Nishinoomote 西之表市 | |
|---|---|
 Nishinoomote City Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Nishinoomote in Kagoshima Prefecture | |
 | |
  Nishinoomote | |
| Coordinates:30°43′57″N130°59′49″E / 30.73250°N 130.99694°E /30.73250; 130.99694 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyushu (Ōsumi Islands) |
| Prefecture | Kagoshima |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Shusuke Yasaka (since April 2017) |
| Area | |
• Total | 205.57 km2 (79.37 sq mi) |
| Population (April 30, 2024) | |
• Total | 14,151 |
| • Density | 69/km2 (180/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 0997-22-1111 |
| Address | 7612 Nishinoomote, Nishinoomote-shi, Kagoshima-ken 891-3193 |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Lilium longiflorum |
| Insect | Great Orange Tip |
| Tree | Akō(Ficus superba Miq. var. japonica Miq.) |
Nishinoomote (西之表市,Nishinoomote-shi) is acity located on the island ofTanegashima, inKagoshima Prefecture,Japan. As of 30 April 2024[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 14,151 in 7941 households, and apopulation density of 69 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 205.57 km2 (79.37 sq mi).
Nishinoomote, located on the northern portion of Tanegashima, is bordered by theEast China Sea to the west and thePacific Ocean to the east, and by the Ōsumi Strait separating Tanegashima from theKyushu mainland. The city also includes the offshore island ofMageshima within its borders.
Nishinoomote has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nishinoomote is 20.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2174 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 12.0 °C.[2] The area is subject to frequenttyphoons.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Nishinoomote is as shown below:[3]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 18,154 | — |
| 1930 | 20,533 | +13.1% |
| 1940 | 21,804 | +6.2% |
| 1950 | 30,123 | +38.2% |
| 1960 | 32,645 | +8.4% |
| 1970 | 26,222 | −19.7% |
| 1980 | 23,537 | −10.2% |
| 1990 | 20,952 | −11.0% |
| 2000 | 18,866 | −10.0% |
| 2010 | 16,951 | −10.2% |
| 2020 | 14,708 | −13.2% |
The area of Nishinoomote 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. Kitatane Village was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalites system. It was elevated to town status on April 1, 1926 and renamed Nishinoomote. Towards the end ofWorld War II, the town was garrisoned by a 12,000-man force from theImperial Japanese Army and was thus subjected to bombing by theUnited States Navy in 1945. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1958.
Nishinoomote has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 14 members. Nishinoomote, collectively with the other municipalities of Kumage District, contributes two members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of theKagoshima 4th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
The economy of Nishinoomote is based largely on agriculture (sugar cane, sweet potatoes), livestock (cattle, pigs, etc.), and fisheries.
Nishinoomote has ten 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.
Nishinoomote Port is a regional transportation hub, with frequent ferry service to Kagoshima, Tokyo, Kobe, and Osaka, as well as Okinawa and the other Osumi islands.
Isa, Kagoshima, since November 10, 1962Sakai, Osaka, since October 18, 1986Nagahama, Shiga, since October 8, 1987
Vila do Bispo, Portugal, since October 1, 1993 (in recognition of the fact that it wasFernão Mendes Pinto, a Portuguese explorer, who claimed to be the first European to set foot on Japan, and did so on Tanegashima in 1543.)[4][5]
Media related toNishinoomote, Kagoshima at Wikimedia Commons
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