China, Kagoshima
| China 知名町 |
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| — Town — | ||
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 China
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| Coordinates: 27°21′N 128°34′E / 27.350°N 128.567°ECoordinates: 27°21′N 128°34′E / 27.350°N 128.567°E | ||
| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Kyūshū (Ryukyu) | |
| Prefecture | Kagoshima (Ōshima) | |
| District | Ōshima | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Masamori Hirayasu | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 53.29 km2 (20.58 sq mi) | |
| Population (April 2008) | ||
| • Total | 6,753 | |
| • Density | 127/km2 (330/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | |
| City symbols | ||
| - Tree | Banyan | |
| - Flower | Hibiscus | |
| Phone number | 0997-93-3111 | |
| Address | 307, China, China-chō, Ōshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken 891-9295 |
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| Website | Town of China | |
China (知名町 China-chō, IPA: [tɕina]) is a town located in Ōshima District, Kagoshima, Japan. As of 2007[update], the town has an estimated population of 6,892 and a density of 129 persons per km². The total area is 53.29 km².[1][2]
History
The area was officially recognized as a settlement in 1888 with the establishment of the China Village Office (知名村役場). It was promoted from "village" to "town" status in 1946, during the Allied occupation of Japan.[3]
Geography
China is located on Okinoerabujima island, one of two towns on the island.[2] The town's one kilometre-long Yakomo Beach is about five minutes from the harbour by bus.[4]NHK describes it as one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.[5] Other natural seaside attractions include Ushishi Beach (ウシシ海岸) and Tamina Cape (田皆岬).[1]
Another tourist attraction in the town is the 3,500-meter long Shōryū Caves (昇竜洞). They were discovered in 1963 and partially opened to the public that same year.[6]
Transport
China is located on Kagoshima Prefectural Route 84. The only airport serving the area, the Okinoerabu Airport, is about 80 minutes away. There also is a ferry to the prefectural capital Kagoshima.[2] It takes between 17 and 18 hours.[1]
Economy
Sugar cane, potato, and peanut farming are popular. Floriculture is also practiced. A total of 1,958 hectares of land are under cultivation in the town.[7] However, due to the lack of local jobs, there has been an outflow of residents.[1]
Culture
China has a distinctive form of lion dance, believed to have been transmitted from Okinawa in the 18th century.[8] Another local traditional dance is the Daija-Odori (大蛇踊り, literally, "big snake dance"), consisting of a snake puppet suspended in mid-air from a frame and manipulated by strings. It is performed to a taiko drum and sanshin (Okinawan three-stringed banjo) accompaniment.[9][10]
Popular local dishes include the traditional tofu-misozuke, prepared by drying tofu in the sun and then adding miso. A more recent innovation adds kimchi to the dish.[2] The town tree is the banyan, and the town flower is the hibiscus. Both were chosen in 1982.[3]
Education
Education in China is controlled by the five members of the Education Committee, whose members serve four year terms. As of 2008[update], the members of the committee are Kasuga Tetsuyū, Nakada Akimi, Akita Yoshihiro, Miyayama Kazuo, and Ooyama Osamu.[11] The town has five kindergartens, five primary schools, two middle schools, and one senior high school.[1] The high school, Okinoerabu High School, was formed in 1949 through the merger of China High School and Wadomari High School; it maintains campuses in both towns.[12]
| Name | Number of students | |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergartens | ||
| China Kindergarten | 39 | |
| Sumiyoshi Kindergarten | 13 | |
| Tamina Kindergarten | 9 | |
| Kamishiro Kindergarten | 0 (classes suspended) | |
| Shimohirakawa Kindergarten | 25 | |
| Primary schools | ||
| China Primary School | 222 | |
| Sumiyoshi Primary School | 53 | |
| Tamina Primary School | 35 | |
| Kamishiro Primary School | 23 | |
| Shimohirakawa Primary School | 109 | |
| Middle schools | ||
| China Middle School | 129 | |
| Tamina Middle School | 65 | |
| High schools | ||
| Okinoerabu High School[14] | 337[15] | |
There is also a municipal library.[16]
Facilities
There are two medical clinics, four dental clinics, and one hospital. There are also two nursing homes.[1]
The Ōyama Japan Self-Defense Forces base is located about 10 minutes from the center of town by bus, near the Ōyama Camping Grounds.[17]
References
- ^ a b c d e f 知名町 (China Town), Kagoshima Prefecture Government, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ a b c d 鹿児島の観光・自然・歴史・宿泊・交通など旅行に役立つ情報をお届けします。, Kagoshima Prefecture: Tourism Division, 2007, archived from the original on 2007-11-21, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ a b 沿革/町章/町木/町花, China Town Office, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ "屋子母海岸 (Yakomo Beach)", Japan Tourism Agency, 2006, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ "知名町立知名小学校 (China Municipal Primary School)", 情報WAVEかごしま, NHK, 2008-01-30, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 昇竜洞：太古の謎を秘めた幻想の世界, China Town Office, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 平成19年度農畜産物生産計画 (2008 agricultural production statistics), China Town Office, 2008, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 瀬利覚の獅子舞 (Serikaku Lion Dance), Kagoshima Prefectural Office, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 上平川の大蛇踊り (The Daija-Odori of Kamihirakawa), Kagoshima Prefectural Office, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 上平川大蛇踊り (Kamihirakawa's Daija-Odori), Japan Tourism Agency, 2006, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 教育行政の基本方針＆教育委員 (Basic Educational Policy and Education Committee Members), China Town Office
- ^ 沖永良部高校 沿革, Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Education Research, retrieved 2009-03-22
- ^ 学校紹介 (Schools Introduction), China Town Office, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 鹿児島県立 沖永良部高等学校 (Kagoshima Prefectural Okinoerabu High School), Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Education Research, retrieved 2009-03-22
- ^ 沖永良部高校とは (About Okinoerabu High School), Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Education Research, retrieved 2009-03-22
- ^ 知名町立図書館 (China Municipal Library), China Town Office, retrieved 2009-03-20
- ^ 大山野営場 (Ōyama Camping Grounds), China Town Office, retrieved 2009-03-20
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