikyūshū City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Minamikyūshū climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
  3. ^ Lucken, Michael (2017-02-28). The Japanese and the War: Expectation, Perception, and the Shaping of Memory. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-54398-9.
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