Top left: Umagase in Nippo Coast Quasi National Park. Top right: Statue of Bokusui Wakayama in Tōgō. Middle left: View of platform at Hyugashi Station. Middle right: Hyottoko dancing event in August. Bottom: Old Traditional Town in Mimitsu.
Hyūga (日向市, Hyūga-shi) is a city in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2023[update], the city had an estimated population of 57,746, and a population density of 170 persons per km².,[1] making it the 4th largest city in Miyazaki Prefecture in terms of population.[2] The total area of the city is 336.94 km2 (130.09 sq mi).Hyūga is a port city known for the production of Go stones[3] and for beaches, many of which are popular surfing spots.
Origin of name
Hyuga City took its name from Hyūga Province (日向国, Hyūga/Hinata no kuni), the historical name of what is now Miyazaki Prefecture. According to Japanese legend in the Nihon Shoki, following the conquest of the Kumaso people, Emperor Keikō watched the sunrise over the ocean and said "This country faces straight toward the sunrise" (この国は真っ直ぐに日の出る方に向いている, Kono kuni wa massugu ni hinoderu hou ni muite iru). From that time, the province was known as Hyuga or Hinata (the country facing the sun) until the Meiji Restoration when it was renamed Miyazaki.[4]
Geography
Hyūga is located in central Miyazaki Prefecture. It is bordered by the Hyūga Sea to the east and the Kyushu Mountains to the west. The area along Cape Hyūga with its exposed hexagonal pillar rocks and ria (saw tooth) coastline are designated as part of the Nippō Kaigan Quasi-National Park. A bit south are beaches such as Ise-ga-hama, Okura-ga-hama, and Kane-ga-hama, known for their surfing.
Hyūga is located in the humid subtropical climate zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa), exhibiting four distinct seasons.[5] It has a mild, but humid subtropical climate with no dry season. The climate is comparable to the southern coastal areas of the United States or southern Europe. The average summer daytime temperature is about 30 °C (86 °F) with 80% humidity. The average winter daytime temperature is about 13 °C (56 °F) with 60% humidity. Early summer is marked with the rainy season in June and July. This is followed by a hot, humid summer and daily sunshine, but is often accompanied by typhoons. Winter is mild with small amounts of rain.
Climate data for Hyūga (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
As of November 2015[update], Hyūga had a total population of 63,011 people; 30,150 males and 32,861 females.[8]
Population of Hyūga
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1991
58,190
—
1992
58,208
+0.03%
1993
58,309
+0.17%
1994
58,530
+0.38%
1995
58,802
+0.46%
1996
58,906
+0.18%
1997
59,025
+0.20%
1998
59,026
+0.00%
1999
58,991
−0.06%
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
2000
58,996
+0.01%
2001
59,056
+0.10%
2002
59,187
+0.22%
2003
59,156
−0.05%
2004
59,112
−0.07%
2005
58,648
−0.78%
2006
63,272
+7.88%
2007
63,011
−0.41%
2008
62,776
−0.37%
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
2009
62,874
+0.16%
2010
62,804
−0.11%
2011
62,619
−0.29%
2012
62,648
+0.05%
2013
62,225
−0.68%
2014
61,879
−0.56%
2015
63,011
+1.83%
In 2006, Togo was merged into the city, adding about 1,750 people to the population. This accounts for part of the increase in that year. Source: [8][9]
Districts
Shinmachi (新町地区, Shinmachi-chiku)
Shinmachi (新町) is Hyūga's downtown area. Hyūga City has been engaged in large scale urban renewal, slowly widening roads, creating new businesses, beautifying, and modernizing the city center. As such, Shinmachi is relatively new and modern. This region is centered on Hyūgashi Station.
Hososhima Port
Hososhima (細島地区, Hososhima-chiku)
The southern part of Hososhima is centered on Hyūga's commercial fishing port between Komenoyama and Makishimayama. This is an older less frequented part of Hyūga. The streets are narrow and there are numerous old Edo-period buildings.
The northern part of Hososhima is far more industrial. This region has several manufacturing plants and large areas for storage of goods and raw materials. Hososhima Industrial Port currently serves as the main international port in northern Miyazaki Prefecture handling materials and goods import and export in the region. Hososhima Industrial Port is designated as a Special Major Port and was selected as a focus port by the Japanese government in 2010. There continues to be major development and expansion of the port and its available services. Hososhima Port was selected by the Japanese government as Port of the Year 2015.[10]
Mimitsu area (美々津地区, Mimitsu-chiku)
Mimitsu was a port town to the south of Hyūga which merged in 1955. It is famous for washi paper and fishing. It is also supposedly the port from which the first Japanese Emperor, Jimmu, launched his military expedition to conquer Yamato and establish it as the center of power.
In the 19th century, it was a prosperous commercial port that was a hub for trade with the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, with so many houses belonging to merchants and shipping agents crowded together that people used to refer to the thousand houses of Mimitsu (Mimitsu-sengen). It fell into sharp decline with the advent of railroads. In 1986, it was designated as a national important preservation district for groups of historic buildings, and much of the 19th-century atmosphere, including traditional buildings, earthen walls, and stone pavements, remains.[11]
Togo (東郷地区, Togo-chiku)
Tōgō was a small mountain town which merged with Hyūga on February 25, 2006. Togo was the home town of the Japanese writer Bokusui Wakayama.
