Gotō
五島市
City
Douzaki Church
Douzaki Church
Flag of Gotō
Flag
Official seal of Gotō
Emblem
Location of Gotō in Nagasaki Prefecture
Location of Gotō in Nagasaki Prefecture
Gotō is located in Japan
Gotō
Gotō
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°42′N 128°50′E / 32.700°N 128.833°E / 32.700; 128.833
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureNagasaki Prefecture
Government
 • MayorIkuko Nakao (since September 2004)
Area
 • Total420.81 km2 (162.48 sq mi)
Population
 (March 31, 2017)
 • Total37,775
 • Density90/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address853-8501
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.city.goto.nagasaki.jp
Symbols
BirdJapanese white-eye
FlowerCrinum asiaticum
TreeFicus superba

Gotō (五島市, Gotō-shi) is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It comprises the south-west half of the Gotō Islands plus (uninhabited) Danjo and Hizen Torishima archipelagos in the East China Sea. Although the core islands of the city lay some 100 kilometers from Nagasaki, the other archipelagos lay 60 km further to South-West. The city consists of 11 inhabited and 52 uninhabited islands. The three main islands of the city are Fukue, Hisaka, and Naru. As of March 31, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 37,775[1] and a population density of 90 persons per km2. The total area is 420.81 km2.

History

The area which is now Gotō City was a port of call on the trade route between Japan and Tang Dynasty China in the Nara period. Noted Buddhist prelate Kukai stopped at Gotō in 806. The islands came under the control of the Gotō clan from the Muromachi period and was the location of intense European missionary activity in the late 16th century, which converted most of the population to the Kirishitan faith. After the start of the Tokugawa bakufu, the area was part of Fukue Domain in the Edo period. Fukue City was established in 1954. Most of the town was destroyed in a fire in 1962.

The modern city of Gotō was established on August 1, 2004, from the merger of the city of Fukue with the towns of Kishiku, Miiraku, Naru, Tamanoura and Tomie (all from Minamimatsuura District). The population of the area has declined from over 60,000 inhabitants in 1980 due to economic migration and aging population issues.

Geography

Climate

Gotō has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, and is heavy from April to September.

