Setouchi, Kagoshima

Setouchi (瀬戸内町, Setouchi-chō) is a town located primarily on Amami Ōshima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Setouchi 瀬戸内町
Town
Central Koniya Port
Flag Seal
Location of Setouchi in Kagoshima Prefecture
Setouchi
Coordinates: 28°16′31″N 129°15′48″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu (Amami Islands)
Prefecture	Kagoshima Prefecture
District	Ōshima
Government
• -Mayor	Katsuomi Fusa
Area
• Total	239.92 km2 (92.63 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2020)
• Total	8,546
• Density	35.62/km2 (92.3/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0997-72-1111
Address	23, Koniya aza Funatsu, Setouchi-chō, Kagoshima-ken 894-1592
Climate	Cfa
Website	www.amami-setouchi.org
Symbols
Flower	Hibiscus
Tree	Banyan and sago cycad

As of 1 October 2020, the town had an estimated population of 8,546 and a population density of 35.62 persons per km². The total area was 239.91 km².

Geography

Setouchi occupies the southern portion of Amami Ōshima, facing the East China Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It also includes numerous offshore islands of Amami Ōshima, including the inhabited islands of Kakeromajima, Ukejima and Yoroshima.

Climate

The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. The area is subject to frequent typhoons.

Climate data for Port Koniya (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	26.4 (79.5)	24.7 (76.5)	26.7 (80.1)	27.7 (81.9)	30.1 (86.2)	33.0 (91.4)	34.1 (93.4)	34.4 (93.9)	33.3 (91.9)	31.8 (89.2)	29.2 (84.6)	27.0 (80.6)	34.4 (93.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	18.1 (64.6)	18.5 (65.3)	20.3 (68.5)	22.7 (72.9)	25.6 (78.1)	28.3 (82.9)	31.0 (87.8)	31.3 (88.3)	30.2 (86.4)	27.4 (81.3)	23.8 (74.8)	20.0 (68.0)	24.8 (76.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	15.3 (59.5)	15.6 (60.1)	17.4 (63.3)	19.9 (67.8)	22.8 (73.0)	25.8 (78.4)	28.4 (83.1)	28.5 (83.3)	27.3 (81.1)	24.4 (75.9)	21.0 (69.8)	17.2 (63.0)	22.0 (71.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	12.5 (54.5)	12.7 (54.9)	14.5 (58.1)	17.0 (62.6)	20.2 (68.4)	23.8 (74.8)	26.3 (79.3)	26.3 (79.3)	24.9 (76.8)	21.8 (71.2)	18.3 (64.9)	14.4 (57.9)	19.4 (66.9)
Record low °C (°F)	4.6 (40.3)	5.7 (42.3)	4.8 (40.6)	6.8 (44.2)	13.4 (56.1)	16.7 (62.1)	20.6 (69.1)	21.4 (70.5)	18.2 (64.8)	14.7 (58.5)	10.5 (50.9)	6.4 (43.5)	4.6 (40.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	123.4 (4.86)	116.4 (4.58)	170.3 (6.70)	192.7 (7.59)	237.7 (9.36)	395.9 (15.59)	180.0 (7.09)	248.2 (9.77)	273.4 (10.76)	194.6 (7.66)	133.1 (5.24)	102.3 (4.03)	2,375.2 (93.51)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	12.4	11.4	13.4	12.4	13.2	14.6	10.3	13.4	13.5	10.7	9.3	11.1	145.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours	83.0	79.6	104.1	118.6	124.4	98.1	186.3	186.3	152.4	147.7	121.9	93.8	1,492.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Surrounding municipalities

• Amami
• Uken

History

Higashikata Village was established on April 1, 1908. It became the town of Koniya on April 1, 1936. As with all of the Amami Islands, the village came under the administration of the United States from July 1, 1946 to December 25, 1953. On September 1, 1956 Koniya merged with three neighboring villages to form the town of Setouchi.

Economy

The town economy is primarily based on agriculture, with sugar cane and citrus horticulture as the main crops. Industries include shochu refining and commercial fishing.

Transportation

Ports

• Koniya Port, with ferry connections to Kagoshima and to the other Amami islands.

Highway

• National Route 58

Noted people from Setouchi

• Ikue Asazaki – musician
• Meisei Chikara - sumo wrestler
• Chitose Hajime – musician
• Tadashi Kanehisa – folklorist
• Kenji Midori – Karateka
• Shomu Nobori - Russian translator

• 
  Katetsu cove from nearby Manenzaki
• 
  Uke Island
• 
  Yoro Island

External links

Media related to Setouchi, Kagoshima at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Official website (in English)