Summary
Kumano (熊野市, Kumano-shi) is a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2021[update], the city had an estimated population of 16,232 in 8,746 households and a population density of 43 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 373.35 square kilometres (144.15 sq mi). Kumano is Yoshino-Kumano National Park's finest international beach resort.
Kumano
熊野市 | |
|---|---|
 Shichirimihama Beach, Kumano | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
Location of Kumano in Mie Prefecture | |
  Kumano | |
| Coordinates: 33°53′19.1″N 136°6′0.8″E / 33.888639°N 136.100222°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kansai |
| Prefecture | Mie |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kanji Kawakami |
| Area | |
| • Total | 373.35 km2 (144.15 sq mi) |
| Population (July 2021) | |
| • Total | 16,232 |
| • Density | 43/km2 (110/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 0597-89-4111 |
| Address | 796 Idochō, Kumano-shi, Mie-ken 519-4392 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Japanese bush-warbler |
| Flower | Sasayuri (Lilium japonicum) |
| Tree | Cryptomeria |
Geography edit
Kumano is located near the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, in southern Mie Prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. Parts of the city are within the limits of the Yoshino-Kumano National Park.
Neighboring municipalities edit
Mie Prefecture
Wakayama Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
Climate edit
Kumano has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kumano is 16.8 °C (62.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 3,111.2 mm (122.49 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.0 °C (80.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.8 °C (44.2 °F).[2]
| Climate data for Kumano-Shingu (2002−2020 normals, extremes 2002−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) |
24.7 (76.5) |
26.8 (80.2) |
32.2 (90.0) |
31.3 (88.3) |
35.8 (96.4) |
37.7 (99.9) |
38.6 (101.5) |
36.4 (97.5) |
31.0 (87.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
24.4 (75.9) |
38.6 (101.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.3 (52.3) |
12.5 (54.5) |
15.3 (59.5) |
19.6 (67.3) |
23.3 (73.9) |
25.9 (78.6) |
29.6 (85.3) |
31.1 (88.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
21.1 (70.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.7 (51.3) |
15.1 (59.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
22.1 (71.8) |
25.7 (78.3) |
27.0 (80.6) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.5 (67.1) |
14.4 (57.9) |
9.2 (48.6) |
16.8 (62.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
3.8 (38.8) |
6.2 (43.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
18.9 (66.0) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.8 (74.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
16.3 (61.3) |
10.7 (51.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
13.1 (55.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −3.4 (25.9) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
2.5 (36.5) |
8.2 (46.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
18.3 (64.9) |
16.6 (61.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
7.4 (45.3) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 92.6 (3.65) |
121.6 (4.79) |
208.4 (8.20) |
270.1 (10.63) |
273.6 (10.77) |
388.9 (15.31) |
356.9 (14.05) |
265.4 (10.45) |
476.1 (18.74) |
383.7 (15.11) |
164.1 (6.46) |
109.8 (4.32) |
3,111.2 (122.49) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 5.6 | 7.0 | 9.5 | 9.8 | 11.1 | 14.2 | 12.5 | 11.5 | 13.6 | 11.8 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 120.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 194.6 | 176.0 | 204.2 | 199.3 | 196.5 | 134.1 | 168.0 | 205.7 | 147.6 | 143.5 | 167.7 | 187.1 | 2,124.3 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2] | |||||||||||||
Demographics edit
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Kumano has decreased steadily over the past 60 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 39,150 | — |
| 1970 | 32,909 | −15.9% |
| 1980 | 28,720 | −12.7% |
| 1990 | 25,783 | −10.2% |
| 2000 | 22,640 | −12.2% |
| 2010 | 19,675 | −13.1% |
History edit
The area of the modern city of Kumano was within ancient Kii Province and was part of the holdings of the Kii Tokugawa clan, and administered as part of the Kii-Shingū Domain in the Edo period. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Kinomoto was established within Minamimuro District with the early Meiji period creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Kumano was established on November 3, 1954 by the merger of Kinomoto with the surrounding villages of Isato, Kamikawa, Arii, Atashika, Arasaki and Tomari (all from Minamimuro District).
On November 15, 2005, the town of Kiwa (also from Minamimuro District) was also merged into Kumano.
Government edit
Kumano has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Kumano, collectively with the towns of Mihama of Kihō, contributes two members to the Mie Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Mie 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy edit
The economy of Kumano is centered on commercial fishing, forestry and horticulture (oranges). Kumano is also known for its Nachiguro-ishi which can be used to make inkstone[5] and black Go stones.[6]
Education edit
Kumano has nine public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Mie Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
Transportation edit
Railway edit
Highway edit
Local attractions edit
A portion of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is located within Kumano.
Sister city relations edit
Notable people edit
- Hikoroku Arimoto - Olympic gymnast
- Shigeru Kasamatsu – Olympic gymnast
References edit
- ^ "Kumano city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan. Archived from the original on 2022-01-10. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
- ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ Kumano population statistics
- ^ "Nachiguro inkstone". Retrieved 2023-09-24.
- ^ "Chapter 3. Black Go Stones". kurokigoishiten. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
- ^ a b "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
External links edit
Media related to Kumano, Mie at Wikimedia Commons
Geographic data related to Kumano, Mie at OpenStreetMap
Kumano travel guide from Wikivoyage- Official website (in Japanese)
