Nakatane, Kagoshima

Nakatane 中種子町
Town
Nakatane Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Nakatane in Kagoshima Prefecture
Nakatane
Coordinates: 30°31′59″N 130°57′31″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu (Ōsumi Islands)
Prefecture	Kagoshima
District	Kumage
Area
• Total	136.94 km^2 (52.87 sq mi)
Population  (April 30, 2024)
• Total	7,196
• Density	53/km^2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	099-222-3141
Address	5186, Nonaka, Nakanotane-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima-ken 891-3692
Climate	Cfa
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Hibiscus mutabilis; Alpinia zerumbet
Insect	Hebomoia glaucippe
Tree	Oak

coast of Nakatane

Nakatane (中種子町, Nakatane-chō) is a town located on the island of Tanegashima, in Kumage District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2024^[update], the town had an estimated population of 7,196 in 4087 households, and a population density of 53 persons per km².^[1] The total area of the town is 136.94 km² (52.87 sq mi).

Geography

Nakatane occupies the center of the island of Tanegashima, with the East China Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The Noma district, where the town hall is located, is a key transportation point, and all national and prefectural roads that traverse the island pass through here.

Surrounding municipalities

• Minamitane
• Mishima
• Nishinoomote

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.

Climate data for Nakatane (2006−2020 normals, extremes 2006−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	21.5 (70.7)	23.1 (73.6)	24.7 (76.5)	26.9 (80.4)	29.7 (85.5)	31.1 (88.0)	31.7 (89.1)	33.2 (91.8)	31.7 (89.1)	29.8 (85.6)	26.2 (79.2)	25.2 (77.4)	33.2 (91.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	12.6 (54.7)	13.8 (56.8)	16.3 (61.3)	19.4 (66.9)	22.7 (72.9)	25.0 (77.0)	28.7 (83.7)	29.4 (84.9)	27.2 (81.0)	23.7 (74.7)	19.4 (66.9)	14.9 (58.8)	21.1 (70.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	9.5 (49.1)	10.5 (50.9)	12.8 (55.0)	15.9 (60.6)	19.4 (66.9)	22.4 (72.3)	25.8 (78.4)	26.5 (79.7)	24.3 (75.7)	20.7 (69.3)	16.3 (61.3)	11.7 (53.1)	18.0 (64.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	6.1 (43.0)	7.0 (44.6)	9.1 (48.4)	12.4 (54.3)	16.2 (61.2)	20.2 (68.4)	23.7 (74.7)	24.3 (75.7)	22.0 (71.6)	17.9 (64.2)	12.7 (54.9)	8.0 (46.4)	15.0 (59.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−2.2 (28.0)	−3.0 (26.6)	−1.0 (30.2)	3.4 (38.1)	6.6 (43.9)	15.3 (59.5)	17.6 (63.7)	19.6 (67.3)	15.6 (60.1)	8.7 (47.7)	3.7 (38.7)	−0.1 (31.8)	−3.0 (26.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	105.6 (4.16)	155.1 (6.11)	207.5 (8.17)	229.6 (9.04)	311.1 (12.25)	632.2 (24.89)	272.2 (10.72)	188.9 (7.44)	311.9 (12.28)	243.3 (9.58)	167.7 (6.60)	140.0 (5.51)	2,989.2 (117.69)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	10.2	12.0	12.9	11.9	12.0	18.7	10.6	12.5	14.3	10.7	10.4	10.5	146.7
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Nakatane is as shown below:^[4]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	11,072	—
1930	10,949	−1.1%
1940	11,802	+7.8%
1950	17,587	+49.0%
1960	19,321	+9.9%
1970	14,775	−23.5%
1980	12,297	−16.8%
1990	10,552	−14.2%
2000	9,675	−8.3%
2010	8,696	−10.1%
2020	7,539	−13.3%

History

The area of Nakatane was part of ancient Tane Province, which was abolished in 824 and incorporated into Ōsumi Province. Tanegashima became a part of Shimazu shōen in 1140. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Satsuma Domain. Sugarcane was first cultivated in 1824. Nakatane Village was established on April 1, 1889. A power station was built in 1925, and the first telephone was installed in 1938. On November 10, 1940, Nakatane was upgraded to town status. Tanegashima Airport opened in Nakatane in 1958.

Government

Nakatane has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Nakatane, collectively with the other municipalities of Kumage District and the city of Nishinoomote, contributes two members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kagoshima 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Nakatane is based largely on agriculture (sugar cane, sweet potatoes), livestock (cattle, pigs, etc.), and fisheries.

Education

Nakatane has seven public elementary high schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Airport

• New Tanegashima Airport

Highways

• National Route 58

In popular culture

Nakatane is featured in the Japanese animated feature film, 5 Centimeters Per Second, directed by Makoto Shinkai. It was released on March 3, 2007, in Japan.

References

1. "Nakatane Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
2. 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
3. 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
4. Kagoshima Prefecture population by municipality

External links

Media related to Nakatane, Kagoshima at Wikimedia Commons

• Nakatane official website (in Japanese)