Okuchi, Kagoshima
Encyclopedia
was a city
located in Kagoshima
, Japan
. It is now part of the city of Isa
.
Ōkuchi is the northernmost city on the mainland part of Kagoshima Prefecture
. Only the island portion of Nagashima
extends further north. Ōkuchi is a mountainous area that borders on Kumamoto Prefecture
and Miyazaki Prefecture
. Part of the southern border of the city is the Sendai River and the artificial lake formed from the Tsuruta dam. It is the only city in Kagoshima Prefecture
that is not bordered by the sea.
At one time, Ōkuchi was a prosperous city but has declined for several reasons in recent years. First, there has been a decline in forestry and agriculture in the area, but the aging Japanese population and the flight to larger cities have also been significant factors. For these reasons two Japanese National Railways
railway lines that served Ōkuchi were discontinued in the 1987 and 1988. They were the Yamano line that went from Minamata
to Kurino
and the Miyajo line that went from Sendai
to Ōkuchi.
As of 2008, the city had an estimated population
of 21,643 and the density
of 78.02 persons per km². The total area was 291.88 km².
A planned merger of municipalities
was implemented on November 1, 2008; Ōkuchi was merged with the town of Hishikari
, from Isa District, to form the new city of Isa
. Isa District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
, Hitoyoshi (Kumamoto)
, Minamata (Kumamoto)
, Ebino (Miyazaki)
Districts: Satsuma District
, Isa District, Kuma District (Kumamoto)
.
on the Kyushu Shinkansen
is 35 km northwest (operated by Kyushu Railway Company
)
Namhae
, South Korea
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in Kagoshima
Kagoshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.- Geography :Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu and includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest for a few hundred kilometers...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is now part of the city of Isa
Isa, Kagoshima
is a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.A planned merger of municipalities was implemented on November 1, 2008; which the city was created from the merger of the old city of Ōkuchi, and the town of Hishikari, from Isa District...
.
Ōkuchi is the northernmost city on the mainland part of Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.- Geography :Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu and includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest for a few hundred kilometers...
. Only the island portion of Nagashima
Nagashima, Kagoshima
is a town located in Izumi District, Kagoshima, Japan.- Demography :On March 20, 2006 the town of Azuma, from Izumi District, was merged into Nagashima....
extends further north. Ōkuchi is a mountainous area that borders on Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
and Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
. Part of the southern border of the city is the Sendai River and the artificial lake formed from the Tsuruta dam. It is the only city in Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.- Geography :Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu and includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest for a few hundred kilometers...
that is not bordered by the sea.
At one time, Ōkuchi was a prosperous city but has declined for several reasons in recent years. First, there has been a decline in forestry and agriculture in the area, but the aging Japanese population and the flight to larger cities have also been significant factors. For these reasons two Japanese National Railways
Japanese National Railways
, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
railway lines that served Ōkuchi were discontinued in the 1987 and 1988. They were the Yamano line that went from Minamata
Minamata, Kumamoto
is a city located in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. It is on the west coast of Kyūshū. The city was founded on April 1, 1949.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 27,856 and the density of 171 persons per km²...
to Kurino
Kurino, Kagoshima
was a town located in Aira District, Kagoshima, JapanOn March 22, 2005 Kurino was merged with the town of Yoshimatsu, also from Aira District, to form the new town of Yūsui and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
and the Miyajo line that went from Sendai
Satsumasendai, Kagoshima
is a city located in Kagoshima, Japan. It was established on October 12, 2004 with the merger of the city of Sendai, Kagoshima, the towns of Hiwaki, Iriki, Kedōin and Tōgō, and Koshikijima Islands , all from Satsuma District.As of January 1, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 100,730 in...
to Ōkuchi.
As of 2008, the city had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 21,643 and the density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 78.02 persons per km². The total area was 291.88 km².
History
The city was founded on April 1, 1954.A planned merger of municipalities
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
was implemented on November 1, 2008; Ōkuchi was merged with the town of Hishikari
Hishikari, Kagoshima
was a town located in Isa District, Kagoshima, Japan.As of April 2007, the town had a population of 9,603 and the density of 96.54 persons per km². The total area was 100.47 km².Hishikari mine is the largest gold mine in Japan....
