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)
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.
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