Shūnan 周南市 | |
|---|---|
 View of downtown Tokuyama area | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Shūnan inYamaguchi Prefecture | |
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  Shūnan Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates:34°3′18″N131°48′22″E / 34.05500°N 131.80611°E /34.05500; 131.80611 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Chūgoku (San'yō) |
| Prefecture | Yamaguchi |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ritsuko Fujii |
| Area | |
• Total | 656.29 km2 (253.39 sq mi) |
| Population (May 31, 2023) | |
• Total | 137,019 |
| • Density | 208.78/km2 (540.73/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 1-1 Kisan-dōri, Shūnan-shi, Yamaguchi-ken 745-8655 |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Salvia splendens |
| Tree | Cinnamomum camphora |
Shūnan (周南市,Shūnan-shi) is acity inYamaguchi Prefecture,Japan. As of 31 May 2023[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 137,019 in 6828 households and apopulation density of 210 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 656.29 square kilometres (253.39 sq mi).
Shūnan is located in south-central Yamaguchi Prefecture, bordered by theSeto Inland Sea to the south. Together with the cities of Kudamatsu and Hikari, with which it has strong ties in terms of industry, economy, and population exchange; the three cities are informally called the "Shunan District". The coastal area is part of the Seto Industrial Complex, with many chemical plants, refineries and heavy industry. The northern part, on the other hand, is part of theChugoku Mountains, dotted with rural areas.
Yamaguchi Prefecture
Shūnan has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Shūnan is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1834 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.4 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data, the population of Shūnan has been steady for the past 50 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 12,993 | — |
| 1950 | 17,191 | +32.3% |
| 1960 | 133,729 | +677.9% |
| 1970 | 146,312 | +9.4% |
| 1980 | 166,318 | +13.7% |
| 1990 | 164,594 | −1.0% |
| 2000 | 157,383 | −4.4% |
| 2010 | 149,508 | −5.0% |
| Shūnan population statistics[3] | ||
The area of Shūnan was part of an ancientSuō Province. Its name is derived from the first character (周) of the name of the formerSuō Province (周防国), and the character for south (南), reflecting its location, comprising much of the southern part of the old province. During theEdo Period, the area was part of the holdings ofTokuyama Domain. Following theMeiji restoration, the village of Tokuyama withinTsuno District, Yamaguchi was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Tokuyama as elevated to town status on October 15, 1900 and to city status on October 15, 1935. Tokuyama expanded by annexing many neighboring villages on April 1, 1942, April 1, 1944, October 1, 1955 and January 1, 1966. On April 21, 2003 the city of Shūnan was founded by the merger of the cities ofTokuyama andShinnan'yō, the town ofKumage (fromKumage District), and the town ofKano (fromTsuno District). Tsuno District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
Shūnan has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 30 members. Shūnan contributes four members to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between theYamaguchi 1st district andYamaguchi 2nd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
The main industry of Shūnan is the heavy and chemical industry. The Shūnan Petroleum Complex developed from the former Tokuyama Naval Arsenal. Major chemical manufacturers Tokuyama and Tosoh, petroleum wholesalerIdemitsu Kosan, and stainless steel processing company Nippon Steel Nisshin Steel have bases in the coastal area along Tokuyama Bay. Thefood processing company, Shimaya, has headquarters in Shunan.
Shūnan has 27 public elementary schools and 14 public junior high schools operated by the city government, and five public high school operated by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Board of Education. There is one private middle school and one private high school, and the prefecture also operates two special education schools.
Shunan University is located in the city.
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JR West (JR West) -San'yō Main Line
JR West (JR West) -Gantoku Line
Chūgoku Expressway
San'yō Expressway
National Route 2
National Route 315
National Route 376
National Route 434
National Route 489
Delfzijl,Netherlands (1990, Shinnan'yō)
Townsville,Australia (1990, Tokuyama)
São Bernardo do Campo,Brazil (1973, Tokuyama)BeforeTokuyama became part of Shūnan, it was one of the host cities of the official1998 Women's Volleyball World Championship.
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