Town in Kyushu, Japan
Kashima (嘉島町, Kashima-machi) is a town located in Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2024[update], the town had an estimated population of 10,203 in 4135 households, and a population density of 24 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 16.65 km2 (6.43 sq mi).
Geography
Kashima is located in central Kumamoto Prefecture, adjacent to southeast Kumamoto City.
Neighboring municipalities
Kumamoto Prefecture
Climate
Kashima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kashima is 16.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1965 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.2 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Kashima is as shown below
Historical population| Year | | |
|---|
| 1940 | 6,980 | — |
|---|
| 1950 | 8,961 | +28.4% |
|---|
| 1960 | 8,600 | −4.0% |
|---|
| 1970 | 7,712 | −10.3% |
|---|
| 1980 | 7,731 | +0.2% |
|---|
| 1990 | 7,295 | −5.6% |
|---|
| 2000 | 8,145 | +11.7% |
|---|
| 2010 | 8,676 | +6.5% |
|---|
| 2020 | 9,547 | +10.0% |
|---|
History
The area of Kashima was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Okawa, Uejima and Roka were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Okawa and Uejima merged to form the village of Oshima in 1905. On January 1, 1955, Oshima and Roka merged to form the town of Kashima.
Government
Yamato has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 11 members. Kashima, collectively with the other municipalities of Kamimashiki District contributes two members to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kumamoto 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Kashima is centered on light manufacturing, food processing and agriculture. Suntory has a large factory in Kashima.
Education
Kashima has two public elementary schools and one public junior high schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.
Transportation
Railways
Kashima does not have any passenger railway service. The nearest station is Minami-Kumamoto Station on the JR Kyushu Hōhi Main Line.
Highways
Notable people from Kashima
References
External links
