Itsuki, Kumamoto

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Itsuki
五木村
Village
Itsuki Village Office Kumamoto 2009.JPG
Itsuki Village Hall
Flag of Itsuki, Kumamoto.svg
Flag
Emblem of Itsuki, Kumamoto.svg
Emblem
Itsuki, Kumamoto
Location of Itsuki in Kumamoto Prefecture
Itsuki in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Japan location map with side map of the Ryukyu Islands.svg
Red pog.svg
Itsuki
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°23′50″N130°49′40″E / 32.39722°N 130.82778°E / 32.39722; 130.82778
CountryJapan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Kumamoto
District Kuma
Area
 • Total252.92 km2 (97.65 sq mi)
Population
 (August 31, 2024)
 • Total937
 • Density3.7/km2 (9.6/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address2672-7 Shimo-te, Itsuki-mura, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto-ken 868-0201
Website Official website
Symbols
Bird Japanese white-eye
Flower Camellia
Tree Ginkgo biloba
Site of Kawabe Dam Kawabe River Lower Itsuki 2009.JPG
Site of Kawabe Dam
Miyazono Gingko Tree Miyazono Gingko Tree Itsuki Village 20211115.jpg
Miyazono Gingko Tree

Itsuki (五木村, Itsuki-mura) is a village located in Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 August 2024, the village had an estimated population of 937 in 466 households, and a population density of 3.7 persons per km2. [1] The total area of the village is 252.92 km2 (97.65 sq mi). The name of Itsuki is well known for an indigenous folksong Itsuki no Komoriuta, or Lullaby of Itsuki .

Contents

Geography

Itsuki is located in the southern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, in the northern part of Kuma District. The entire village is in the mountainous region of the Kyushu Mountains, so it is characterized by a series of mountains over 1,000 meters above sea level, very few flat areas, and steep terrain with deep gorges running vertically and horizontally. Approximately 96.2% of the total area is made up of forests. Almost all of the habitable areas in the village, including the urban center, are scheduled to be submerged by the Kawabegawa Dam, so alternative sites were built in various places and residents have been gradually relocated

Neighboring municipalities

Kumamoto Prefecture

Climate

Itsuki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

Demographics

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

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 6,179—    
1950 5,902−4.5%
1960 6,161+4.4%
1970 4,006−35.0%
1980 3,086−23.0%
1990 1,964−36.4%
2000 1,530−22.1%
2010 1,205−21.2%
2020 931−22.7%

History

The area of Itsuki was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Hitoyoshi Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Itsuki was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. A plan for constructing Kawabegawa Dam was promulgated in 1966, but was delayed for decades due to extensive opposition by villagers and environmentalists. This project was cancelled in 2008, but only after most buildings and houses in the village were demolished and rebuilt on higher ground. However, after heavy rains in 2020 caused great damage in the Kuma River basin and other areas, the project was revived under the guise of "flood control", with construction now scheduled to commence in 2027 with completion by 2035.

Government

Itsuki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Itsuki, collectively with the other municipalities of Kuma District, contributes two members to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is based on agriculture and forestry. Production of green tea is the primary crop.

Education

Itsuki has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the village government, and one public high school operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Bureau of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Itsuki has no passenger railway services. The nearest train stations is Hitoyoshi Station on the Kumagawa Railway or JR Kyushu, approximately 45 minutes away by car or bus.

Hitoyoshi Station (45 minutes by car, or buses available) or Arisa Station (45 minutes by car).

Highways

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References

  1. ↑ "Itsuki Village official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.


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