Mine 美祢市 | |
|---|---|
 Karst landscape of Akiyoshidai | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture | |
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  Mine Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates:34°09′47″N131°12′30″E / 34.16306°N 131.20833°E /34.16306; 131.20833 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Chūgoku (San'yō) |
| Prefecture | Yamaguchi |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Yōji Shinoda (since April 2020) |
| Area | |
• Total | 472.64 km2 (182.49 sq mi) |
| Population (April 1, 2023) | |
• Total | 21,919 |
| • Density | 46.376/km2 (120.11/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 326-1 Higashi-bun, Ōmine-chō, Mine-shi, Yamaguchi-ken 759-2292 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Cherry blossom |
| Tree | Live oak |
Mine (美祢市,Mine-shi) is acity located inYamaguchi Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 April 2023[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 21,919 in 10661 households and apopulation density of 46 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 1,472.64 square kilometres (568.59 sq mi).
San'yō-Onoda is located in the southwestern part of Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is long in the north-south direction and has a fan shape that opens to theSeto Inland Sea. The Asa River flows from the north to the central area, and the Ariho River flows from the northeast to the east, flowing south into the Seto Inland Sea. The city hall is located on the west bank of the Ariho River mouth.
Yamaguchi Prefecture
Mine has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is much higher in summer than in winter. The average annual temperature in Mine is 13.9 °C (57.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,003.3 mm (78.87 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.2 °C (77.4 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.0 °C (37.4 °F).[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Mine was 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) on 26 July 2018; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −10.1 °C (13.8 °F) on 3 February 2012.[3]
| Climate data forAkiyoshidai, Mine (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.9 (60.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 24.3 (75.7) | 28.8 (83.8) | 31.3 (88.3) | 31.9 (89.4) | 35.6 (96.1) | 35.1 (95.2) | 33.7 (92.7) | 29.2 (84.6) | 26.1 (79.0) | 20.4 (68.7) | 35.6 (96.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.3 (45.1) | 8.6 (47.5) | 12.3 (54.1) | 17.9 (64.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 26.0 (78.8) | 28.6 (83.5) | 29.9 (85.8) | 25.9 (78.6) | 20.8 (69.4) | 15.4 (59.7) | 9.8 (49.6) | 18.7 (65.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) | 4.0 (39.2) | 7.4 (45.3) | 12.5 (54.5) | 16.9 (62.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 24.2 (75.6) | 25.2 (77.4) | 21.3 (70.3) | 15.8 (60.4) | 10.3 (50.5) | 5.2 (41.4) | 13.9 (56.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.3 (29.7) | −0.6 (30.9) | 2.9 (37.2) | 7.6 (45.7) | 12.0 (53.6) | 16.5 (61.7) | 20.9 (69.6) | 21.7 (71.1) | 17.6 (63.7) | 11.4 (52.5) | 5.6 (42.1) | 0.8 (33.4) | 9.6 (49.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −9.5 (14.9) | −10.1 (13.8) | −5.7 (21.7) | −1.2 (29.8) | 3.7 (38.7) | 7.6 (45.7) | 14.0 (57.2) | 14.4 (57.9) | 6.2 (43.2) | 0.6 (33.1) | −3.2 (26.2) | −7.1 (19.2) | −10.1 (13.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 95.5 (3.76) | 91.4 (3.60) | 147.7 (5.81) | 159.6 (6.28) | 187.4 (7.38) | 283.0 (11.14) | 344.0 (13.54) | 204.4 (8.05) | 196.5 (7.74) | 106.3 (4.19) | 91.3 (3.59) | 84.0 (3.31) | 2,003.3 (78.87) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.8 | 11.4 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 9.9 | 12.4 | 11.6 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 11.7 | 130.8 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 102.7 | 112.5 | 155.4 | 180.6 | 204.3 | 133.0 | 143.2 | 183.9 | 154.1 | 170.6 | 138.0 | 109.1 | 1,787.4 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3] | |||||||||||||
Per Japanese census data, the population of Mine in 2020 is 23,247 people.[4] Mine has been conducting censuses since 1920.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 41,979 | — |
| 1925 | 42,587 | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 43,302 | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 42,782 | −1.2% |
| 1940 | 47,623 | +11.3% |
| 1945 | 57,936 | +21.7% |
| 1950 | 60,044 | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 61,870 | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 60,322 | −2.5% |
| 1965 | 52,366 | −13.2% |
| 1970 | 43,741 | −16.5% |
| 1975 | 37,670 | −13.9% |
| 1980 | 36,907 | −2.0% |
| 1985 | 35,730 | −3.2% |
| 1990 | 33,532 | −6.2% |
| 1995 | 32,396 | −3.4% |
| 2000 | 31,546 | −2.6% |
| 2005 | 29,839 | −5.4% |
| 2010 | 28,645 | −4.0% |
| 2015 | 26,159 | −8.7% |
| 2020 | 23,247 | −11.1% |
| Mine population statistics[4] | ||
The plateau consists of uplifted reeflimestones ofPaleozoic age, which were thickened byoverfolding during the Akiyoshidai orogenic movement. Subsequent erosion has created an undulatingkarst landscape dimpled with manydolines and countless limestone pinnacles up to two meters in height. Beneath the surface lie hundreds of caves, a few of them quite significant geologically.
Numerous fossils ofPleistocene age have been found in these caves, including those of the Japaneserhinoceros,Stegodont elephant,Naumann elephant, Youngtiger, and numerous other animals from the last interglacial period.
The area around Akiyoshidai was once heavily forested about 500,000 years ago. In theJōmon period, the area served as a hunting ground and the bottoms ofsinkholes as vegetable fields. NumerousJapanese Paleolithic artifacts have been recovered. As farming began in Japan, the local people eventually replaced the forested landscape withJapanese pampas grass for feeding their animals and thatching houses. Repeated cycles of burning the grass have kept trees from growing back since.
The area of Mine was part of ancientNagato Province and was part ofChōshū Domain under theEdo PeriodTokugawa shogunate. After theMeiji restoration, the area was divided into 13 villages withinMine District, Yamaguchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The village of Ota was raised to village status on August 1, 1923, followed by Isa on January 1, 1924 and Omine on May 1, 1939. The city of Mine was created by the merger of Isa and Omine with the villages of Ofuku, Nishiatsu and Higashiatsu on March 31, 1954. On October 1 of the same year, the town of Ota merged with the villages of Ayagi, Managata Agago to form the town ofMitō. The remainder of the district was consolidated into the town ofShūhō on April 1, 1955. On March 21, 2008, Mine absorbed Mitō and Shūhō, and the newly merged city retained the name, Mine.
Mine has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 16 members. Mine contributes one member to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of theYamaguchi 3rd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Mine was noted from ancient times for its copper mines with theNaganobori Copper Mine supplying the copper used in the construction of theNara Daibutsu andNara periodWadōkaichin coins. Mine developed as an industrial city due to the production ofanthracite andlimestone from the Ōmine Coal Field after theMeiji Restoration. After the mines were closed, the population decreased sharply and the city has been active in attractingindustrial parks.
Tourism centered on Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park is also a major component of the local economy.
Mine has 12 public elementary school and six public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private high school.
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