| Shin-Kamigotō | |||
| Native Name Lang: | ja | ||
| Settlement Type: | Town | ||
| Pushpin Map: | Japan | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Japan | ||
| Coordinates: | 32.9844°N 129.0733°W | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Name1: | Kyushu | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||
| Subdivision Name2: | Nagasaki Prefecture | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Subdivision Name3: | Minami-Matsuura | ||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Unit Pref: | Metric | ||
| Area Total Km2: | 213.98 | ||
| Population Total: | 19,866 | ||
| Population As Of: | March 31, 2017 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Timezone1: | JST | ||
| Utc Offset1: | +09:00 | ||
| Blank Name Sec1: | City hall address | ||
| Blank Name Sec2: | Climate | ||
| Blank Info Sec2: | Cfa | ||
| Module: |
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is a town located in Minami-Matsuura District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.
The town was established on August 1, 2004 after the merger of the towns of Arikawa, Kamigotō, Narao, Shin-Uonome and Wakamatsu, all from Minami-Matsuura District. Following this merger, it became the only municipality in the Minami-Matsuura District. It occupies the two main islands of Nakadōri and Wakamatsu, which are connected by Wakamatsu Oohashi ("Wakamatsu Great Bridge", built 1991) via the small, unpopulated islet of Kaminakajima (上中島), as well as several smaller islands, including the populated islands of Arifuku, Hinoshima, Ryōzegaura, Kashiragashima, and Kirinoko. Wakamatsu Island is connected at its northwestern extremity to Ryōzegaura Island by the Ryōzegaura Bridge, and Ryōzegaura Island is further linked with the islands of Arifuku and Hinoshima by breakwaters that allow traffic of automobiles. Kashiragashima Oohashi (built 1981) connects the eastern end of the main island of Nakadōri with Kashiragashima, on which the famous Kashiragashima Church and the defunct Kamigotō Airport are located.
The islands that comprise the territory of Shin-Kamigotō Town also form the northeastern half of the Gotō Islands archipelago, which is the origin of the name Kamigotō (literally, "Upper Five Islands"), in which Gotō ("Five Islands") is the name of the entire archipelago, and Kami- ("Upper") refers to the fact that this half of the archipelago is located closer to the Japanese capital relative to the southwestern half. The prefix Shin- (新) at the beginning of the town's name means "new," so its full name may be translated literally to English as "New Upper Five Islands Town," though the name may be interpreted to refer to the town as a new and expanded version of the former Kamigotō Town, which was centered on the port of Aokata on the western side of the middle of Nakadōri Island.
As of March 31, 2017, the town has an estimated population of 19,866[1] and a density of 93 persons per km2. The total area is 213.98 km2.
Shin-Kamigotō has the typical humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) of Kyūshū, characterized by mild winters and long, hot, and humid summers. The average annual temperature in Shin-Kamigotō is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around, and lowest in January, at around . Its record high is, reached on 21 August 2013, and its record low is, reached on 23 January 1981.
Approximately 25% of the island's population identifies as Christian.[2]
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 46,762 | |
| 1975 | 40,867 | |
| 1980 | 38,140 | |
| 1985 | 36,005 | |
| 1990 | 32,123 | |
| 1995 | 29,845 | |
| 2000 | 27,559 | |
| 2005 | 25,039 | |
| 2010 | 22,076 | |
| 2012 | 21,183 |
In the middle ages, this area was ruled by the Aokata Clan, which was part of an alliance of samurai bands known as the Matsumuratō. This clan wrote the Aokata Bunsho, a record of the area's history from the Kamakura to Muromachi period. [3] [4]
The town flourished during the Heian period as a trading hub with continental Asia during the Japanese missions to Tang China, during which it served as a port of call.
During the period of the oppression of Christians in Japan, the island served as a shelter for hidden Christians to continue practicing their faith in secret.[5] [6]