History
Archaeologists working in Hyūga have reported finding artifacts such as stone tools and stone piles from as much as 30,000 years ago, the Japanese Paleolithic period. There is also evidence of inhabitation during the Jōmon period. Archaeological digs uncovering pottery from this time period continue today in parts of the city.[12]
During the Edo period, Hyūga was divided between the holdings of Nobeoka Domain and tenryō territory administered directly by the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Hososhima and villages of Iwawaki ad Tomidaka were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Tomidaka was raised to town status on October 1, 1921. On October 1, 1937, Hososhima and Tomidaka merged to form Toshima Town. Toshima merged with Iwawaki to form the city of Hyūga on April 1, 1951.[13]
Municipal consolidation
Modern Hyūga City is a result of the merger of numerous smaller towns and villages. These mergers began at the start of the Meiji Period when the han system was abolished and the concept of towns and cities arose. This time period, between 1888 and 1889, became known as the Great Meiji Consolidation. Following this, towns continued to merge mainly due to population limitations or financial limitations. The most recent merger in 2006 with Tōgō (from Higashiusuki District) was part of the Great Heisei Consolidation. This was a government initiative to counter population declines and financial problems while promoting decentralization of the national government. This merger increased Hyuga City's population, tax money, and autonomy.[14]
Hyuga City Mergers
Before April 1, 1889
April 1, 1889
1898
1921
1937
April 1, 1951
1955
1969
February 25, 2006
Hichiya Village 日知屋村
Tomitaka Village 富高村
Tomitaka Town 富高町
Tomishima Town 富島町
Hyuga City 日向市
Hyuga City 日向市
Hyuga City 日向市
Shiomi Village 塩見村
Zaikoji Village 財光寺村
Tomitaka Village 富高村
Hososhima Town 細島町
Hiraiwa Village 平岩村
Iwawaki Village 岩脇村
Saiwaki Village 幸脇村
Mimitsu Town 美々津町
Mimitsu Village 美々津村
Mimitsu Town 美々津町
Takamatsu Village 高松村
Yamage Village 山陰村
Togo Village 東郷村
Togo Town 東郷町
Haebaru-Sakanouchi Village 八重原・迫野内村
Tsuboya Village 坪谷村
Shimosange Village 下三ケ村
source: Current Status and Problems of Hyuga City (2008)[15]
Government
Hyūga has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Hyūga contributes two members to the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Miyazaki 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Hyūga is a major industrial center, with many chemical plants belonging to the Asahi Kasei group. Other major industries include smelting, titanium production and food processing.
Education
Hyūga has 13 elementary schools, seven junior high schools and three high schools. The Miyazaki Board of Education also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
Hyottoko Summer Festival (ひょっとこ夏祭り, hyottoko natsu matsuri) takes place the first Friday and Saturday of August every year. This is the largest festival in Hyuga City attracting visitors from all over Japan. The rather peculiar dance associated with this festival is not exclusive to Hyuga City, but this is the most famous Hyottoko dance in Japan; as such it and the characters in the dance have become symbols of the city.[17]
Hyuga Jugoya Festival (日向十五夜祭, hyuga jugoya matsuri) takes place during September or October in accordance to the harvest moon. In Hyuga City, this event features two dances, the more traditional Jugoya dance and a traditional dance specific to the Togo region. This is the second largest festival in Hyuga City.[18]
Museums and other points of interest
Hyuga Historical and Folk Museum (日向市歴史民俗資料館, Hyūgashi rekishi minzoku shiryōkan)
Bokusui Wakayama Memorial Museum of Literature (若山牧水記念文学館, Wakayama bokusui kinen bungaku-kan)
Hososhima Port Museum (細島みなと資料館旧高鍋屋, Hososhima Minato shiryōkan kyū Takanabe-ya)
^上田 恣 (ed.). 景行天皇（十五）日向の地名説話と思邦歌 [Origin of Hyuga's name narrative and the Kunishinobi Song] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
^ ab日向市ホームページ [Hyūga City Homepage] (in Japanese). Hyūga City. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
^人口の推移 [Population Change] (in Japanese). Hyūga City. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
^ポート・オブ・ザ・イヤー２０１５」に細島港が決定 [Hososhima Port Selected as Port of the Year 2015]. Ports of Miyazaki Prefecture (in Japanese). Miyazaki Prefecture Port Sales Council. January 15, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
^日向市の現況と課題 [Current Status and Problems of Hyūga] (PDF) (in Japanese). Hyūga City Hall. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
^友好都市 [Friendship Cities] (in Japanese). Hyūga City. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
^"ひょっとこ夏祭り" [Hyottoko Summer Festival]. Hyottoko Festival homepage (in Japanese). Hyuga City Tourism Incorporated Association (日向市観光協会, hyūgashi kankō kyōkai). 1 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
^"日向十五夜祭" [Hyuga Jugoya Festival]. Hyuga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (in Japanese). Hyuga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (日向商工会議所, hyūga shōkō kaigi-sho). 26 September 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
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