Minamiaso
南阿蘇村
View of Mount Aso from Minami-Aso
View of Mount Aso from Minami-Aso
Flag of Minamiaso
Official seal of Minamiaso
Location of Minamiaso in Kumamoto Prefecture
Location of Minamiaso in Kumamoto Prefecture
Minamiaso is located in Japan
Minamiaso
Minamiaso
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°49′N 131°2′E / 32.817°N 131.033°E / 32.817; 131.033
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKumamoto Prefecture
DistrictAso
Government
  MayorSeiichi Kira (since 2017)
Area
  Total137.30 km2 (53.01 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2016)
  Total11,086
  Density81/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address145-3 Kain, Minamiaso-mura, Aso-gun, Kumamoto-ken
869-1411
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.vill.minamiaso.lg.jp
Symbols
BirdEmberiza cioides
FlowerPieris japonica
TreeChamaecyparis obtusa

Minamiaso (南阿蘇村, Minamiaso-mura, literally "South Aso") is a village in Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

It was formed on February 13, 2005 from the merger of the villages of Chōyō, Hakusui and Kugino. Neighbouring towns are Takamori, Ōzu, and Nishihara.

As of April 30, 2019, the village has an estimated population of 10,535 and a population density of 77 persons per km². The total area is 137.30 km².

Geography

Climate

Minamiaso has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is high, but there is a pronounced difference between the wetter summers and drier winters. The average annual temperature in Minamiaso is 14.4 °C (57.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,922.8 mm (115.07 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.5 °C (77.9 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.7 °C (38.7 °F).[1] The highest temperature ever recorded in Minamiaso was 36.2 °C (97.2 °F) on 8 August 2015; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −10.0 °C (14.0 °F) on 24 January 2016 and 8 January 2021.[2]

Climate data for Minamiaso (2015−2020 normals, extremes 2015−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.2
(66.6)
20.8
(69.4)
23.5
(74.3)
28.3
(82.9)
31.2
(88.2)
32.3
(90.1)
34.8
(94.6)
36.2
(97.2)
31.8
(89.2)
30.7
(87.3)
25.4
(77.7)
21.9
(71.4)
36.2
(97.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.7
(47.7)
9.9
(49.8)
14.3
(57.7)
19.4
(66.9)
24.2
(75.6)
25.9
(78.6)
29.4
(84.9)
31.1
(88.0)
26.7
(80.1)
22.3
(72.1)
17.0
(62.6)
10.9
(51.6)
20.0
(68.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.7
(38.7)
4.5
(40.1)
8.3
(46.9)
13.5
(56.3)
18.1
(64.6)
21.2
(70.2)
24.8
(76.6)
25.5
(77.9)
21.7
(71.1)
16.3
(61.3)
10.6
(51.1)
5.3
(41.5)
14.5
(58.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.0
(30.2)
−0.5
(31.1)
2.4
(36.3)
7.5
(45.5)
12.4
(54.3)
17.0
(62.6)
21.2
(70.2)
21.2
(70.2)
17.6
(63.7)
11.0
(51.8)
4.9
(40.8)
0.1
(32.2)
9.5
(49.1)
Record low °C (°F) −10.0
(14.0)
−9.3
(15.3)
−5.0
(23.0)
−1.7
(28.9)
1.8
(35.2)
10.2
(50.4)
14.5
(58.1)
15.4
(59.7)
6.8
(44.2)
1.5
(34.7)
−4.7
(23.5)
−6.3
(20.7)
−10.0
(14.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 96.8
(3.81)
127.7
(5.03)
145.7
(5.74)
196.8
(7.75)
215.8
(8.50)
639.3
(25.17)
656.4
(25.84)
204.2
(8.04)
294.9
(11.61)
136.0
(5.35)
99.3
(3.91)
109.9
(4.33)
2,922.8
(115.07)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 4
(1.6)
5
(2.0)
trace 0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
trace 9
(3.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.0 9.5 11.3 10.8 10.7 15.8 14.8 11.0 13.8 9.3 9.0 8.0 131
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 97.9 118.9 165.0 175.0 196.3 124.2 146.3 204.5 122.8 158.2 140.2 116.9 1,766.1
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][1]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Minamiaso in 2020 is 9,836 people.[3] Minamiaso has been conducting censuses since 1960.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 16,485    
1965 14,636−11.2%
1970 13,087−10.6%
1975 12,797−2.2%
1980 13,010+1.7%
1985 13,285+2.1%
1990 12,643−4.8%
1995 12,864+1.7%
2000 12,436−3.3%
2005 12,254−1.5%
2010 11,978−2.3%
2015 11,503−4.0%
2020 9,836−14.5%
Minamiaso population statistics[3]

History

Minamiaso is situated within Aso Caldera, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world. For more information, refer to the entry on Mt. Aso.

Minamiaso was once three separate villages: Chōyō, Hakusui and Kugino. In 2005, it was decided that these villages would merge along with neighboring area Tateno to become Minamiaso village, which would stretch between Ōzu and Takamori.

Merger

Due to declining birth rate, aging population and the opportunity to share administrative resources, discussions between the three villages (Chōyō, Hakusui and Kugino) began on April 1, 2003. The merger was complete on February 13, 2005.

Education

  • Tokai Agricultural University
  • Kumamoto Seiryou High School

There are no public high schools in Minamiaso.

Junior high schools

  • Chōyō Junior High School
  • Hakusui Junior High School
  • Kugino Junior High School

Junior High School Merger

At the beginning of 2016, due to declining student numbers, the three junior high schools merged into a single school, named simply "Minamiaso Junior High School". Chōyō Junior High School was chosen as the new location to host the students and staff.

Elementary schools

Ryouhei Elementary School
  • Tateno Elementary School
  • Chōyō Elementary School
  • West Chōyō Elementary School
  • Nakamatsu Elementary School
  • Hakusui Elementary School
  • Ryouhei Elementary School
  • Kugino Elementary School

Transportation

Rail

Trains going to Ōzu, Miyaji (Aso City) or non-express trains bound for Oita will stop at Tateno Station. Those trains bound for Ōzu will end their journey there and connecting train will be waiting at the adjacent platform. A change will also need to be made at Tateno to the Minamiaso Tetsudou line, which is not a JR line so JR Rail Passes will not be valid. From Tateno to Chōyō (the first station in Minamiaso-mura) costs 230 yen. Following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the train line is not in operation and is currently receiving repairs (as of 27 January 2017).

References

  1. 1 2 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  2. 1 2 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Minamiaso population statistics
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.