Makurazaki, Kagoshima

Makurazaki (枕崎市, Makurazaki-shi) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on September 1, 1949.

Makurazaki 枕崎市
City
View of Makurazaki
Flag Chapter
Location of Makurazaki in Kagoshima Prefecture
Makurazaki Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°17′N 130°19′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Kagoshima Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Yoshiaki Setoguchi
Area
• Total	74.88 km^2 (28.91 sq mi)
Population  (April 1, 2017)
• Total	21,960
• Density	290/km^2 (760/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Camellia
• Flower	Chrysanthemum
Time zone	UTC+9 (JST)
City hall address	27, Chiyodachō, Makurazaki-shi, Kagoshima-ken 898-8501
Website	www.city.makurazaki.lg.jp

As of April 2017, the city has an estimated population of 21,960 and a population density of 290 persons per km².[1] The total area is 74.88 km².

It is famous for its katsuobushi processing plants, which produce the chief flavoring ingredient—dried fish flakes—found in Japanese miso soup. About 70 small family businesses year-round boil, cut, dry and smoke the pungent fish, often sending a unique odor of steam, smoke and fish scent across the downtown area and out to sea.

Makurazaki is the site of the terminus of the southernmost JR train line in Japan. Japanese know the town as the Typhoon Ginza (after Ginza in Tokyo). Each summer many cyclones strike the main islands first in the area of Makurazaki.

Climate

Makurazaki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, and is especially high from May to July. The highest record temperature was 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) on August 22, 2016 while the lowest recorded temperature was −4.4 °C (24.1 °F) on February 19, 1977.[2]

Climate data for Makurazaki, Kagoshima (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	22.8 (73.0)	22.8 (73.0)	24.3 (75.7)	28.4 (83.1)	29.9 (85.8)	32.6 (90.7)	35.3 (95.5)	36.7 (98.1)	34.8 (94.6)	32.7 (90.9)	27.5 (81.5)	23.8 (74.8)	36.7 (98.1)
Average high °C (°F)	12.7 (54.9)	13.7 (56.7)	16.4 (61.5)	20.4 (68.7)	23.8 (74.8)	26.4 (79.5)	30.1 (86.2)	31.0 (87.8)	29.0 (84.2)	24.9 (76.8)	20.0 (68.0)	15.2 (59.4)	22.0 (71.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	8.8 (47.8)	9.7 (49.5)	12.4 (54.3)	16.4 (61.5)	19.9 (67.8)	23.2 (73.8)	26.9 (80.4)	27.6 (81.7)	25.2 (77.4)	20.4 (68.7)	15.5 (59.9)	10.7 (51.3)	18.1 (64.6)
Average low °C (°F)	4.7 (40.5)	5.6 (42.1)	8.2 (46.8)	12.1 (53.8)	16.0 (60.8)	20.2 (68.4)	24.2 (75.6)	24.5 (76.1)	21.8 (71.2)	16.4 (61.5)	11.3 (52.3)	6.5 (43.7)	14.3 (57.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−3.3 (26.1)	−4.4 (24.1)	−1.7 (28.9)	0.0 (32.0)	5.0 (41.0)	11.2 (52.2)	16.6 (61.9)	16.9 (62.4)	10.7 (51.3)	4.6 (40.3)	−0.5 (31.1)	−3.0 (26.6)	−4.4 (24.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	94.5 (3.72)	107.7 (4.24)	182.7 (7.19)	203.6 (8.02)	208.5 (8.21)	399.4 (15.72)	273.7 (10.78)	179.8 (7.08)	221.5 (8.72)	98.5 (3.88)	111.1 (4.37)	94.5 (3.72)	2,175.6 (85.65)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm)	12.6	11.1	14.5	12.2	11.7	15.1	10.8	11.0	10.7	8.4	9.0	11.0	138.1
Average relative humidity (%)	68	67	70	72	75	82	82	79	77	72	71	69	74
Mean monthly sunshine hours	110.3	117.7	141.1	165.6	173.7	124.5	210.3	228.0	187.4	186.0	149.2	133.2	1,926.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (records 1872–present)[2][3][4]

References

1. "Official website of Makurazaki City" (in Japanese). Japan: Makurazaki City. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
2. 観測史上1～10位の値（ 年間を通じての値） (in Japanese). Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
3. 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） (in Japanese). Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
4. 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） (in Japanese). Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved April 20, 2015.

External links

• Makurazaki City official website (in Japanese)
• Makurazaki Katsuobushi official website
• Geographic data related to Makurazaki, Kagoshima at OpenStreetMap