Yasugi, Shimane

Yasugi (安来市, Yasugi-shi) is a city located in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 May 2023, the city had an estimated population of 35,965 in 14257 households and a population density of 85 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 420.93 square kilometres (162.52 sq mi).

Yasugi
安来市
City
Yasugi City Hall
Yasugi City Hall
Flag of Yasugi
Flag
Official seal of Yasugi
Seal
Location of Yasugi in Shimane Prefecture
Location of Yasugi
Yasugi is located in Japan
Yasugi
Yasugi
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°25′53″N 133°15′03″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku (San'in)
PrefectureShimane
Government
 • MayorTakeo Tanaka (since October 2020)
Area
 • Total420.93 km2 (162.52 sq mi)
Population
 (August 30, 2023)
 • Total35,965
 • Density85/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall addressYasugi-cho 878-2, Yasugi-shi, Shimane-ken 692-8686
Symbols
BirdSwan
FishPond loach
FlowerBamboo
TreeCherry blossom
Adachi Museum gardens
ruins of Gassan-Toda Castle
Yasugi city center

Geography

Yasugi is located in far eastern Shimane, bordered by the Nakaumi to the north, the Chugoku Mountains to the south and Tottori Prefecture to the east.

Neighboring municipalities

Shimane Prefecture

Tottori Prefecture

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Yasugi is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1828 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Yasugi has been declining over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
194046,239—    
1950 54,689+18.3%
1960 52,943−3.2%
1970 48,382−8.6%
1980 49,321+1.9%
1990 48,492−1.7%
2000 45,255−6.7%
2010 41,604−8.1%

History

The area of Yasugi was the center of ancient Izumo, which was a powerful kingdom during the Yayoi and Kofun period. According to legend, the goddess Izanami was buried here. The port at Yasugi on the Nakaumi was a center for trade with the Korean Peninsula from ancient times. Due to plentiful supplies of iron sand and timber, ancient tatara steelmaking flourished and was a source of economic strength.[4] The Yasugi Steel brand name bears the name of the city, and was established by Hitachi Metals, Ltd. During the Sengoku Period, Gassantoda Castle was the stronghold of the Amago clan, and under the Edo Period Tokugawa shogunate, the area was ruled by Matsue Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Yasugi was established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The city was founded on April 1, 1954, by the merger of Yasugi with the villages of Iinashi, Arashima, Akae, Shimada, and Otsuka. On October 1, 2004, the towns of Hakuta and Hirose (both from Nogi District) were merged into Yasugi.

Government

Yasugi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Yasugi contributes two members to the Shimane Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Shimane 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is strongly orientated to agriculture.

Education

Yasugi has 17 public elementary school and five public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Shimane Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

JR West (JR West) - San'in Main Line

Highways

Sister city relations

Local attractions
  • The Adachi Museum of Art has a widely known Japanese garden and a collection of contemporary Japanese paintings, comprising approximately 1,300 of the country's most highly regarded paintings produced after the Meiji period and centering on the works of Yokoyama Taikan. In 2021, the gardens of the Adachi Museum were ranked as the best in Japan for the 19th year in a row.[5] There is a free shuttle between JR Yasugi Station and the museum (20 minutes).
  • Gassantoda Castle ruins, National Historic Site

Culture

The city is known for Yasugibushi, a well-known folk song (Minyo) in Japan.

Notable people from Yasugi

References
  1. "Yasugi City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. Yasugi climate data
  3. Yasugi population statistics
  4. Gordenker, Alice (2018-09-14). "Stoke the flames of tradition on Shimane's 'Iron Road'". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  5. "Adachi museum garden ranked Japan's best for 19th year | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
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