Saiki (佐伯市, Saiki-shi) is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 October 2023, the city had an estimated population of 65,870 in 32921 households, and a population density of 73 persons per km2. [1] The total area of the city is 903.11 km2 (348.69 sq mi), making it the largest city by area in Kyushu.

Saiki
佐伯市
Motozaru Beach Saiki Castle Cape Tsurumisaki Utagenka Bridge Kohan Forest Park
Motozaru Beach
Saiki CastleCape Tsurumisaki
Utagenka BridgeKohan Forest Park
Flag of Saiki
Official seal of Saiki
Map
Location of Saiki in Ōita Prefecture
Location of Saiki
Saiki is located in Japan
Saiki
Saiki
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°57′35″N 131°54′00″E / 32.95972°N 131.90000°E / 32.95972; 131.90000
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
Prefecture Ōita
Government
 • MayorToshiaki Tanaka
Area
 • Total903.11 km2 (348.69 sq mi)
Population
 (October 31, 2023)
 • Total65,870
 • Density73/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1-1, Nakamura Minamimachi, Saiki-shi, Ōita-ken 876-8585
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese white-eye
FishSea: Aji
River: Ayu
FlowerYamazakura (Prunus jamasakura)
TreeOak
Saiki City Hall
Saiki City center in 2018

Geography

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Saiki is located in southeastern Ōita Prefecture, approximately 60 kilometers southeast of the prefectural capital at Ōita City. The eastern part faces the Bungo Channel and is within the borders of the Nippō Kaigan Quasi-National Park. It is noted for its ria coastal areas. The inland area of the city is mountainous and within the borders of the Sobo-Katamuki Quasi-National Park. The city is built on the largest alluvial plain in the prefecture, created by the Bansho River, a first-class river that flows through the city.

Neighboring municipalities

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Miyazaki Prefecture

Ōita Prefecture

Climate

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Saiki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter. The average annual temperature in Saiki is 16.7 °C (62.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,118.9 mm (83.42 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.3 °C (81.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.7 °C (44.1 °F).[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Saiki was 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) on 18 August 2020; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −10.5 °C (13.1 °F) on 11 February 1996.[3]

