Kikai, Kagoshima

Kikai (喜界町, Kikai-chō) is a town located on Kikaijima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. There are reports in 2018 that the volcano is a supervolcano with multiple such eruptive phases in the past.[1]

Not to be confused with Kikai Caldera.
Kikai
喜界町
Town
A view of Kikai Island from Hyakunodai hill
A view of Kikai Island from Hyakunodai hill
Flag of Kikai
Flag
Official seal of Kikai
Seal
Location of Kikai in Kagoshima Prefecture
Location of Kikai in Kagoshima Prefecture
Kikai is located in Japan
Kikai
Kikai
 
Coordinates: 28°19′19″N 129°57′44″E
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu (Amami Islands)
PrefectureKagoshima Prefecture
DistrictŌshima
Government
 • -MayorKawashima Tateo
Area
 • Total56.94 km2 (21.98 sq mi)
Population
 (1 June 2013)
 • Total7,657
 • Density134/km2 (350/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- FlowerAgave
Phone number0997-65-1111
Address1746, Ōaza Wan, Kikai-chō, Ōshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken 891-6292
Websitewww.town.kikai.lg.jp

In June 2013 the town had an estimated population of 7,657 and a population density of 134 persons per km². The total area is 56.94 km². The economy of the town is based on sugar cane, shōchū refining, and seasonal tourism.

Geography

Kikai occupies all of the island of Kikaijima. The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. The town is subject to frequent typhoons.

History

The village of Kikai was established on 1 April 1908. It was upgraded to town status in 1941. As with all of the Amami Islands, the village came under the administration of the United States from 1 July 1946 to 25 December 1953.

Transport

Ports
  • Kikai Port
  • Soumachi Port

Airport

Notable residents
  • In 2018, the then-oldest person in the world, Nabi Tajima (born August 1900) died in a hospital in Kikai at age 117.[2]

References
  1. Seidel, Jaime (13 February 2018). "Kikai supervolcano: Rising lava dome reveals magma pressure is rising beneath Japan".
  2. "World's oldest person dies in Japan at age of 117". CNBC. Retrieved 27 November 2022.

Media related to Kikai, Kagoshima at Wikimedia Commons

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