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Hinokage 日之影町 | |
|---|---|
 Hinokage Town Office | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Hinokage in Miyazaki Prefecture | |
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  Hinokage Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates:32°39′34″N131°22′51″E / 32.65944°N 131.38083°E /32.65944; 131.38083 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyushu |
| Prefecture | Miyazaki |
| District | Nishiusuki |
| Area | |
• Total | 277.67 km2 (107.21 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2023) | |
• Total | 3,260 |
| • Density | 12/km2 (30/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 9079 Nanaori, Hinokage-cho, Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki-ken 882-0401 |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Japanese bush warbler |
| Flower | Azalea |
| Tree | Japanese zelkova |
Hinokage (日之影町,Hinokage-chō) is atown located inNishiusuki District,Miyazaki Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 October 2023[update], the town has an estimatedpopulation of 3260 in 1400 households, and apopulation density of 12 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 277.67 square kilometres (107.21 sq mi). Located next to the historically significant town ofTakachiho, Hinokage is known primarily for its three large bridges, traditionalKagura dances, and the work ofKazuo Hiroshima, a traditional weaver of bamboo baskets.
Hinokage is located in northern Miyazaki Prefecture in theKyushu Mountains. It measuring approximately 9 kilometers from east-to-west and 30 kilometers from north-to-south, with approximately 90% of the area being forest. The Gokase River flows through the center of the town from east-to-west. Many valleys flow into the Gokase River, forming deep V-shaped valleys with sheer cliffs 50 to 100 meters high, on top of which, cultivated land has been opened in a step-like manner, and many large and small hamlets have formed.
Miyazaki Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
Hinokage has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hinokage is 12.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2169 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.7 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data, the population of Hinokage is less than a third of what it was 50 years ago. Like many districts in rural Japan, the area has been struggling with anaging population and an exodus of young people toTokyo and other major cities. The town's population peaked in the 1950s at 16,199 people, (Cort & Nakamura, 1994) but has steadily declined since the closure of the Mitate mine in March, 1970. (記念編纂部会, 1997) Between 2000 and 2005 four area elementary and middle schools were closed, and more closures are planned in the future.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 15,711 | — |
| 1980 | 10,261 | −34.7% |
| 1990 | 8,013 | −21.9% |
| 2000 | 6,550 | −18.3% |
| 2010 | 5,445 | −16.9% |
| 2020 | 4,463 | −18.0% |
The area of Hinokage was part of ancientHyūga Province. The area has been settled since theJapanese Paleolithic period, and the place name of "Hinokage" is found in theNihon Shoki and other ancient texts as having been given to this area by the elder brother ofEmperor Jimmu. During theEdo period, it was part of the holdings ofNobeoka Domain. The villages of Nanori (七折村), and Iwaikawa (岩井川村), withinNishiusuki District, Miyazaki were established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The two villages merged on January 1, 1951 to form the town of Hinokage.
Hinokage has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral town council of eight members. Hinokage, collectively with the towns ofGokase and Takachiho contributes one member to the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of theMiyazaki 2nd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
The main industry of Hinokage is agriculture and forestry. Tin was once mined at the Mitate Mine in the northern part of town, but it was closed in 1963. Local specialities include bamboo crafts, processed fruit products and driedshiitake mushrooms.
Hinokage has three public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.
Hinokage has no passenger rail service. The nearest train station isNobeoka on theJR KyushuNippō Main Line. The town was formerly served by the 50.0Takachiho Railway, which ran from Nobeoka to Takachiho Station, with six intermediate stations within Hinokage. Services were discontinued on September 6, 2005, after flooding triggered byTyphoon Nabi washed away two bridges on the line, halting all operations. Efforts to obtain funding for rebuilding were unsuccessful, and the company was liquidated in 2009..[3]
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