Umaji is located in a mountainous region in northeastern Kōchi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. The Yasuda River flows through the village, which is divided into the Umaji area and the Yanase area. Road traffic between the two areas must go through the town of Kitagawa . Approximately 96% of the village is covered by forests, 75% of which are protected by the government. Major mountains include Mount Eboshi (1,320m) and Jinkichimori (1,423m).
Umaji has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Umaji is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2573 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January at around 23.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.6 °C.[3]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Umaji has decreased steadily since the 1960s.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
2,380
—
1930
2,604
+9.4%
1940
2,737
+5.1%
1950
2,839
+3.7%
1960
3,425
+20.6%
1970
2,134
−37.7%
1980
1,740
−18.5%
1990
1,313
−24.5%
2000
1,195
−9.0%
2010
1,013
−15.2%
2020
745
−26.5%
History
As with all of Kōchi Prefecture, the area of Umaji was part of ancient Tosa Province. The name of Aki District appears in Nara period records. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by the Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle. The village of Umaji was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. The village has been on the verge of merging with nearby municipalities, but it has retained a strong sense of independence.
Government
Umaji has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Umaji, together with the other municipalities of Aki District, contributes one member to the Kōchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of Kōchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The local economy is centered on forestry and related wood-processing industries, as well as horticulture. Yanase sugi has been famous for hundreds of years. In the Edo period, it was designated as a protected asset by Tosa Domain. It became the prefectural tree, and is used for architecture and sculpting. Beginning in the 1960s, Umaji has been a hub for the production of yuzu.[5] Whilst other areas have merged to make farming cooperatives, Umaji village seeks to remain independent, branding the village itself as a product.
Umaji's main yuzu products are its yuzu ponzu range and its successful yuzu drink, "Gokkun Umajimura".[6] Its yuzu products have become a national brand, appearing in several TV commercials over the years.
Education
Umaji has two public combined elementary/middle schools operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
Transportation
Railway
Umaji has no passenger railway service. The nearest station is Yasuda Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway in the neighboring town of Yasuda, about 30 minutes away by car.[7]
Highway
Umaji is not on any national highway or expressway.
Local attractions
As well as two hot springs and several campsites, Umaji has a forest train, craft workshops, a village tour and other tourist activities.
^Emi, Doi (December 21, 2017). "Soaking and Seasoning: The Aromatic Pleasures of "Yuzu"". Retrieved December 22, 2017. Umaji looked to yuzu production in the 1960s to boost the local economy, and over the subsequent years farmers have turned the village into a citron success story.
