Naruto (鳴門市, Naruto-shi) is a city located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2022, the city had an estimated population of 54,989 in 26,206 households and a population density of 410 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 191.11 square kilometres (73.79 sq mi).

Naruto
鳴門市
Naruto City Montage
Naruto City Montage
Flag of Naruto
Official seal of Naruto
Location of Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture
Location of Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture
Map
Naruto is located in Japan
Naruto
Naruto
 
Coordinates: 34°10′N 134°37′E / 34.167°N 134.617°E / 34.167; 134.617
CountryJapan
RegionShikoku
PrefectureTokushima
Government
 • MayorMichihiko Izumi (from November 2009)
Area
 • Total135.66 km2 (52.38 sq mi)
Population
 (June 30, 2022)
 • Total54,989
 • Density410/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeIlex integra
- FlowerHamabō (Hibiscus hamabo)
Phone number088-684-1111
Address170 Muyachō Minamihama Higashihama, Naruto-shi, Tokushima-ken
772-8501
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography edit

Naruto is located in the northeastern tip of Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It is bordered by the Seto Inland Sea to the north and the Kii Channel to the east and faces Awaji Island across the Naruto Strait, which is famous for its whirlpools. The city is located in the easternmost part of the Sanuki Mountains.

Neighbouring municipalities edit

Tokushima Prefecture

Kagawa Prefecture

Climate edit

Naruto has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Naruto is 16.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1637 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.3 °C.[2] Due to the Seto Inland Sea climate, rainfall is low despite being in Tokushima Prefecture.On August 6, 1923, a temperature of 42.5 °C, which was the highest recorded temperature in Japan for many decades, was unofficially recorded in Naruto.

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Naruto has remained relatively steady over the past 50 years. In the quinquennial census of June 1, 2019, the city had a population of 56,222 (2005: 63,200).[4]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 50,574—    
1930 53,390+5.6%
1940 52,084−2.4%
1950 68,080+30.7%
1960 62,827−7.7%
1970 60,634−3.5%
1980 63,423+4.6%
1990 64,575+1.8%
2000 64,620+0.1%
2010 61,522−4.8%

History edit

As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Naruto was part of ancient Awa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tokushima Domain ruled by the Hachisuka clan from their seat at Tokushima Castle. The villages of Seto (瀬戸村), Naruto (鳴門村 Muya (撫養村), and Satoura (里浦村) were established within Itano District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. Seto became a town on November 1, 1938, Naruto on April 1, 1940, and Muya on March 15, 1947. The four municipalities merged on March 15, 1947, to form the city of Narunan (鳴南市), which was renamed Naruto two months later on May 15, 1947.

Government edit

Naruto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Naruto contributes three members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tokushima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

Naruto has a mixed economy of agriculture, commercial fishing, food processing and pharmaceuticals. In the past, the salt industry was thriving. Naruto was the origin of the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group and the Naruto Salt Industry, both of which still have a number of facilities in the city.

Education edit

Naruto has 13 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Tokushima Prefectural Department of Education. The Naruto University of Education is located in the city.

Transportation edit

Railway edit

  Shikoku Railway CompanyKōtoku Line

  Shikoku Railway CompanyNaruto Line

Highways edit

Sister city relations edit

Local attractions edit

Sports edit

Naruto has the home stadium of professional football team Tokushima Vortis and of baseball team Tokushima Indigo Socks.

Traditional arts edit

Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Naruto city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Naruto climate data
  3. ^ Naruto population statistics
  4. ^ "2010 census". Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Naruto". Japan National Tourism Organization. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Otsuka Museum of Art". Japan National Tourism Organization. Retrieved 29 April 2011.

External links edit