Kaiyō (海陽町, Kaiyō-chō) is a town located in Kaifu District, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2022, the town had an estimated population of 8,699 in 4488 households and a population density of 27 persons per km².[1] The total area of the town is 327.65 square kilometres (126.51 sq mi).

Kaiyō
海陽町
Roadside Station Shishikui Onsen Kaifu River Todoroki Falls Kaifu Port
Roadside Station Shishikui OnsenKaifu River
Todoroki Falls
Kaifu Port
Flag of Kaiyō
Official seal of Kaiyō
Map
Location of Kaiyō in Tokushima Prefecture
Location of Kaiyō
Kaiyō is located in Japan
Kaiyō
Kaiyō
Coordinates: 33°36′N 134°21′E / 33.600°N 134.350°E / 33.600; 134.350
CountryJapan
RegionShikoku
PrefectureTokushima
DistrictKaifu
Government
 • MayorShigeki Miura
Area
 • Total
327.65 km2 (126.51 sq mi)
Population
 (May 1, 2022)
 • Total
8,699
 • Density27/km2 (69/sq mi)
ClimateCfa
City hall address128 Kaminakasu, Ozato, Kaiyo-cho, Kaifu-gun, Tokushima-ken 775-0203
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerRhododendron indicum
TreePine
Kaiyō Town Office

Geography

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Kaiyō is located in the southeastern corner of Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It is bordered by the Kii Channel to the southeast and Kochi Prefecture to the southwest. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Chūbu Sankei Prefectural Natural Park.

Neighbouring municipalities

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Kōchi Prefecture

Tokushima Prefecture

Climate

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Kaiyō has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is high, but there is a pronounced difference between the wetter summers and drier winters. The average annual temperature in Kaiyō is 16.5 °C (61.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 3,195.9 mm (125.82 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 5.9 °C (42.6 °F).[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Kaiyō was 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) on 23 August 2013; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −7.3 °C (18.9 °F) on 9 January 2021.[3]

Climate data for Kaiyō (2009−2020 normals, extremes 2009−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.4
(68.7)
24.3
(75.7)
25.7
(78.3)
28.8
(83.8)
30.2
(86.4)
33.7
(92.7)
36.0
(96.8)
36.9
(98.4)
35.8
(96.4)
31.5
(88.7)
27.4
(81.3)
24.3
(75.7)
36.9
(98.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6)
12.7
(54.9)
15.6
(60.1)
19.7
(67.5)
23.9
(75.0)
26.1
(79.0)
30.0
(86.0)
31.8
(89.2)
28.8
(83.8)
24.4
(75.9)
19.4
(66.9)
14.3
(57.7)
21.6
(70.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6)
7.2
(45.0)
10.3
(50.5)
14.6
(58.3)
19.0
(66.2)
22.2
(72.0)
26.1
(79.0)
27.4
(81.3)
24.2
(75.6)
19.4
(66.9)
13.8
(56.8)
8.2
(46.8)
16.5
(61.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.2
(32.4)
1.7
(35.1)
4.7
(40.5)
9.2
(48.6)
14.0
(57.2)
18.8
(65.8)
22.9
(73.2)
23.7
(74.7)
20.3
(68.5)
14.8
(58.6)
8.6
(47.5)
2.6
(36.7)
11.8
(53.2)
Record low °C (°F) −7.3
(18.9)
−6.7
(19.9)
−2.7
(27.1)
0.0
(32.0)
5.2
(41.4)
11.8
(53.2)
17.7
(63.9)
17.1
(62.8)
11.5
(52.7)
5.9
(42.6)
−0.4
(31.3)
−4.2
(24.4)
−7.3
(18.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 77.8
(3.06)
133.8
(5.27)
186.7
(7.35)
286.9
(11.30)
250.2
(9.85)
453.0
(17.83)
433.0
(17.05)
311.8
(12.28)
402.8
(15.86)
341.3
(13.44)
152.7
(6.01)
117.3
(4.62)
3,195.9
(125.82)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.6 6.9 9.2 9.8 9.2 14.4 14.3 12.0 13.1 10.0 7.3 5.4 116.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 202.7 172.6 199.5 201.4 215.8 137.1 169.2 223.0 154.4 165.8 171.4 195.8 2,209.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Kaiyō in 2020 is 8,358 people.[4] Kaiyō has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 16,287—    
1925 16,567+1.7%
1930 16,222−2.1%
1935 16,195−0.2%
1940 16,205+0.1%
1945 20,348+25.6%
1950 20,591+1.2%
1955 20,467−0.6%
1960 19,485−4.8%
1965 17,720−9.1%
1970 15,867−10.5%
1975 14,909−6.0%
1980 14,397−3.4%
1985 13,915−3.3%
1990 12,949−6.9%
1995 12,399−4.2%
2000 12,104−2.4%
2005 11,507−4.9%
2010 10,450−9.2%
2015 9,283−11.2%
2020 8,358−10.0%
Kaiyō population statistics[4]

History

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As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Kaiyō was part of ancient Awa Province. It was noted for ocean-borne shipping, especially of timber, from Tosa Province to the Kinai region . During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tokushima Domain ruled by the Hachisuka clan from their seat at Tokushima Castle. The area was divided into villages within Kaifu District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889.

The town of Kaiyō was founded on March 31, 2006 from the merger of the towns of Kaifu, Kainan, and Shishikui, all from Kaifu District.

Government

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Kaiyō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Kaiyō, together with the other municipalities of Kaifu District, contributes two members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tokushima 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Kaiyō has a mixed economy of agriculture and commercial fishing.

Education

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Kaiyō has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Tokushima Prefectural Department of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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  Shikoku Railway CompanyMugi Line

Asa Kaigan RailwayAsatō Line

Highways

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Local attractions

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Noted people from Kaiyō

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References

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  1. ^ "Kaiyō town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  3. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kaiyō population statistics
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  Media related to Kaiyō, Tokushima at Wikimedia Commons