| Susaki | |||
| Native Name Lang: | ja | ||
| Settlement Type: | City | ||
| Image Map1: | Susaki in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg | ||
| Pushpin Map: | Japan | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Japan | ||
| Coordinates: | 33.3925°N 133.2931°W | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Name1: | Shikoku | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||
| Subdivision Name2: | Kōchi | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
| Leader Name: | Kosaku Kusunose (since February 2012) | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Unit Pref: | Metric | ||
| Area Total Km2: | 135.44 | ||
| Population Total: | 20429 | ||
| Population As Of: | 31 July 2022 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Timezone1: | JST | ||
| Utc Offset1: | +09:00 | ||
| Blank Name Sec1: | City hall address | ||
| Blank Info Sec1: | 1-7 Yamate-machi, Susaki-shi, Kochi-ken 785-8601 | ||
| Blank Name Sec2: | Climate | ||
| Blank Info Sec2: | Cfa | ||
| Module: |
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thumb|right|270px|Susaki City Hallthumb|right|270px|Aerial view of Susaki city centerthumb|right|270px|Yokonami-Kuroshio coast is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 20‚429 in 10672 households and a population density of 150 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 135.44sqkm.
Susaki is located in central Kōchi Prefecture, facing Tosa Bay of the Pacific Ocean to the south and bordered by mountains to the north. Most of the city area is forest. The coastline is intricate, with deep coves such as Uranouchi Bay and Susaki Bay.
Kōchi Prefecture
Susaki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Susaki is . The average annual rainfall is with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around, and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Susaki was on 8 August 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 26 February 1981.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Susaki in 2020 is 20,590 people. Susaki has been conducting censuses since 1920.
As with all of Kōchi Prefecture, the area of Susaki was part of ancient Tosa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by the Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Susaki was established within Takaoka District, Kōchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1954.
Susaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members. Susaki contributes one member to the Kōchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kōchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Agriculture and commercial fishing are mainstays of the local economy, with charcoal production and cement also major contributors.
Susaki has eight public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high schools operated by the Kōchi Prefectural Department of Education. There is also one private combined middle and high school.
Shikoku Railway Company - Dosan Line
- Castanhal, Pará, Brazil, since October 1, 1979
- Tauranga, New Zealand, since December 19, 1997Susaki's official mascot is Shinjo-kun, a Japanese river otter wearing a hot pot ramen dish for a hat. Japanese river otter is an extinct variety of otter, that was last documented in the mouth of the Shinjo River in Susaki.[2] [3]
Susaki has hit the worldwide press due to an unofficial mascot, also an otter, named Chiitan. Chiitan is somewhat violent, but in a humorous way. John Oliver has an episode discussing the humor of Chiitan.[4] In May 2019, Chiitan was banned from Twitter for inflammatory content.[5] There is speculation that this disturbing but amusing content can help the city of Susaki, either by attracting tourists or because Japanese can donate a portion of their taxes to cities where they are not resident.[6]