Nakatane 中種子町 | |
|---|---|
 Nakatane Town Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Nakatane in Kagoshima Prefecture | |
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  Nakatane | |
| Coordinates:30°31′59″N130°57′31″E / 30.53306°N 130.95861°E /30.53306; 130.95861 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyushu (Ōsumi Islands) |
| Prefecture | Kagoshima |
| District | Kumage |
| Area | |
• Total | 136.94 km2 (52.87 sq mi) |
| Population (April 30, 2024) | |
• Total | 7,196 |
| • Density | 53/km2 (140/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 099-222-3141 |
| Address | 5186, Nonaka, Nakanotane-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima-ken 891-3692 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Hibiscus mutabilis;Alpinia zerumbet |
| Insect | Hebomoia glaucippe |
| Tree | Oak |
Nakatane (中種子町,Nakatane-chō) is atown located on the island ofTanegashima, inKumage District,Kagoshima Prefecture,Japan. As of 30 April 2024[update], the town had an estimatedpopulation of 7,196 in 4087 households, and apopulation density of 53 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 136.94 km2 (52.87 sq mi).
Nakatane occupies the center of the island of Tanegashima, with theEast China Sea to the west and thePacific Ocean to the east. The Noma district, where the town hall is located, is a key transportation point, and all national and prefectural roads that traverse the island pass through here.
The climate is classified ashumid subtropical (Köppen climate classificationCfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September.
| Climate data for Nakatane (2006−2020 normals, extremes 2006−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.5 (70.7) | 23.1 (73.6) | 24.7 (76.5) | 26.9 (80.4) | 29.7 (85.5) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.7 (89.1) | 33.2 (91.8) | 31.7 (89.1) | 29.8 (85.6) | 26.2 (79.2) | 25.2 (77.4) | 33.2 (91.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.6 (54.7) | 13.8 (56.8) | 16.3 (61.3) | 19.4 (66.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 25.0 (77.0) | 28.7 (83.7) | 29.4 (84.9) | 27.2 (81.0) | 23.7 (74.7) | 19.4 (66.9) | 14.9 (58.8) | 21.1 (70.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.5 (49.1) | 10.5 (50.9) | 12.8 (55.0) | 15.9 (60.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 22.4 (72.3) | 25.8 (78.4) | 26.5 (79.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 20.7 (69.3) | 16.3 (61.3) | 11.7 (53.1) | 18.0 (64.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.0 (44.6) | 9.1 (48.4) | 12.4 (54.3) | 16.2 (61.2) | 20.2 (68.4) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 22.0 (71.6) | 17.9 (64.2) | 12.7 (54.9) | 8.0 (46.4) | 15.0 (59.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.2 (28.0) | −3.0 (26.6) | −1.0 (30.2) | 3.4 (38.1) | 6.6 (43.9) | 15.3 (59.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 19.6 (67.3) | 15.6 (60.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 3.7 (38.7) | −0.1 (31.8) | −3.0 (26.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 105.6 (4.16) | 155.1 (6.11) | 207.5 (8.17) | 229.6 (9.04) | 311.1 (12.25) | 632.2 (24.89) | 272.2 (10.72) | 188.9 (7.44) | 311.9 (12.28) | 243.3 (9.58) | 167.7 (6.60) | 140.0 (5.51) | 2,989.2 (117.69) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 10.2 | 12.0 | 12.9 | 11.9 | 12.0 | 18.7 | 10.6 | 12.5 | 14.3 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 146.7 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3] | |||||||||||||
Per Japanese census data, the population of Nakatane is as shown below:[4]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 11,072 | — |
| 1930 | 10,949 | −1.1% |
| 1940 | 11,802 | +7.8% |
| 1950 | 17,587 | +49.0% |
| 1960 | 19,321 | +9.9% |
| 1970 | 14,775 | −23.5% |
| 1980 | 12,297 | −16.8% |
| 1990 | 10,552 | −14.2% |
| 2000 | 9,675 | −8.3% |
| 2010 | 8,696 | −10.1% |
| 2020 | 7,539 | −13.3% |
The area of Nakatane was part of ancientTane Province, which was abolished in 824 and incorporated intoŌsumi Province. Tanegashima became a part ofShimazushōen in 1140. During theEdo Period, the area was part of the holdings ofSatsuma Domain. Sugarcane was first cultivated in 1824. Nakatane Village was established on April 1, 1889. A power station was built in 1925, and the first telephone was installed in 1938. On November 10, 1940, Nakatane was upgraded to town status. Tanegashima Airport opened in Nakatane in 1958.
Nakatane has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral town council of 12 members. Nakatane, collectively with the other municipalities of Kumage District and the city ofNishinoomote, contributes two members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of theKagoshima 4th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
The economy of Nakatane is based largely on agriculture (sugar cane, sweet potatoes), livestock (cattle, pigs, etc.), and fisheries.
Nakatane has seven public elementary high schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates a special education school for the handicapped.
Nakatane is featured in theJapanese animatedfeature film,5 Centimeters Per Second, directed byMakoto Shinkai. It was released on March 3, 2007, in Japan.
Media related toNakatane, Kagoshima at Wikimedia Commons
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