Climate data for Saiki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.5
(70.7)
23.5
(74.3)
27.0
(80.6)
28.7
(83.7)
31.9
(89.4)
34.8
(94.6)
36.1
(97.0)
36.6
(97.9)
35.2
(95.4)
31.9
(89.4)
28.6
(83.5)
24.3
(75.7)
36.6
(97.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.0
(51.8)
11.7
(53.1)
14.9
(58.8)
19.7
(67.5)
23.7
(74.7)
26.1
(79.0)
30.1
(86.2)
31.3
(88.3)
27.9
(82.2)
23.2
(73.8)
18.2
(64.8)
13.2
(55.8)
20.9
(69.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
7.5
(45.5)
10.5
(50.9)
15.1
(59.2)
19.3
(66.7)
22.4
(72.3)
26.3
(79.3)
27.3
(81.1)
24.1
(75.4)
19.1
(66.4)
13.9
(57.0)
8.7
(47.7)
16.7
(62.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5)
3.2
(37.8)
6.1
(43.0)
10.4
(50.7)
15.0
(59.0)
19.2
(66.6)
23.2
(73.8)
24.0
(75.2)
20.9
(69.6)
15.3
(59.5)
9.7
(49.5)
4.5
(40.1)
12.8
(55.1)
Record low °C (°F) −5.0
(23.0)
−5.5
(22.1)
−3.5
(25.7)
1.3
(34.3)
5.1
(41.2)
11.5
(52.7)
15.6
(60.1)
17.0
(62.6)
13.0
(55.4)
5.4
(41.7)
0.7
(33.3)
−3.4
(25.9)
−5.5
(22.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 62.3
(2.45)
70.9
(2.79)
116.2
(4.57)
136.8
(5.39)
178.8
(7.04)
333.3
(13.12)
282.7
(11.13)
247.2
(9.73)
338.6
(13.33)
200.6
(7.90)
104.1
(4.10)
60.1
(2.37)
2,118.9
(83.42)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.3 7.2 9.6 9.8 10.1 14.5 12.1 11.0 11.3 7.5 7.0 5.2 110.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 156.0 149.6 170.5 186.8 191.9 134.4 191.4 207.9 159.3 170.0 152.3 156.1 2,026.2
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]
Climate data for Ume, Saiki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.7
(71.1)
24.2
(75.6)
28.4
(83.1)
31.5
(88.7)
34.0
(93.2)
34.3
(93.7)
37.3
(99.1)
38.1
(100.6)
34.6
(94.3)
32.3
(90.1)
28.0
(82.4)
23.7
(74.7)
38.1
(100.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.4
(50.7)
11.8
(53.2)
15.2
(59.4)
20.3
(68.5)
24.5
(76.1)
26.4
(79.5)
30.7
(87.3)
31.3
(88.3)
27.6
(81.7)
22.9
(73.2)
17.7
(63.9)
12.5
(54.5)
20.9
(69.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.9
(39.0)
5.0
(41.0)
8.3
(46.9)
13.2
(55.8)
17.7
(63.9)
21.2
(70.2)
25.2
(77.4)
25.6
(78.1)
22.1
(71.8)
16.5
(61.7)
10.9
(51.6)
5.6
(42.1)
14.6
(58.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.7
(28.9)
−0.9
(30.4)
2.1
(35.8)
6.6
(43.9)
11.8
(53.2)
17.2
(63.0)
21.4
(70.5)
21.9
(71.4)
18.1
(64.6)
11.5
(52.7)
5.3
(41.5)
0.0
(32.0)
9.4
(49.0)
Record low °C (°F) −10.5
(13.1)
−10.5
(13.1)
−8.9
(16.0)
−4.8
(23.4)
−1.0
(30.2)
6.1
(43.0)
11.5
(52.7)
13.4
(56.1)
4.2
(39.6)
−0.2
(31.6)
−4.4
(24.1)
−9.4
(15.1)
−10.5
(13.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 55.4
(2.18)
69.6
(2.74)
121.9
(4.80)
142.0
(5.59)
186.7
(7.35)
368.9
(14.52)
327.2
(12.88)
347.9
(13.70)
420.1
(16.54)
198.0
(7.80)
85.6
(3.37)
58.6
(2.31)
2,404.6
(94.67)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.2 7.4 10.0 9.8 10.3 14.9 12.5 13.2 12.6 8.0 6.7 5.4 116
Mean monthly sunshine hours 162.1 153.0 170.1 182.0 177.2 106.8 158.3 172.2 128.8 159.1 148.2 159.0 1,873.4
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5]
Climate data for Kamae, Saiki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.7
(69.3)
22.1
(71.8)
28.3
(82.9)
27.9
(82.2)
30.6
(87.1)
32.9
(91.2)
37.6
(99.7)
38.3
(100.9)
34.8
(94.6)
30.6
(87.1)
26.3
(79.3)
22.4
(72.3)
38.3
(100.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.8
(53.2)
12.8
(55.0)
15.7
(60.3)
20.1
(68.2)
23.8
(74.8)
25.8
(78.4)
29.3
(84.7)
30.9
(87.6)
28.5
(83.3)
24.1
(75.4)
19.0
(66.2)
14.0
(57.2)
21.3
(70.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.9
(46.2)
8.6
(47.5)
11.6
(52.9)
15.9
(60.6)
19.7
(67.5)
22.4
(72.3)
25.8
(78.4)
27.2
(81.0)
24.8
(76.6)
20.2
(68.4)
15.1
(59.2)
10.0
(50.0)
17.4
(63.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)
4.9
(40.8)
7.6
(45.7)
11.9
(53.4)
16.0
(60.8)
19.6
(67.3)
23.2
(73.8)
24.5
(76.1)
21.9
(71.4)
17.1
(62.8)
11.7
(53.1)
6.4
(43.5)
14.1
(57.4)
Record low °C (°F) −5.7
(21.7)
−4.7
(23.5)
−3.4
(25.9)
2.0
(35.6)
7.4
(45.3)
11.8
(53.2)
16.4
(61.5)
17.9
(64.2)
12.4
(54.3)
5.5
(41.9)
2.0
(35.6)
−2.5
(27.5)
−5.7
(21.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 68.0
(2.68)
75.4
(2.97)
143.8
(5.66)
187.5
(7.38)
244.2
(9.61)
398.6
(15.69)
255.7
(10.07)
230.9
(9.09)
336.7
(13.26)
190.0
(7.48)
127.3
(5.01)
74.5
(2.93)
2,334.9
(91.93)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.4 6.6 9.5 9.5 10.2 15.1 11.7 11.1 11.7 7.6 6.5 5.1 110
Mean monthly sunshine hours 183.2 171.0 185.5 192.4 182.4 117.1 171.5 198.9 168.0 182.7 167.3 180.4 2,110.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[6][7]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Saiki in 2020 is 66,851 people.[8] Saiki has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 83,016—    
1925 85,352+2.8%
1930 87,810+2.9%
1935 91,816+4.6%
1940 91,168−0.7%
1945 110,387+21.1%
1950 115,123+4.3%
1955 118,236+2.7%
1960 114,262−3.4%
1965 105,046−8.1%
1970 96,667−8.0%
YearPop.±%
1975 96,317−0.4%
1980 96,534+0.2%
1985 95,907−0.6%
1990 91,217−4.9%
1995 88,116−3.4%
2000 84,449−4.2%
2005 80,297−4.9%
2010 76,959−4.2%
2015 72,211−6.2%
2020 66,851−7.4%
Saiki population statistics[8]