, from Isa District, to form the new city of Isa
Isa, Kagoshima
is a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.A planned merger of municipalities was implemented on November 1, 2008; which the city was created from the merger of the old city of Ōkuchi, and the town of Hishikari, from Isa District...
. Isa District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
Neighboring Municipalities
Cities: IzumiIzumi, Kagoshima
is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan.On March 13, 2006, the towns of Noda and Takaono from Izumi District merged into the city. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 56,205 and a density of 170 persons per km². The total area is 330.06 km².The city was founded on April...
, Hitoyoshi (Kumamoto)
Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto
is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 36,297 and the density of 172 persons per km². The total area is 210.55 km².The city was founded on February 11, 1942....
, Minamata (Kumamoto)
Minamata, Kumamoto
is a city located in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. It is on the west coast of Kyūshū. The city was founded on April 1, 1949.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 27,856 and the density of 171 persons per km²...
, Ebino (Miyazaki)
Ebino, Miyazaki
is a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. Ebino shares borders with Kagoshima Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture and Kobayashi, Miyazaki.-History:The town of Ebino was created through the administrative merging of the towns of Masaki, Kakutō, and Īno in 1966...
Districts: Satsuma District
Satsuma District, Kagoshima
is a district located in Kagoshima, Japan. As of the March 22, 2005 merger the district consists of the single town of Satsuma.-Mergers:*On October 12, 2004 the old city of Sendai, the towns of Hiwaki, Iriki, Kedōin and Tōgō, and the villages of Kamikoshiki, Kashima, Sato and Shimokoshiki merged...
, Isa District, Kuma District (Kumamoto)
Kuma District, Kumamoto
is a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.In 2003 the district had an estimated population of 64,552 and a density of 48.64 persons per square kilometer. The total area is 1,327.16 km².-Culture:...
.
Railways
Shin-Minamata StationShin-Minamata Station
is a train station located in Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan. The station designed by Makoto Sei Watanabe opened on March 13, 2004.- Lines :*Kyushu Railway Company**Kyūshū Shinkansen*Hisatsu Orange Railway**Hisatsu Orange Railway Line- JR :-History:...
on the Kyushu Shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
is 35 km northwest (operated by Kyushu Railway Company
Kyushu Railway Company
The , also referred to as , is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group . It operates intercity rail services in Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strait between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea.When Japan Railways was divided in...
)
Highways
- National Highway 267Route 267 (Japan)National Route 267 is a national highway of Japan connecting Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto and Satsumasendai, Kagoshima in Japan, with a total length of 82.7 km ....
- National Highway 268Route 268 (Japan)National Route 268 is a national highway of Japan connecting Minamata, Kumamoto and Miyazaki, Miyazaki in Japan, with a total length of 114.3 km ....
- National Highway 447Route 447 (Japan)National Route 447 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ebino, Miyazaki and Izumi, Kagoshima in Japan, with a total length of 60.4 km ....
- Kyushu ExpresswayKyushu Expressway' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Kitakyūshū to west of Kagoshima linking with the Higashi Kyushu Expressway and the Ibusuki Skyline. It runs through the prefectures of Fukuoka, the eastern half of the Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and the Kagoshima prefectures. The freeway runs entirely on...
Hitoyoshi Interchange is 30 km northeast and KurinoKurino, Kagoshimawas a town located in Aira District, Kagoshima, JapanOn March 22, 2005 Kurino was merged with the town of Yoshimatsu, also from Aira District, to form the new town of Yūsui and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
Interchange is 20 km southeast of Ōkuchi
Sister cities
Ōkuchi has two sister cities: Nishinoomote, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Namhae
Namhae
Namhae County is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.- Geography :Namhae county covers an area of 357 km², covering the main islands of Namhae and Changseon, the smaller islands of Jodo, Hodo and Nodo, and 65 other uninhabited islets.Namhae county also features several peaks; Mangun...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...