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Higashisonogi

東彼杵町
Higashisonogi 東彼杵町
Town
	Higashisonogi Town Office
	Flag Chapter
	Location of Higashisonogi in Nagasaki Prefecture
	Higashisonogi Location in Japan
	Coordinates: 33°2′13″N 129°55′2″E / 33.03694°N 129.91722°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Nagasaki
District	Higashisonogi
Area
• Total	74.29 km2 (28.68 sq mi)
Population (May 31, 2024)
• Total	7,383
• Density	99/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1850-6 Kuramoto, Higashisonogi-cho, Higashisonogi-gun, Nagasaki-ken 859-3808
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Cosmos
Tree	Camphora officinarum

Higashisonogi (東彼杵町, Higashisonogi-chō) is a town located in Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 May 2024^[update], the town had an estimated population of 7,383 in 3203 households, and a population density of 99 people per km².^[1] The total area is 74.29 km² (28.68 sq mi).

Geography

Panoramic view of Higashisonogi

Higashisonogi-cho is located in the center of Nagasaki Prefecture, facing the east side of Ōmura Bay. The entire town is a volcanic hilly area, and the hills extend all the way to the western coast facing Ōmura Bay. To the north are steep mountains such as Mount Kokuzo (608 meters) and Mount Takami-dake (538 meters), and to the south are steep mountains such as Mount Kunimidake (816 meters), Mount Toume (849 meters), Mount Gundake (826 meters)

Surrounding municipalities

Nagasaki Prefecture

Saga Prefecture

Ureshino

Climate

Higashisonogi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Higashisonogi is 15.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1970 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.8 °C.^[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Higashisonogi is as shown below:

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1960	12,553	—
1970	10,713	−14.7%
1980	10,353	−3.4%
1990	10,188	−1.6%
2000	10,026	−1.6%
2010	8,903	−11.2%
2020	7,721	−13.3%

History

Higashisonogi is part of ancient Hizen Province. The Hisagozuka Kofun, dating from the 5th century, is located in the town. During the Edo Period, the area was under the control of Ōmura Domain. This was the crossing point for the 26 Kirishitan martyrs as they boarded boats at this location and continued across the bay to Nagasaki where they were crucified as an example to all who practiced the Christian faith.^[3] After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Sonogi and Chiwata were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Sonogi was raised to town status on November 3, 1940. Sonogi Town and Chiwata Village merged on May 1, 1959 to from the town of Higashisonogi.

Government

Higashisonogi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 11 members. Higashisonogi contributes one member to the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Nagasaki 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Traditionally, Higashisonogi was a whaling town and commercial fishing remains a major component of the local economy. Agriculture is centered on rice and most famously, Japanese green tea production. Other industries in the town includes lumber, charcoal production, and liverstock.

Education

Higashisonogi has two public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one private elementary school and one private junior high school. The town does not have a high school.