Climate data for Fukue, Gotō (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1962−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.0
(69.8)		 22.2
(72.0)		 23.0
(73.4)		 26.7
(80.1)		 29.8
(85.6)		 32.9
(91.2)		 35.4
(95.7)		 35.9
(96.6)		 32.9
(91.2)		 30.6
(87.1)		 26.6
(79.9)		 23.3
(73.9)		 35.9
(96.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.8
(51.4)		 11.9
(53.4)		 14.9
(58.8)		 19.1
(66.4)		 23.0
(73.4)		 25.6
(78.1)		 29.4
(84.9)		 30.9
(87.6)		 27.8
(82.0)		 23.4
(74.1)		 18.5
(65.3)		 13.3
(55.9)		 20.7
(69.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.6
(45.7)		 8.3
(46.9)		 10.9
(51.6)		 14.9
(58.8)		 18.8
(65.8)		 22.1
(71.8)		 26.2
(79.2)		 27.3
(81.1)		 24.1
(75.4)		 19.5
(67.1)		 14.6
(58.3)		 9.8
(49.6)		 17.0
(62.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.2
(39.6)		 4.3
(39.7)		 6.6
(43.9)		 10.4
(50.7)		 14.6
(58.3)		 19.0
(66.2)		 23.6
(74.5)		 24.2
(75.6)		 20.8
(69.4)		 15.7
(60.3)		 10.4
(50.7)		 6.0
(42.8)		 13.3
(56.0)
Record low °C (°F) −4.1
(24.6)		 −5.4
(22.3)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 0.3
(32.5)		 5.2
(41.4)		 10.4
(50.7)		 15.7
(60.3)		 17.4
(63.3)		 10.4
(50.7)		 5.2
(41.4)		 1.3
(34.3)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 −5.4
(22.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 93.4
(3.68)		 109.5
(4.31)		 172.1
(6.78)		 216.1
(8.51)		 210.2
(8.28)		 324.2
(12.76)		 308.8
(12.16)		 239.6
(9.43)		 289.2
(11.39)		 132.7
(5.22)		 134.1
(5.28)		 108.9
(4.29)		 2,338.8
(92.08)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 1
(0.4)		 trace trace 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 trace 2
(0.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10.2 9.8 10.3 9.4 9.2 12.8 11.0 10.8 10.0 6.4 9.0 9.7 118.6
Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm) 0.4 0.3 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.9
Average relative humidity (%) 66 66 68 72 75 83 84 81 78 71 70 68 74
Mean monthly sunshine hours 81.5 107.4 150.9 175.7 191.0 122.2 156.9 197.6 165.4 177.7 127.8 96.2 1,745.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]
Climate data for Fukue Airport, Gotō (2003−2020 normals, extremes 2003−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.3
(68.5)		 20.8
(69.4)		 21.7
(71.1)		 24.8
(76.6)		 28.6
(83.5)		 31.8
(89.2)		 33.9
(93.0)		 36.9
(98.4)		 32.8
(91.0)		 30.6
(87.1)		 26.0
(78.8)		 22.9
(73.2)		 36.9
(98.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2)		 11.6
(52.9)		 14.4
(57.9)		 18.6
(65.5)		 22.7
(72.9)		 25.3
(77.5)		 29.1
(84.4)		 30.9
(87.6)		 27.6
(81.7)		 23.4
(74.1)		 18.3
(64.9)		 12.5
(54.5)		 20.4
(68.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.9
(44.4)		 8.0
(46.4)		 10.5
(50.9)		 14.5
(58.1)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.8
(71.2)		 25.8
(78.4)		 27.1
(80.8)		 23.8
(74.8)		 19.3
(66.7)		 14.4
(57.9)		 9.1
(48.4)		 16.6
(61.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.3
(37.9)		 4.1
(39.4)		 6.2
(43.2)		 9.9
(49.8)		 14.3
(57.7)		 18.7
(65.7)		 23.3
(73.9)		 24.0
(75.2)		 20.8
(69.4)		 15.6
(60.1)		 10.2
(50.4)		 5.2
(41.4)		 13.0
(55.3)
Record low °C (°F) −4.4
(24.1)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 1.8
(35.2)		 4.0
(39.2)		 12.9
(55.2)		 16.9
(62.4)		 17.2
(63.0)		 11.3
(52.3)		 7.2
(45.0)		 0.7
(33.3)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −4.4
(24.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 72.8
(2.87)		 111.7
(4.40)		 154.4
(6.08)		 197.8
(7.79)		 189.6
(7.46)		 317.8
(12.51)		 286.2
(11.27)		 201.1
(7.92)		 292.0
(11.50)		 123.0
(4.84)		 142.5
(5.61)		 111.5
(4.39)		 2,200.4
(86.63)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.4 10.3 9.4 8.7 8.9 13.2 11.8 10.4 10.9 6.2 9.1 10.3 118.6
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Gotō in 2020 is 34,391 people.[6] Gotō has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 68,455—    
1925 65,457−4.4%
1930 68,798+5.1%
1935 69,951+1.7%
1940 66,232−5.3%
1945 86,209+30.2%
1950 90,369+4.8%
1955 91,973+1.8%
1960 87,232−5.2%
1965 78,642−9.8%
1970 68,649−12.7%
1975 63,410−7.6%
1980 60,947−3.9%
1985 57,736−5.3%
1990 54,143−6.2%
1995 51,295−5.3%
2000 48,533−5.4%
2005 44,765−7.8%
2010 40,621−9.3%
2015 37,327−8.1%
2020 34,391−7.9%
Gotō population statistics[6]

Events

Gotō used to host the Ironman Japan Triathlon.[7] The triathlon was established in 2001, and the event was canceled in 2010. Ironman chose not to renew the race for 2011. The city now hosts the Goto Nagasaki International Triathlon using the same course for the previous Ironman event.

In late summer there is the Bon festival where people gather in the main area of Fukue and hold a parade along with street vendors. The parade features various floats all of which are lit up at night and walked through the town. At the end there is a beautiful firework show.

In winter there (usually held on the 2nd or 3rd weekend of January) is an event called "Hettomatto", also known as the 'naked man race'. Participants run along a course in a fundoshi.

Transportation

Gotō-Fukue Airport on Fukue serves the city.[8] It was established in 1963 to serve as a regional airport.

References

  1. ↑ "Official website of Gotō city" (in Japanese). Japan: Gotō City. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. ↑ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  3. ↑ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. ↑ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  5. ↑ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Gotō population statistics
  7. ↑ Ironman Japan Triathlon Goto Nagasaki Archived 2011-11-13 at the Wayback Machine. Ironman Japan Triathlon Goto Nagasaki. Accessed October 8, 2010.
  8. ↑ Gotō Fukue Tsubaki Airport (in Japanese) Fukue Airport, Inc. Accessed October 7, 2021.
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