Town in Kyushu, Japan
Shiroishi
(
白石町
,
Shiroishi-ch?
)
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
.
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
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]
Terrain
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]
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
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- 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)
|
Mean daily maximum °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)
|
Mean daily minimum °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
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History
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- April 1, 1889 - The modern
municipal system
is established. At this time Shiroishi consists of nine separate villages: Hashishita, Fukudomi, Fukuji, Kink?, Kita-Ariake, Minami-Ariake, Rokkaku, Ry??, and Suko.
- April 1, 1936 - Fukuji gains town status and is renamed Shiroishi.
- April 1, 1955 - Kink? and Ry?? 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
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]
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
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Agriculture
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]
Shiroishi is a very agricultural community.
[3]
Some of their agricultural products include
tempe
,
renkon
,
strawberries
,
onions
,
rice
, and
beef
.
[4]
Education
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]
High schools
[
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]
(prefectural)
- Shiroishi High School
- Saga Agricultural School
Junior high schools
[
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]
- Shiroishi Junior High School
- Fukudomi Junior High School
- Ariake Junior High School
Elementary schools
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- 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
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The closest airports are
Saga Airport
and
Fukuoka Airport
.
Rail
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Roads
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Festivals
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]
- 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
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- Utagaki
Park
(
歌垣公園
,
utagaki kouen
)
, a park with many flowers.
- Suko Castle
, A castle ruin in the Sengoku period.
Ry?z?ji Takanobu
's residence.
- Inasa Shrine
(
?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
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References
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]
External links
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