| Taku | |||
| Native Name Lang: | ja | ||
| Settlement Type: | City | ||
| Image Map1: | Taku in Saga Prefecture Ja.svg | ||
| Pushpin Map: | Japan | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Japan | ||
| Coordinates: | 33.2886°N 130.1103°W | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Name1: | Kyushu | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||
| Subdivision Name2: | Saga Prefecture | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
| Leader Name: | Toshihiko Yokō | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Unit Pref: | Metric | ||
| Area Total Km2: | 96.56 | ||
| Population Total: | 17,807 | ||
| Population As Of: | May 1, 2024 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Timezone1: | JST | ||
| Utc Offset1: | +09:00 | ||
| Blank Name Sec1: | City hall address | ||
| Blank Info Sec1: | 7-1 Kozamurai, Kitataku-chō, Taku-shi, Saga-ken 846-8501 | ||
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right|thumb|270px|Taku Seibyoright|thumb|270px|Landscape of southern Taku is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 17,807 in 7912 households, and a population density of 180 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is . Taku joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2017.
Taku is located about 25 kilometers west of Saga City, in a basin along the Ushizu River, with the urban center at the center. Although it is surrounded by mountains, there is flat land to the east and low passes connect it to other directions.
Taku has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Taku is 15.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1864 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.0 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data, the population of Taku is as shown below.[3]
The area of Taku was part of ancient Hizen Province. During the Edo period it was mostly was part of Saga Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the villages of Kita-Taku, Taku, Nishi-Taku, Higashi-Taku, and Minami-Taku were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Kita-Taku was raised to town status on April 1, 1949. These municipalities merged on May 1, 1954 to form the city of Taku.
Taku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members. Taku contributes two members to the Saga Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Saga 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
The area of Taku was formerly a coal mining area with many companies operating mines; however, the last mine closed in 1972, bringing an end to the coal industry. Taking advantage of its location near the Nagasaki Expressway, the city is trying to revive as an industrial location.
Taku has three public combined elementary/junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Saga Prefectural Board of Education.
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Machiko Hasegawa - One of the first female manga artists.
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