Kirishima, Kagoshima

Coordinates: 31°44′28″N 130°45′48″E / 31.74111°N 130.76333°E / 31.74111; 130.76333
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about a current city. For a former town, see Kirishima, Kagoshima (town).
Kirishima
霧島市
City
From top left: Kirishima shrine, Uenohara site, Mount Kirishima from Maruoka, Producing black vinegar at Fukuyama, Ryokukeitouen of Eino-o Onsen, Kagoshima Airport
From top left: Kirishima shrine, Uenohara site, Mount Kirishima from Maruoka, Producing black vinegar at Fukuyama, Ryokukeitouen of Eino-o Onsen, Kagoshima Airport
Flag of Kirishima
Flag
Official seal of Kirishima
Seal
Map
Location of Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture
Location of Kirishima
Kirishima is located in Japan
Kirishima
Kirishima
Location in Japan
Kirishima is located in Kagoshima Prefecture
Kirishima
Kirishima
Location of Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture
Coordinates: 31°44′28″N 130°45′48″E / 31.74111°N 130.76333°E / 31.74111; 130.76333
Country Japan
RegionKyūshū
Prefecture Kagoshima
Government
 • MayorShin'ichi Nakashige
Area
 • Total603.71 km2 (233.09 sq mi)
Population
 (May 1, 2024)
 • Total123,640
 • Density200/km2 (530/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
Postal code
899-4394
Phone number0995-45-5111
Address3-45-1 Kokubuchūō, Kirishima-shi, Kagoshima-ken
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerRhododendron kiusianum
Nicotiana × sanderae
TreeIlex rotunda
Acer
An image taken from the International Space Station showing Kirishima and its surroundings on January 10, 2013
Kirishima City Hall

Kirishima (霧島市, Kirishima-shi) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2024, the city had an estimated population of 123,640 in 63202 households, and a population density of 200 persons per km2. [1] The total area of the city is 603.17 km2 (232.89 sq mi). Kirishima has the second largest population of the cities in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a crossroads for commerce between Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefectures. It is also the home of the Kagoshima Airport, the terminus for the JR Hisatsu line, and is served by two major expressways. The former Kokubu-Hayato area was designated as a "Technopolis" as high tech industries such as Sony and Kyocera opened facilities in the city.

Geography[edit]

Kirishima is located in central Kagoshima Prefecture, facing Kagoshima Bay to the south and bordered by the volcanic Kirishima Mountains to the east. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Kirishima-Yaku National Park.

Surrounding municipalities[edit]

Miyazaki Prefecture

Climate[edit]

Kirishima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heavier in summer, especially the months of June and July. The average annual temperature in Kirishima is 15.4 °C (59.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,830.7 mm (111.44 in) with June 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 5.3 °C (41.5 °F).[2] Its record high is 35.1 °C (95.2 °F), reached on 17 August 2020, and its record low is −8.6 °C (16.5 °F), reached on 25 January 2016.[3]

