Kanzaki (神埼市, Kanzaki-shi) is a city located in Saga Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2024, the city had an estimated population of 30,329 in 12,440 households, and a population density of 240 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 125.13 km2 (48.31 sq mi).

Kanzaki
神埼市
Kanzaki City Hall
Kanzaki City Hall
Flag of Kanzaki
Official seal of Kanzaki
Map
Location of Kanzaki in Saga Prefecture
Location of Kanzaki
Kanzaki is located in Japan
Kanzaki
Kanzaki
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°18′43″N 130°22′17″E / 33.31194°N 130.37139°E / 33.31194; 130.37139
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureSaga
Government
 • MayorShigeyuki Matsumoto (from March 2005, including then Kanzaki Town)
Area
 • Total125.13 km2 (48.31 sq mi)
Population
 (April 30, 2024)
 • Total30,329
 • Density240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address410 Kanzaki, Kanzaki-chō, Kanzaki-shi, Saga-ken 842-0001
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerCherry Blossom
TreeMaple
Panoramic view of Kanzaki, from Mount Kawarake
Panoramic view of Yoshinogari Ancient Ruin, discovered in 1989

Geography edit

 
Yokotake Creek Park

Kanzaki is located approximately 10 kilometers northeast of the center of Saga City, and has a long and narrow city area from north to south. The northern part is located in the Sefuri Mountains. The southern part of the city is located in the Saga Plain on the north bank of the Chikugo River, and the Jōbaru River runs through the middle portion of the city. In addition, the southeastern part borders Kurume, Fukuoka, across the Chikugo River.

  • Mountains: Mount Sefuri (1055 m), Mt. Doki (Mt. Hatten, 430 m)
  • Rivers: Chikugo River, Jōbaru River, Tade River, Sanbonmatsu River

Adjoining municipalities edit

Saga Prefecture

Fukuoka Prefecture

Climate edit

Kanzaki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kanzaki is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1902 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.0 °C.[2]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kanzaki is as shown below. [3]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 37,181—    
1950 34,745−6.6%
1960 31,895−8.2%
1970 31,815−0.3%
1980 32,502+2.2%
1990 33,648+3.5%
2000 32,901−2.2%
2010 32,899−0.0%
2020 31,022−5.7%

History edit

The area of Kanzaki was part of ancient Hizen Province. Per the Hizen Koku Fudoki, during the Kofun period the area was ruled by several powerful clans, who were defeated by Emperor Keiko. During the Edo period was part of Saga Domain, with approximately a third of the area under Saga's Domain's sub-domain, Hasuike Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the villages of Chitose, Hasuike, Kanzaki, Niiyama, Saigō, Sakaino, Sefuri and Shirota were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Kanzaki was raised to town status on July 1, 1893. Hasuike was raised to town status on November 3, 1935. On March 31, 1955 the villages of Saigō and Niiyama were merged into Kanzaki and on April 1, 1955 yhe villages of Chitose, Sakaino, Shirota, and parts of the town of Hasuike were merged to create the village of Chiyoda, which was raised to town status on April 1, 1965. The city of Kanzaki was established on March 20, 2006, from the merger of the former town of Kanzaki, absorbing the town of Chiyoda, and the village of Sefuri (all from Kanzaki District). As a result of this merger there are no longer any villages in Saga Prefecture.

Government edit

Kanzaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Kanazaki, collectively with the municipalities of Kanzaki District contributes two members to the Saga Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Saga 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

Kanzaki has a mixed economy centered on agriculture, commerce and light manufacturing.

Education edit

Kanzaki has seven public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Saga Prefectural Board of Education. Nishikyushu University is located in Kanzaki.

Transport edit

Railway edit

  JR Kyushu - Nagasaki Main Line

JH Kanzaki

Highways edit

Sister city relations edit

Local attractions edit

  • Kunen Hermitage
  • Niiyama Shrine
  • Kushida-gū
  • Niiyama Park
  • Hōshu-dera
  • Yoshinogari Historical Park
  • Naotori Castle ruins
  • Home of Kojin Shimomura
  • Jirōnomori Park
  • Holiday Chiyoda (堀デーちよだ)

Notable people from Kanzaki edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Kanzaki City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Kanzaki climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
  3. ^ Saga Prefecture population by municipality

External links edit

  Media related to Kanzaki, Saga at Wikimedia Commons