Tsunagi, Kumamoto

Tsunagi
津奈木町
Tsunagi Town Hall
Tsunagi Town Hall
Flag of Tsunagi
Official seal of Tsunagi
Map
Location of Tsunagi in Kumamoto Prefecture
Location of Tsunagi
Tsunagi is located in Japan
Tsunagi
Tsunagi
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°14′02″N 130°26′23″E / 32.23389°N 130.43972°E / 32.23389; 130.43972
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKuamamoto
DistrictAshikita
Area
 • Total
34.08 km2 (13.16 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2024)
 • Total
4,131
 • Density120/km2 (310/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address2123 Otsunagi, Tsunagi-machi, Ashikita-gun, Kumamoto-ken 869-5692
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdCopper Pheasant
FlowerFarfugium japonicum
TreeCryptomeria japonica
Chohangan Megane-bashi
Panorama of Tsunagi

Tsunagi (津奈木町, Tsunagi-machi) is a town located in Ashikita District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 September 2024, the town had an estimated population of 4,131 in 1848 households, and a population density of 120 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 34.08 km2 (13.16 sq mi).

Geography

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Tsunagi is located in far southwestern Kumamoto Prefecture bordering the Yatsushiro Sea.

Neighboring municipalities

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Kumamoto Prefecture

Climate

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Tsunagi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tsunagi is 16.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2213 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.9 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Tsunagi is as shown below

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 6,653—    
1950 9,303+39.8%
1960 8,406−9.6%
1970 6,355−24.4%
1980 6,053−4.8%
1990 5,783−4.5%
2000 5,741−0.7%
2010 5,062−11.8%
2020 4,254−16.0%

History

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The area of Tsunagi was part of ancient Higo Province. The town name "Tsunaki" is said to have originated from the legend that when Emperor Keikō conquered Kyushu, he "tied" his ships here. During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Tsunagi was established in Ashikita District, Kumamoto with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April, 1963, Tsunagi was elevated to town status.

Residents of Tsunagi were among those affected by Minamata disease.[3] There is also a tradition of biwa-playing in Tsunagi.[4]

Government

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Tsunagi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of ten members. Tsunagi, together with the town of Ashikita contributes one member to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Tsunagi is mainly agriculture and commercial fishing. The Tsunagi Industrial Park and Kuratani Industrial Park have been developed within the town, and efforts are being made to attract manufacturing businesses.

Education

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Tsunagi has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

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Railways

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Hisatsu Orange Railway

Highways

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Notable people form Tsunagi

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tsunagi Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Tsunagi climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
  3. ^ D'Mello, J. P. F. (2019-12-04). A Handbook of Environmental Toxicology: Human Disorders and Ecotoxicology. CABI. pp. 359–365. ISBN 978-1-78639-467-5.
  4. ^ Ferranti, Hugh de (2010-03-31). The Last Biwa Singer: A Blind Musician in History—Imagination and Performance. Cornell University Press. pp. 269–287. ISBN 978-1-942242-43-7.
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