Climate data for Kirishima (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.4
(66.9) 		20.9
(69.6) 		23.8
(74.8) 		26.9
(80.4) 		31.1
(88.0) 		31.8
(89.2) 		34.4
(93.9) 		35.1
(95.2) 		33.3
(91.9) 		30.3
(86.5) 		25.8
(78.4) 		21.5
(70.7) 		35.1
(95.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.5
(49.1) 		11.1
(52.0) 		14.3
(57.7) 		18.8
(65.8) 		22.8
(73.0) 		24.7
(76.5) 		28.8
(83.8) 		29.7
(85.5) 		27.2
(81.0) 		22.6
(72.7) 		17.2
(63.0) 		11.8
(53.2) 		19.9
(67.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.3
(41.5) 		6.5
(43.7) 		9.5
(49.1) 		13.9
(57.0) 		17.9
(64.2) 		20.9
(69.6) 		24.7
(76.5) 		25.2
(77.4) 		22.7
(72.9) 		18.0
(64.4) 		12.7
(54.9) 		7.5
(45.5) 		15.4
(59.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.5
(34.7) 		2.3
(36.1) 		5.2
(41.4) 		9.5
(49.1) 		14.0
(57.2) 		18.1
(64.6) 		22.0
(71.6) 		22.4
(72.3) 		19.5
(67.1) 		14.3
(57.7) 		8.7
(47.7) 		3.5
(38.3) 		11.8
(53.2)
Record low °C (°F) −8.6
(16.5) 		−7.8
(18.0) 		−5.6
(21.9) 		0.2
(32.4) 		2.4
(36.3) 		11.7
(53.1) 		15.3
(59.5) 		17.1
(62.8) 		10.3
(50.5) 		3.4
(38.1) 		−2.8
(27.0) 		−5.5
(22.1) 		−8.6
(16.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 73.4
(2.89) 		119.8
(4.72) 		174.3
(6.86) 		204.3
(8.04) 		238.2
(9.38) 		644.6
(25.38) 		459.7
(18.10) 		307.7
(12.11) 		304.4
(11.98) 		121.7
(4.79) 		104.6
(4.12) 		78.1
(3.07) 		2,830.7
(111.44)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8.3 9.0 12.7 11.5 11.1 17.4 13.8 13.4 11.7 7.8 8.3 7.1 132.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 145.2 144.0 166.2 174.3 174.9 101.7 162.7 180.3 151.6 178.4 153.5 150.3 1,883.3
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]
Climate data for Mizobe, Kirishima (1995−2020 normals, extremes 1995−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.8
(69.4) 		21.7
(71.1) 		24.8
(76.6) 		27.9
(82.2) 		31.8
(89.2) 		32.3
(90.1) 		35.1
(95.2) 		36.2
(97.2) 		33.8
(92.8) 		31.0
(87.8) 		26.7
(80.1) 		21.7
(71.1) 		36.2
(97.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.5
(50.9) 		12.4
(54.3) 		15.7
(60.3) 		20.3
(68.5) 		24.3
(75.7) 		26.0
(78.8) 		30.0
(86.0) 		30.9
(87.6) 		28.3
(82.9) 		23.8
(74.8) 		18.2
(64.8) 		12.7
(54.9) 		21.1
(70.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.4
(41.7) 		6.9
(44.4) 		10.0
(50.0) 		14.5
(58.1) 		18.7
(65.7) 		21.8
(71.2) 		25.5
(77.9) 		26.0
(78.8) 		23.3
(73.9) 		18.3
(64.9) 		12.7
(54.9) 		7.3
(45.1) 		15.9
(60.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9) 		1.6
(34.9) 		4.5
(40.1) 		8.9
(48.0) 		13.5
(56.3) 		18.2
(64.8) 		22.0
(71.6) 		22.3
(72.1) 		19.3
(66.7) 		13.6
(56.5) 		7.7
(45.9) 		2.4
(36.3) 		11.2
(52.2)
Record low °C (°F) −10.7
(12.7) 		−7.7
(18.1) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		4.3
(39.7) 		9.0
(48.2) 		15.4
(59.7) 		15.2
(59.4) 		9.8
(49.6) 		2.4
(36.3) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		−6.4
(20.5) 		−10.7
(12.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 70.2
(2.76) 		119.2
(4.69) 		177.3
(6.98) 		207.0
(8.15) 		227.3
(8.95) 		625.9
(24.64) 		451.2
(17.76) 		264.1
(10.40) 		251.7
(9.91) 		110.5
(4.35) 		105.5
(4.15) 		82.9
(3.26) 		2,692.8
(106.02)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.9 8.8 12.1 11.1 10.4 16.5 14.2 12.3 10.4 7.4 8.3 7.5 126.9
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5]

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kirishima is as shown below:[6]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 86,198—    
1930 90,540+5.0%
1940 90,973+0.5%
1950 122,982+35.2%
1960 113,032−8.1%
1970 95,326−15.7%
1980 102,157+7.2%
1990 116,247+13.8%
2000 127,912+10.0%
2010 127,487−0.3%
2020 123,135−3.4%

History[edit]

The area of Kirishima has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Uenohara site dates from the Jōmon period, and in the Kofun period the area was a stronghold of the Hayato people. In the Nara period, it became the center of ancient Ōsumi Province, and the location of the provincial capital and Provincial temple. The area largely became part of Shimazu shōen from the late Heian period, and continued to be ruled by the Shimazu clan throughout the Edo Period.

The modern city of Kirishima was established on November 7, 2005, from the merger of the city of Kokubu, and the towns of Fukuyama, Hayato, Kirishima (former), Makizono, Mizobe and Yokogawa (all from Aira District).

Government[edit]

Kirishima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 25 members. Kirishima, collectively with the town of Yūsui, contributes four members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kagoshima 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy[edit]

Kirishima has a mixed economy. Agriculture still plays a major role, with main specialty products: strawberries, tomatoes, burdock, green onions, buckwheat, leaf tobacco, mandarin oranges, tea, chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, beef cattle, eel, etc. Local leaf tobacco production is said to have begun in 1606, shortly after tobacco was introduced to Japan. Since then, it has continued to be one of the leading production areas in Japan, but in recent years it has been steadily shrinking. Taking advantage of the geographical conditions resulting from the opening of Kagoshima Airport and the Kyushu Expressway, the city has encouraged high-tech industries such as Sony and Kyocera to build large scale production plants in the area. On the other hand, Kirishima is also a tourist destination, noted for its volcanoes, hot springs and historic sites.

Japan Air Commuter has its headquarters in Kirishima.[7]

Education[edit]

Colleges and universities[edit]

Primary and secondary education[edit]

Kirishima has 35 public elementary high schools, 12 public junior high school and one public high school operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private junior high and one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation[edit]

Airport[edit]

Railways[edit]

JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line

JR Kyushu - Hisatsu Line

Highway[edit]

Sister city relations[edit]

Local attractions[edit]

Notable people from Kirishima[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kirishima City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  4. ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  5. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Kagoshima Prefecture population by municipality
  7. ^ "会社概要." Japan Air Commuter. Retrieved on May 19, 2009.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kirishima, Kagoshima.
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