History

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The area of Saiki was part of ancient Bungo Province. Saiki began in the early Edo period as the castle town of Saiki Domain and was ruled by the Mōri clan until the Meiji restoration. (This Mōri clan was not related to the more famous Mōri clan of Chōshū Domain.) Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Saeki within Minamiamabe District, Ōita was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. In July 1916, the name of the town was changed from "Saeki" to "Saiki" to reflect the local dialect, with the kanji of the name remaining the same. In February 1934, the Saeki Naval Air Corps of the Imperial Japanese Navy was established in Saiki to conduct air patrols to ensure the safety of the Bungo Channel, where warships sailing from Kure Naval District located in the Seto Inland Sea exited to the Pacific Ocean. In 1937, Saiki annexed the villages of Tsuruoka and Kamikata. On April 29, 1941 - Saiki Town merged with the villages of Yahata, Oirishima, and Nishikamiura to form the city of Saiki City. Due to its military significance, the city was bombed six times during World War II. In 1955, Saiki annexed the villages of Aoyama, Shimogata and Kidachi. On Saiki merged with the neighboring towns of f Kamae, Kamiura, Tsurumi, Ume and Yayoi, and the villages Honjō, Naokawa and Yonōzu (all from Minamiamabe District) to create the new and expanded Saiki City. Minamiamabe District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Government

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Saiki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 25 members. Saiki contributes three members to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Saiki is a port city and a major regional commercial center.

Education

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Saiki has 21 public elementary schools and 12 public junior high schools operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education and one private high school. The prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

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Railways

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  JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line

Highways

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Sister cities

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Local attractions

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Noted people from Saiki

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References

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  1. ^ "Saiki City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  4. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  5. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  6. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  7. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Saiki population statistics
  9. ^ "Home". hd.gov.cn.
  10. ^ "続日本100名城" (in Japanese). 日本城郭協会. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  11. ^ City, Saiki. "猫のしま「深島」 時間をわすれ楽園で過ごす一日 | 観光スポット". 佐伯市観光ナビ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  12. ^ Raising a Family on Cat Island - NHK WORLD PRIME - TV | NHK WORLD-JAPAN Live & Programs, retrieved 2023-03-21
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