Shiroishi, Saga

Shiroishi (白石町, Shiroishi-chō) is a town located in south-central Saga Prefecture, Japan, in Kishima District. It is known for its vast reclaimed land and tidal flats of the Ariake Sea.

Shiroishi
白石町
Town
Shiroishi town hall
Shiroishi town hall
Flag of Shiroishi
Official seal of Shiroishi
Location of Shiroishi in Saga Prefecture
Location of Shiroishi in Saga Prefecture
Shiroishi is located in Japan
Shiroishi
Shiroishi
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°10′51″N 130°8′35″E
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureSaga Prefecture
DistrictKishima
Government
  MayorHiroaki Katafuchi
Area
  Total99.46 km2 (38.40 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2016)
  Total23,606
  Density240/km2 (610/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address253-1 Ōaza Sakata, Shiroishi-chō, Kishima-gun, Saga-ken
849-1292
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.town.shiroishi.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerIris
TreeSweet Osmanthus

As of October 1, 2016, the town has an estimated population of 23,606.

On January 1, 2005 Shiroshi absorbed the towns of Fukudomi and Ariake, all from Kishima District, to become the new and expanded town of Shiroshi.

Geography

Terrain

Located in the Saga plains, Shiroishi is bordered by the Ariake Sea to the southeast. The port of Suminoe Bay, in the mouth of the Rokkaku River, has the largest tidal range in Japan with a maximum of about 6m at spring tide.

  • Mountains: Mt. Kishima (345m), Mt. Inuyama (342m), Mt. Shiraiwa (340m), Mt. Iimori (318m)
  • Rivers: Rokkaku River, Shioda River, Marie River, Tadae River
  • Lakes: Nuinoike, Kasegawaike
  • 85% of the total area of cultivated land is farmland.

Climate

  • Annual Mean Air Temperature: 16.0 °C (60.8 °F)
  • Annual Mean Precipitation: about 1,450 mm (57 in)
Climate data for Shiroishi, Saga (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.3
(68.5)
22.9
(73.2)
24.6
(76.3)
31.5
(88.7)
35.9
(96.6)
37.5
(99.5)
39.0
(102.2)
38.6
(101.5)
36.3
(97.3)
33.1
(91.6)
26.9
(80.4)
24.2
(75.6)
39.0
(102.2)
Average high °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8)
11.5
(52.7)
15.1
(59.2)
20.5
(68.9)
25.5
(77.9)
28.0
(82.4)
31.3
(88.3)
32.7
(90.9)
29.1
(84.4)
24.2
(75.6)
18.1
(64.6)
12.2
(54.0)
21.5
(70.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.0
(41.0)
6.2
(43.2)
9.6
(49.3)
14.5
(58.1)
19.3
(66.7)
23.1
(73.6)
27.0
(80.6)
27.6
(81.7)
23.8
(74.8)
18.1
(64.6)
12.3
(54.1)
7.0
(44.6)
16.1
(61.0)
Average low °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)
1.3
(34.3)
4.3
(39.7)
8.8
(47.8)
13.8
(56.8)
19.2
(66.6)
23.6
(74.5)
24.0
(75.2)
19.7
(67.5)
13.1
(55.6)
7.3
(45.1)
2.4
(36.3)
11.5
(52.7)
Record low °C (°F) −9.6
(14.7)
−6.4
(20.5)
−4.3
(24.3)
−1.8
(28.8)
3.9
(39.0)
8.5
(47.3)
15.5
(59.9)
16.6
(61.9)
7.0
(44.6)
1.5
(34.7)
−1.5
(29.3)
−5.4
(22.3)
−9.6
(14.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 53.7
(2.11)
71.3
(2.81)
109.8
(4.32)
145.1
(5.71)
154.9
(6.10)
309.5
(12.19)
354.0
(13.94)
219.4
(8.64)
171.2
(6.74)
88.8
(3.50)
85.9
(3.38)
59.4
(2.34)
1,822.8
(71.76)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8.1 8.3 10.1 9.3 8.9 13.2 12.9 10.0 9.0 6.2 8.2 7.8 112
Mean monthly sunshine hours 117.3 128.1 158.3 177.9 187.2 115.4 161.7 199.6 159.7 168.6 139.8 121.2 1,834.7
Source: JMA[1][2]

Adjoining Cities and Municipalities

History

  • April 1, 1889 - The modern municipal system is established. At this time Shiroishi consists of nine separate villages: Hashishita, Fukudomi, Fukuji, Kinkō, Kita-Ariake, Minami-Ariake, Rokkaku, Ryūō, and Suko.
  • April 1, 1936 - Fukuji gains town status and is renamed Shiroishi.
  • April 1, 1955 - Kinkō and Ryūō merge to form Ariake.
  • July 20, 1955 - Rokkaku and Suko are incorporated into Shiroishi.
  • September 30, 1955 - Minami-Ariake is incorporated into Ariake.
  • July 1, 1956 - Kita-Ariake is incorporated into Shiroishi.
  • October 1, 1962 - Ariake gains town status.
  • April 1, 1967 - Fukudomi gains town status.
  • January 1, 2005 - The towns of Shiroishi, Fukudomi, and Ariake are merged under the name Shiroishi.

Demographics

27.01% of the population (7,437) are 65 or older. In 2005 there were 183 births and 322 deaths, 624 immigrants and 805 emigrants, indicating a negative population growth.

Economy

Agriculture

Shiroishi is a very agricultural community.[3] Some of their agricultural products include tempe, renkon, strawberries, onions, rice, and beef.[4]

Education

High schools

(prefectural)

  • Shiroishi High School
  • Saga Agricultural School

Junior high schools

  • Shiroishi Junior High School
  • Fukudomi Junior High School
  • Ariake Junior High School

Elementary schools

  • Suko Elementary School
  • Rokkaku Elementary School
  • Shiroishi Elementary School
  • Hokumei Elementary School
  • Fukudomi Elementary School
  • Ariake East Elementary School
  • Ariake West Elementary School
  • Ariake South Elementary School

Transportation

Air

The closest airports are Saga Airport and Fukuoka Airport.

Rail

Roads

Festivals

  • Yasaka Shrine Summer Festival (八坂神社 夏祭り, yasakajinja natsumatsuri), July 13 - Floats are pulled down the main shopping district in the tradition of the Kyoto Gion Festival.
  • Hassaku (八朔), October 1 - A fall festival celebrating the sea at Kaidou Shrine.
  • Okunchi (おくんち), October 19 - This fall festival is held at the Tsumayama, Rokkaku, Inasa, and Fukudomi shrines. It features Japanese horseback archery, called yabusame.
  • Ohitaki Festival (お火たき祭り, ohitakimatsuri), December 26 - A bonfire festival where people pray for the coming year.

Notable Places

  • Utagaki Park (歌垣公園, utagaki kouen), a park with many flowers.
  • Suko Castle, A castle ruin in the Sengoku period. Ryūzōji Takanobu's residence.
  • Inasa Shrine (稲佐神社, inasa jinja), an old shrine in the mountains west of Shiroishi. Of particular note is the stone paved road leading to the shrine.
  • Fukudomi My Land Park (ふくどみマイランド公園, fukudomi mairando kouen) a park and playground.

People from Shioishi

References

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