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Uto, Kumamoto

Coordinates: 32°41′17″N 130°39′35″E / 32.68806°N 130.65972°E / 32.68806; 130.65972
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uto
宇土市
Uto City Hall
Uto City Hall
Flag of Uto
Official seal of Uto
Map
Location of Uto in Kumamoto Prefecture
Location of Uto
Uto is located in Japan
Uto
Uto
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°41′17″N 130°39′35″E / 32.68806°N 130.65972°E / 32.68806; 130.65972
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKumamoto
Area
 • Total74.30 km2 (28.69 sq mi)
Population
 (August 31, 2024)
 • Total36,149
 • Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address51 Uratacho, Uto-shi, Kumamoto-ken 869-0492
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdWarbling white-eye
FlowerHydrangea macrophylla
TreeOsmanthus fragrans
Nagata Seabed Road
Ruins of Uto Castle

Uto (宇土市, Uto-shi) is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2024, the city had an estimated population of 36,149 in 16127 households, and a population density of 490 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 74.30 km2 (28.69 sq mi).

Geography

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Uto occupies the northern half of the Uto Peninsula and is bordered on the northwest by the Ariake Sea.

Neighboring municipalities

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Kumamoto Prefecture

Climate

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Uto has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Uto is 16.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2128 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.5 °C.[2]

Demographics

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

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 33,412—    
1960 33,057−1.1%
1970 31,327−5.2%
1980 32,954+5.2%
1990 33,390+1.3%
2000 37,255+11.6%
2010 37,727+1.3%
2020 36,122−4.3%

History

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The area of Uto was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Uto was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Uto annexed the neighboring village of Hanazono, Todoroki, Midorikawa, Amizu and Hashiragata in 1954. On October 1, 1958 Uto merged with the village Amida and was raised to city status.

Government

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Uto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Uto contributes one member to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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  • Agriculture - Fruit cultivation is popular, taking advantage of the warm climate. Navel oranges, dekopon, and Andean melons are local specialties.
  • Fisheries - Nori farming is popular in the Ariake Sea. Asari clams are also a local speciality.
  • Manufacturing - In addition to the food processing industry, there are also chemical and steel industries.
  • Papier-mache is a traditional craft that is a local specialty.

Education

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Uto has seven public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railways

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JR Kyushu - Kagoshima Main Line

- Uto - Midorikawa - Sumiyoshi - Higo-Nagahama - Ōda - Akase

JR Kyushu - Misumi Line

- Uto

Highways

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Local attractions

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Notable people of Uto

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References

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  1. ^ "Uto City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Uto climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
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Media related to Uto, Kumamoto at Wikimedia Commons