Asagiri, Kumamoto

Last updated
Asagiri
あさぎり町
Menda station front 1.jpg
Asagiri Town
Flag of Asagiri, Kumamoto.svg
Emblem of Asagiri, Kumamoto.svg
Asagiri, Kumamoto
Interactive map of Asagiri
Japan location map with side map of the Ryukyu Islands.svg
Red pog.svg
Asagiri
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°14′25″N130°53′52″E / 32.24028°N 130.89778°E / 32.24028; 130.89778
CountryJapan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Kumamoto
District Kuma
Area
  Total
159.56 km2 (61.61 sq mi)
Population
 (August 31, 2024)
  Total
14,134
  Density88.581/km2 (229.42/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1199 Menda Higashi, Asagiri-cho, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto-ken 868-0408
Climate Cfa
Website Official website
Symbols
Bird Eurasian skylark
FlowerRyoukinka (Marsh marigold)
TreeBuna (Japanese beech)
Asagiri Town Hall Asagiri town hall.JPG
Asagiri Town Hall

Asagiri (あさぎり町, Asagiri-chō) is a town located in Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 August 2024, the town had an estimated population of 14,134 in 5774 households, and a population density of 89 persons per km2. [1] The total area of the town is 159.56 km2 (61.61 sq mi). The word "asagiri" translates as "morning mist".

Contents

Geography

Asagiri is located in southern Kumamoto Prefecture. It contains Mount Shiragatake, a designated nature reserve.

Adjacent municipalities

Kumamoto Prefecture

Miyazaki Prefecture

Climate

Asagiri has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Asagiri is 15.5 °C (59.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,496.8 mm (98.30 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C (79.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.1 °C (39.4 °F). [2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Asagiri was 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) on 17 August 2020; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −13.8 °C (7.2 °F) on 25 January 2016. [3]

Climate data for Ue, Asagiri (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)20.2
(68.4)
23.3
(73.9)
26.9
(80.4)
30.6
(87.1)
34.1
(93.4)
34.7
(94.5)
36.9
(98.4)
37.4
(99.3)
35.8
(96.4)
32.9
(91.2)
26.9
(80.4)
21.6
(70.9)
37.4
(99.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)10.4
(50.7)
12.5
(54.5)
16.3
(61.3)
21.5
(70.7)
25.8
(78.4)
27.6
(81.7)
31.4
(88.5)
32.3
(90.1)
29.5
(85.1)
24.5
(76.1)
18.2
(64.8)
12.3
(54.1)
21.9
(71.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)4.1
(39.4)
5.8
(42.4)
9.5
(49.1)
14.4
(57.9)
18.9
(66.0)
22.4
(72.3)
26.0
(78.8)
26.4
(79.5)
23.3
(73.9)
17.5
(63.5)
11.3
(52.3)
5.8
(42.4)
15.5
(59.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−1.3
(29.7)
−0.1
(31.8)
3.4
(38.1)
7.9
(46.2)
13.0
(55.4)
18.3
(64.9)
22.1
(71.8)
22.4
(72.3)
18.9
(66.0)
12.1
(53.8)
5.9
(42.6)
0.5
(32.9)
10.3
(50.5)
Record low °C (°F)−13.8
(7.2)
−10.6
(12.9)
−7.6
(18.3)
−3.4
(25.9)
2.4
(36.3)
8.3
(46.9)
15.0
(59.0)
15.6
(60.1)
6.8
(44.2)
−1.2
(29.8)
−5.8
(21.6)
−8.5
(16.7)
−13.8
(7.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)65.5
(2.58)
98.3
(3.87)
144.5
(5.69)
154.5
(6.08)
200.0
(7.87)
558.8
(22.00)
496.5
(19.55)
256.0
(10.08)
248.8
(9.80)
104.5
(4.11)
86.7
(3.41)
73.7
(2.90)
2,496.8
(98.30)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)7.58.911.610.69.816.114.011.610.77.18.37.4123.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 134.6140.8164.3176.8175.6110.2160.8180.0148.9164.8128.4128.61,815.4
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency [3] [2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Asagiri in 2020 is 14,676 people. [4] Asagiri has been conducting censuses since 1920.

History

The area of Asagiri was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Hitoyoshi Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Ue, Minagoe, Menda, Ōkaharu, Sue, and Fukada were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Minagoe was incorporated into Ue village on December 7, 1895, which was elevated to town status on April 1, 1937. On April 1, 2003 villages of Ue, Ōkaharu, Sue, Fukada were merged with town of Menda to create Asagiri. The name was chosen because for the fog that blankets the valley from fall through spring.(Asa – morning, kiri/giri – fog)

Government

Asagiri has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Asagiri, collectively with the other municipalities of Kuma District, contributes two members 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

Agriculture dominates the local economy. Soybeans, strawberries, melons and tobacco and shōchū are produced here.

Education

Asagiri has five public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Kumagawa Railroad - Yunomae Line

Highways

Notable people from Asagiri

References

  1. "Asagiri Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. 1 2 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA . Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  3. 1 2 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA . Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Asagiri population statistics