Shibushi (志布志市, Shibushi-shi) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2024, the city had an estimated population of 28,889 in 15135 households, and a population density of 100 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 290.21 km2 (112.05 sq mi).

Shibushi
志布志市
View of Downtown Shibushi and Shibushi Port, from Shibushi International Forest Park
View of Downtown Shibushi and Shibushi Port, from Shibushi International Forest Park
Flag of Shibushi
Official seal of Shibushi
Map
Location of Shibushi in Kagoshima Prefecture
Location of Shibushi
Shibushi is located in Japan
Shibushi
Shibushi
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°28′38″N 131°06′0″E / 31.47722°N 131.10000°E / 31.47722; 131.10000
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKagoshima
Government
 • MayorSumiyuki Shimohira (since February 2018)
Area
 • Total290.21 km2 (112.05 sq mi)
Population
 (April 30, 2024)
 • Total28,889
 • Density100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall addressShibushi 2-1-1, Shibushi-cho, Shibushi-shi, Kagoshima-ken 〒899-7192
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerSunflower
TreeLivistona
Shibushi City Office Shibushi Branch
Shibushi Port

Geography edit

Shibushi is located in the eastern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, at the base of the Ōsumi Peninsula, and borders Miyazaki Prefecture. The south side of the city area faces Shibushi Bay.

Neighboring municipalities edit

Kagoshima Prefecture

Miyazaki Prefecture

Climate edit

Shibushi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heavier in summer, especially the months of June and July. The average annual temperature in Shibushi is 17.1 °C (62.8 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,457.9 mm (96.77 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C (80.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 7.2 °C (45.0 °F).[2] Its record high is 36.7 °C (98.1 °F), reached on 16 August 2020, and its record low is −6.9 °C (19.6 °F), reached on 27 February 1981.[3]

Climate data for Shibushi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 23.9
(75.0)
25.1
(77.2)
27.4
(81.3)
29.7
(85.5)
31.7
(89.1)
33.4
(92.1)
36.4
(97.5)
36.7
(98.1)
35.7
(96.3)
32.5
(90.5)
29.4
(84.9)
23.7
(74.7)
36.7
(98.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3)
14.8
(58.6)
17.6
(63.7)
21.7
(71.1)
25.0
(77.0)
26.6
(79.9)
30.8
(87.4)
31.6
(88.9)
29.4
(84.9)
25.3
(77.5)
20.4
(68.7)
15.4
(59.7)
22.7
(72.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0)
8.5
(47.3)
11.6
(52.9)
15.8
(60.4)
19.5
(67.1)
22.5
(72.5)
26.3
(79.3)
26.7
(80.1)
24.2
(75.6)
19.4
(66.9)
14.2
(57.6)
9.1
(48.4)
17.1
(62.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.2
(36.0)
3.3
(37.9)
6.3
(43.3)
10.5
(50.9)
14.9
(58.8)
19.3
(66.7)
23.0
(73.4)
23.4
(74.1)
20.6
(69.1)
15.0
(59.0)
9.4
(48.9)
4.0
(39.2)
12.7
(54.8)
Record low °C (°F) −6.8
(19.8)
−6.9
(19.6)
−4.0
(24.8)
−0.2
(31.6)
5.5
(41.9)
11.3
(52.3)
15.4
(59.7)
17.0
(62.6)
10.3
(50.5)
3.2
(37.8)
−1.7
(28.9)
−4.9
(23.2)
−6.9
(19.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 72.5
(2.85)
112.3
(4.42)
171.0
(6.73)
191.9
(7.56)
218.0
(8.58)
556.4
(21.91)
365.5
(14.39)
225.3
(8.87)
254.5
(10.02)
134.7
(5.30)
111.5
(4.39)
78.9
(3.11)
2,457.9
(96.77)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.3 8.5 12.0 10.5 10.4 16.7 11.7 11.7 11.1 7.9 8.0 6.6 122.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 170.7 158.2 178.2 186.0 183.1 109.5 198.6 224.5 174.7 181.6 165.1 168.7 2,102.1
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data, the population of Shibushi in 2020 is 29,329 people.[4] Shibushi's population has been in slow decline since the census began in 1950, although it rebounded in the 1955 and 1975 censuses. As of 2020, the town's population is only 60% of what it was in the 1950s.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 50,726—    
1955 53,199+4.9%
1960 51,766−2.7%
1965 46,801−9.6%
1970 40,812−12.8%
1975 37,930−7.1%
1980 38,404+1.2%
1985 38,387−0.0%
1990 37,316−2.8%
1995 36,694−1.7%
2000 35,966−2.0%
2005 34,770−3.3%
2010 33,041−5.0%
2015 31,479−4.7%
2020 29,329−6.8%
Shibushi population statistics[4]

History edit

The area of Shibushi was part of ancient Hyūga Province, and developed as the port of Shimazu-shō, the vast shōen landed manor in Ōsumi, Satsuma, and Hyūga that was opened at the end of the Heian period, and which evolved into Satsuma Domain in the Edo period . After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Shibushi and Matsuyama were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Shibishi was raised to tow status on July 1, 1913 and Matsuyama on April 1, 1958. The city of Shibushi was established on January 1, 2006, from the merger of the former town of Shibushi, with the towns of Ariake and Matsuyama (all from Soo District).

Government edit

Shibushi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Shibushi, collectively with the town of Ōsaki contributes one member to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kagoshima 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

Shibushi has a primary economy centering on agriculture, fishing, forestry and food processing.

Education edit

Shibushi has 16 public elementary schools and five public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.

Transportation edit

Railways edit

  JR Kyushu - Nichinan Line

Ōsumi-Natsui - Shibushi

Highways edit

Local attractions edit

Notable people from Shibushi edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Shibushi City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Shibushi population statistics
  5. ^ "続日本100名城" (in Japanese). 日本城郭協会. Retrieved 12 October 2021.

External links edit