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    Oguni, Kumamoto

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 8 min

    Oguni
    小国町
    Town
    Tsuetate Onsen
    Tsuetate Onsen
    Flag of Oguni
    Official seal of Oguni
    Map
    Location of Oguni in Kumamoto Prefecture
    Location of Oguni
    Oguni is located in Japan
    Oguni
    Oguni
    Location in Japan
    Coordinates: 33°07′18″N 131°4′5″E / 33.12167°N 131.06806°E / 33.12167; 131.06806
    CountryJapan
    RegionKyushu
    PrefectureKumamoto
    DistrictAso
    Area
     • Total
    136.94 km2 (52.87 sq mi)
    Population
     (August 1, 2024)
     • Total
    6,346
     • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
    Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
    City hall address1567-1 Miyahara, Oguni-machi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto-ken 869-2592
    WebsiteOfficial website
    Symbols
    BirdVaried tit
    FlowerCalanthe discolor
    TreeCryptomeria
    Oguni Town Hall

    Oguni (小国町, Oguni-machi) is a town in Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.[1][2] As of 1 August 2024, the town had an estimated population of 6,346 in 2993 households, and a population density of 46 persons per km2.[3] The total area of the town is 136.94 km2 (52.87 sq mi).

    Geography

    [edit]

    Oguni is located in the Kyushu Mountains in central Kyushu, at the northern end of Kumamoto Prefecture. The eastern, northern, and western parts of the town border Oita Prefecture. Approximately 80% of the town is forest, and approximately 75% of that forest is man-made cedar forest

    Neighboring municipalities

    [edit]

    Kumamoto Prefecture

    • Minamioguni

    Ōita Prefecture

    • Hita
    • Kusu
    • Kokonoe

    Climate

    [edit]

    Ubuyama has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ubuyama is 12.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 18636 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.2 °C.[4]

    Demographics

    [edit]

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

    Historical population
    YearPop.±%
    1940 12,336—    
    1950 15,189+23.1%
    1960 16,022+5.5%
    1970 12,509−21.9%
    1980 10,813−13.6%
    1990 9,854−8.9%
    2000 8,954−9.1%
    2010 7,877−12.0%
    2020 6,590−16.3%

    History

    [edit]

    The area of Ubayama was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Kitaoguni was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Kitaoguni was raised to town status on April 1, 1935

    Government

    [edit]

    Oguni has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Oguni, collectively with the other municipalities of Aso District contributes one member to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kumamoto 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

    Economy

    [edit]

    Forestry has long been the main industry in Oguni. In agriculture, radish production and Jersey cattle breeding, which were introduced in the late 1950s, are popular. There is also a natural hot spring facility in the town, and tourism plays a role in the locale economy.

    Education

    [edit]

    Oguni has one public elementary school and one public junior high schools operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

    Transportation

    [edit]

    Railways

    [edit]

    The town has not had any passenger railway service since the closure of the Miyahara Line in 1984. Bungo-Mori Station on the JR Kyushu Kyūdai Main Line is the nearest station.

    Highways

    [edit]
    • National Route 212
    • National Route 387
    • National Route 442

    Local attractions

    [edit]
    Ginkgo biloba in Shimonojō area
    • Kitasato Shibasaburō Memorial Museum: Oguni is Kitasato's birthplace.
    • Nabegataki Falls (鍋ケ滝)
    • Nuruyu Onsen (奴留湯温泉)
    • Sakamoto Zenzo Museum of Art
    • Tsuetate Onsen (杖立温泉)

    Notable people from Oguni

    [edit]
    • Hiroshi Katsuno, actor
    • Kitasato Shibasaburō

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ 小国町老人保健福祉計画 (in Japanese). 1994.
    2. ^ "Town, company team up to achieve SDGs in Kumamoto". The Japan Times. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
    3. ^ "Oguni Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
    4. ^ Ubuyama climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
    [edit]


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    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oguni, Kumamoto
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