Susaki, Kōchi
Susaki (須崎市, Susaki-shi) is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1954. As of 1 February 2021, the city has an estimated population of 22‚508, with 10‚986 households,[1] and a population density of 170 persons per km2. The total area is 135.46 km2.
Susaki
須崎市 | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Susaki in Kōchi Prefecture | |
  Susaki Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 33°23′33″N 133°17′35″E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Shikoku |
| Prefecture | Kōchi Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kosaku Kusunose (since February 2012) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 135.46 km2 (52.30 sq mi) |
| Population (1 February 2021) | |
| • Total | 22,508 |
| • Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 1-7 Yamate-machi, Susaki-shi, Kochi-ken 785-8601 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Alcedo atthis |
| Flower | Prunus jamasakura |
| Tree | Cherry blossom |
Susaki's official mascot is Shinjo-kun, a Japanese river otter wearing a hot pot ramen dish for a hat. Japanese river otter is an extinct variety of otter, that was last documented in the mouth of the Shinjo River in Susaki.[2][3]
Susaki has hit the worldwide press due to an unofficial mascot, also an otter, named Chiitan. Chiitan is somewhat violent, but in a humorous way. John Oliver has an episode discussing the humor of Chiitan.[4] In May 2019, Chiitan was banned from Twitter for inflammatory content.[5] There is speculation that this disturbing but amusing content can help the city of Susaki, either by attracting tourists or because Japanese can donate a portion of their taxes to cities where they are not resident.[6]
Geography
Climate
Susaki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Susaki is 16.8 °C (62.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,780.2 mm (109.46 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.2 °C (81.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.7 °C (44.1 °F).[7] The highest temperature ever recorded in Susaki was 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) on 8 August 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −5.7 °C (21.7 °F) on 26 February 1981.[8]
| Climate data for Susaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.3 (70.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
27.4 (81.3) |
29.8 (85.6) |
34.2 (93.6) |
35.3 (95.5) |
38.7 (101.7) |
39.3 (102.7) |
35.8 (96.4) |
32.8 (91.0) |
28.8 (83.8) |
23.8 (74.8) |
39.3 (102.7) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) |
13.1 (55.6) |
16.1 (61.0) |
20.4 (68.7) |
24.0 (75.2) |
26.3 (79.3) |
30.1 (86.2) |
31.4 (88.5) |
29.1 (84.4) |
24.8 (76.6) |
19.7 (67.5) |
14.5 (58.1) |
21.8 (71.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.8 (51.4) |
15.3 (59.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
22.4 (72.3) |
26.2 (79.2) |
27.2 (81.0) |
24.4 (75.9) |
19.4 (66.9) |
13.9 (57.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
16.8 (62.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) |
2.8 (37.0) |
5.7 (42.3) |
10.3 (50.5) |
14.9 (58.8) |
19.1 (66.4) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.8 (74.8) |
20.8 (69.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
9.3 (48.7) |
4.1 (39.4) |
12.6 (54.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −5.5 (22.1) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
0.1 (32.2) |
6.0 (42.8) |
11.7 (53.1) |
16.5 (61.7) |
16.9 (62.4) |
11.2 (52.2) |
4.4 (39.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 68.3 (2.69) |
99.2 (3.91) |
187.8 (7.39) |
221.6 (8.72) |
275.9 (10.86) |
376.8 (14.83) |
338.2 (13.31) |
326.2 (12.84) |
428.3 (16.86) |
230.2 (9.06) |
141.3 (5.56) |
86.4 (3.40) |
2,780.2 (109.46) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.0 | 7.6 | 10.4 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 14.8 | 12.7 | 12.3 | 13.1 | 8.7 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 119.8 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 187.8 | 177.9 | 197.3 | 197.7 | 203.9 | 140.6 | 184.8 | 213.3 | 161.3 | 178.8 | 168.7 | 182.6 | 2,197.3 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[8][7] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Susaki in 2020 is 20,590 people.[9] Susaki has been conducting censuses since 1920.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 24,557 | — |
| 1925 | 25,347 | +3.2% |
| 1930 | 25,898 | +2.2% |
| 1935 | 25,998 | +0.4% |
| 1940 | 25,786 | −0.8% |
| 1945 | 33,412 | +29.6% |
| 1950 | 34,113 | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 34,192 | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 32,976 | −3.6% |
| 1965 | 32,020 | −2.9% |
| 1970 | 31,050 | −3.0% |
| 1975 | 31,019 | −0.1% |
| 1980 | 31,852 | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 31,378 | −1.5% |
| 1990 | 30,295 | −3.5% |
| 1995 | 28,742 | −5.1% |
| 2000 | 27,569 | −4.1% |
| 2005 | 26,039 | −5.5% |
| 2010 | 24,714 | −5.1% |
| 2015 | 22,606 | −8.5% |
| 2020 | 20,590 | −8.9% |
| Susaki population statistics[9] | ||
References
- "Official website of Susaki City" (in Japanese). Japan: Susaki City. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- "Nothing Hotter than an … otter?". Hyper Japan Festival.
- "Profile – Shinjo-kun Official Website" (in Japanese).
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4fVdf4pNEc
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/17/world/asia/chiitan-mascot-john-oliver-japan.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/business/international/in-japan-you-get-a-tax-break-and-a-side-of-lobster-and-beef.html?module=inline
- 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- Susaki population statistics
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susaki, Kōchi. |
- Susaki City official website (in Japanese)
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