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Kikuchi

菊池市
Kikuchi City Hall
Kikuchi City Hall
Flag of Kikuchi
Flag
Official seal of Kikuchi
Emblem
Location of Kikuchi
Kikuchi is located in Japan
Kikuchi
Kikuchi
Location in Japan
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Kumamoto
Area
 • Total 276.85 km2 (106.89 sq mi)
Population
 (June 30, 2024)
 • Total 46,684
 • Density 168.626/km2 (436.738/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+09:00 (JST)
Climate Cfa
Symbols
Bird Japanese bush warbler
Flower Chrysanthemum morifolium
Tree Cherry blossom
Tengu fall in the Kikuchi River 001
Tengu fall in the Kikuchi River
Kikuchi Castle ruins
Kikuchi Castle ruins
Kumamoto-Paddy fields-xl
Rice fields in Kikuchi

Kikuchi (菊池市, Kikuchi-shi) is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of 30 June  2024 (2024 -06-30), the city had an estimated population of 46,684 in 20392 households, and a population density of 170 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 276.85 km2 (106.89 sq mi).

Geography

Kikuchi is located about 25 kilometers northeast of Kumamoto City, upstream of the Kikuchi River that flows through the northern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, and the urban center in the southwest is at the northeastern edge of the Kumamoto Plain. The city is centered around Kumafu, the home base of the Kikuchi clan, which descended from the Dazaifu government officials. The eastern part is covered with natural broadleaf trees from the outer rim of Mount Aso.

Neighboring municipalities

Kumamoto Prefecture

Oita Prefecture

  • Hita

Climate

Kikuchi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Kikuchi is 15.9 °C (60.6 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,915.1 mm (75.40 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.4 °C (81.3 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C (39.9 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Kikuchi was 38.8 °C (101.8 °F) on 19 July 2018; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −9.9 °C (14.2 °F) on 27 February 1981.

Climate data for Kikuchi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.8
(69.4)
23.8
(74.8)
26.1
(79.0)
31.3
(88.3)
35.3
(95.5)
35.7
(96.3)
38.8
(101.8)
38.8
(101.8)
37.0
(98.6)
34.2
(93.6)
26.7
(80.1)
23.7
(74.7)
38.8
(101.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.2
(50.4)
12.0
(53.6)
15.7
(60.3)
21.0
(69.8)
25.8
(78.4)
28.0
(82.4)
31.4
(88.5)
32.9
(91.2)
29.7
(85.5)
24.6
(76.3)
18.4
(65.1)
12.4
(54.3)
21.8
(71.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.4
(39.9)
6.0
(42.8)
9.5
(49.1)
14.6
(58.3)
19.5
(67.1)
23.0
(73.4)
26.6
(79.9)
27.4
(81.3)
23.9
(75.0)
18.0
(64.4)
11.9
(53.4)
6.4
(43.5)
15.9
(60.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.0
(30.2)
0.1
(32.2)
3.4
(38.1)
8.2
(46.8)
13.5
(56.3)
18.7
(65.7)
22.9
(73.2)
23.2
(73.8)
19.2
(66.6)
12.2
(54.0)
6.1
(43.0)
0.7
(33.3)
10.6
(51.1)
Record low °C (°F) −9.0
(15.8)
−9.9
(14.2)
−6.9
(19.6)
−3.4
(25.9)
1.8
(35.2)
7.0
(44.6)
14.3
(57.7)
15.1
(59.2)
5.1
(41.2)
−0.2
(31.6)
−3.9
(25.0)
−7.8
(18.0)
−9.9
(14.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 55.0
(2.17)
79.6
(3.13)
122.9
(4.84)
139.6
(5.50)
157.7
(6.21)
400.9
(15.78)
381.4
(15.02)
181.8
(7.16)
168.9
(6.65)
82.3
(3.24)
83.9
(3.30)
61.3
(2.41)
1,915.1
(75.40)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.1 8.5 10.8 10.1 9.6 14.0 13.0 10.5 9.2 7.3 7.3 7.4 114.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 133.3 139.9 163.8 178.9 182.9 111.9 162.2 197.4 170.1 181.2 150.4 138.2 1,918.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kikuchi in 2020 is 46,416 people.

Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1960 58,767 —    
1965 54,102 −7.9%
1970 50,211 −7.2%
1975 48,268 −3.9%
1980 49,527 +2.6%
1985 50,831 +2.6%
1990 51,610 +1.5%
Year Pop. ±%
1995 52,545 +1.8%
2000 52,636 +0.2%
2005 51,862 −1.5%
2010 50,213 −3.2%
2015 48,167 −4.1%
2020 46,416 −3.6%
Kikuchi population statistics

History

The area of Kikuchi was part of ancient Higo Province, and the location of Kikuchi Castle, an Asuka period mountain fortification. The local Kikuchi clan was a major supporter of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-cho period. During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Kumafu and village of Kikuchi were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On September 1, 1956, the town of Kumafu and the villages of Kikuchi, Kawahara, Suigen, Ryumon, Hasama, Hanabusa, and Tozaki merged to form the town of Kikuchi. Kikuchi was raised to city status on August 1, 1958. On March 22, 2005, Kikuchi absorbed the towns of Shichijo and Shisui, and the village of Kyokushi (all from Kikuchi District).

Economy

Kikuchi has been a rice-producing area since the Edo period, and its brand rice has one first place in numerous national contests. In addition, melons, burdock, shiitake mushrooms, and other crops are cultivated, and livestock farming are also thriving and the city is the largest dairy farming area in western Japan. In terms of industry, the city has many automobile and electronics-related factories. Tourism, centered around its hot spring resorts has flourished since in the 1950s.

Education

Kikuchi has ten public elementary schools and 5 public junior high schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.

Transportation

Railways

Kikuchi has not had any passenger railway service since the reduction in services of the Kumamoto Electric Railway Kikuchi Line in 1986. The nearest train stations are Miyoshi Station or Higo-Ōzu Station

Highways

  • National Route 325
  • National Route 387
  • National Route 443

Sister cities

Kikuchi is twinned with:

  • Japan Nishimera, Miyazaki, Japan
  • South Korea Gimje, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, since 1985
  • China Sishui County, Shandong, China, since 1994
  • Japan Tōno, Iwate, Japan, since 1998
  • South Korea Cheongwon County, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, since 2005

Notable people from Kikuchi

  • Shigeru Chiba, actor

Local attractions

  • Kikuchi Shrine

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kikuchi para niños

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