| Mashiki | |||||||
| Native Name Lang: | ja | ||||||
| Settlement Type: | Town | ||||||
| Seal Type: | Emblem | ||||||
| Image Map1: | Mashiki in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg | ||||||
| Pushpin Map: | Japan | ||||||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Japan | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 32.7833°N 178°W | ||||||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||||||
| Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||||||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||||||
| Subdivision Name1: | Kyushu | ||||||
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||||||
| Subdivision Name2: | Kumamoto | ||||||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||||||
| Subdivision Name3: | Kamimashiki | ||||||
| Extinct Title: | Now part of | ||||||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||||||
| Leader Name: | Hironori Nishimura | ||||||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||||||
| Unit Pref: | Metric | ||||||
| Area Total Km2: | 65.68 | ||||||
| Population Total: | 34,118 | ||||||
| Population As Of: | August 31, 2024 | ||||||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||||||
| Timezone1: | JST | ||||||
| Utc Offset1: | +09:00 | ||||||
| Blank Name Sec1: | City hall address | ||||||
| Blank Info Sec1: | 702 Miyazono, Mashiki-machi, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto-ken 861-2295 | ||||||
| Blank Name Sec2: | Climate | ||||||
| Blank Info Sec2: | Cfa | ||||||
| Module: |
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is a town located in Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 34,118 in 14750 households, and a population density of 520 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is . Kumamoto Airport is located in Mashiki.
Mashiki is adjacent to the eastern part of Kumamoto City and is located slightly north of the center of Kumamoto Prefecture. From the eastern to southern part of the prefecture, there are four peaks in the Kyushu Mountains: Shiroyama (480 meters), Asagoyama (405 meters), Funanoyama (308 meters), and Iidayama (431 meters). The northern part is covered with farmland called the Mashiki Plateau (Takayuhara Plateau). The central part is part of the Kumamoto Plain and is covered with rice paddies. All of the rivers in the town belong to the Midorikawa River system, and flow from east to west.
Mashiki was near the epicenter of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes reporting a Shindo 7 (highest possible level) intensity in the primary foreshock on April 14 and the mainshock on April 16, leading to fire and rubble killing at least 40 people.
Kumamoto Prefecture
Mashiki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mashiki is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1965 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.3 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data, the population of Mashiki is as shown below
The area of Mashiki was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Kiyama and the villages of Iino, Hiroysu, Fukuda and Tsumori were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1954 the town and four villages were merged to form Mashiki Town.
Mashiki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 18 members. Mashiki, collectively with the other municipalities of Kamimashiki District contributes two members to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kumamoto 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Mashiki has an economy dominated by commerce, agriculture and light manufacturing. Due to its proximity to Kumamoto, it is increasingly becoming a commuter town.
Mashiki has five public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.
Mashiki does not have any passenger railway service.The nearest station is Shin-Suizenji Station on the JR Kyushu Hohi Main Line.