Nagasu, Kumamoto

Nagasu

長洲町
Nagasu 長洲町
Town
	Nagasu Town
	Flag Seal
	Location of Nagasu in Kumamoto Prefecture
	Nagasu Location in Japan
	Coordinates: 32°55′47″N 130°27′10″E / 32.92972°N 130.45278°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Kumamoto
District	Tamana
Area
• Total	19.44 km2 (7.51 sq mi)
Population (July 31, 2024)
• Total	15,307
• Density	790/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	2766 Nagasu, Nagasu-machi, Tamana-gun, Kumamoto-ken 869-0198
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Antirrhinum majus
Tree	Ilex rotunda

Nagasu (長洲町, Nagasu-machi) is a town located in Tamana District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.As of 31 July 2024^[update], the town had an estimated population of 15,307 in 7437 households, and a population density of 790 persons per km².^[1] The total area of the town is 19.44 km² (7.51 sq mi).

Geography

Nagasu is located about 40 kilometers northwest of Kumamoto City in northwestern Kumamoto Prefecture. The southwestern part of the town faces the Ariake Sea. Part of the area along the Ariake Sea is land that was reclaimed during the Edo period. The area is generally low-lying, but the inland area in the eastern part of the town is slightly hilly. The Ariake Ferry operates from Nagasu Port in the town to the Shimabara Peninsula.

Neighboring municipalities

Kumamoto Prefecture

Tamana
Arao

Climate

Nagasu has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nagasu is 16.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1932 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.40 °C.^[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Nagasu is as shown below

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1970	14,084	—
1980	16,715	+18.7%
1990	17,605	+5.3%
2000	17,956	+2.0%
2010	16,594	−7.6%
2020	15,372	−7.4%

History

The area of Nagasu was part of ancient Higo Province. During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Nagasu was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Government

Nagasu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Nagasu, collectively with the other municipalities of Tamana District, contributes one member to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kumamoto 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is based on commercial fishing, aquaculture of edible seaweed and goldfish, and food processing. Local industries are mostly related to shipbuilding and ship repair.