Minami-Alps (南アルプス市, Minami-Arupusu-shi) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2019[update], the city has an estimated population of 71,618 in 27,956 households,[1] and a population density of 270 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 264.14 square kilometres (101.99 sq mi). Minami-Alps is Yamanashi Prefecture's third largest city. The city's name was chosen in September 2002 from among entries submitted by the general public.
Minami-Alps
南アルプス市 | |
|---|---|
 Gate of the Ando house in Minami-Alps City | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Minami-Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture | |
  Minami-Alps | |
| Coordinates: 35°36′29.9″N 138°27′54.1″E / 35.608306°N 138.465028°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Chūbu (Tōkai) |
| Prefecture | Yamanashi |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kazumoto Kanemaru (since 2015) |
| Area | |
• Total | 264.14 km2 (101.99 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2020) | |
• Total | 69,459 |
| • Density | 260/km2 (680/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 055-282-1111 |
| Address | Ogasawara 376, Minami-Alps city, Yamanashi 400-0395 |
| Website | Official website |
Geography
editThe city is named for its location on the eastern foothills of the "Southern Alps". This mountain range includes Mount Kita, Japan's second-highest mountain, as well as a number of other mountains that top 3,000 meters. The urbanized zones lie along the three rivers running along these mountains: Midai River, Takizawa River, and Tsubo River. The area is noted for growing fruit, especially: cherries, peaches, plums, grapes, pears, persimmons, kiwi, and apples.
Surrounding municipalities
editClimate
editThe city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Minami-Alps is 10.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1539 mm with September as the wettest month.[2]
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[3] the population of Minami-Alps has recently plateaued after several decades of growth.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 52,148 | — |
| 1950 | 63,073 | +20.9% |
| 1960 | 53,924 | −14.5% |
| 1970 | 51,318 | −4.8% |
| 1980 | 54,123 | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 62,351 | +15.2% |
| 2000 | 70,116 | +12.5% |
| 2010 | 72,635 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 69,459 | −4.4% |
History
editThe city of Minami-Alps was established on April 1, 2003, by the merger of the towns of Kōsai, Kushigata, Shirane and Wakakusa, and the villages of Ashiyasu and Hatta (all from Nakakoma District).
Government
editMinami-Alps has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.
Economy
editThe economy of Minami-Alps is primarily agricultural, with seasonal tourism and forestry playing secondary roles.
Education
edit- Minami-Alps has 15 public elementary schools, one combined public elementary/middle school and six public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools and one special education school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education.
- International schools - Alps Gakuen (former Colégio Pitágoras) - Brazilian school[4]
Transportation
editRailway
edit- Minami-Alps is the only city in Yamanashi which does not have any passenger railway services.
Highway
editSister cities
editAnamizu, Ishikawa, Japan
Marshalltown, Iowa, United States
Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Friendship city
editDujiangyan City, China
Notable people from Minami-Alps
edit- Kaori Chiba, women's field hockey player
- Shin Kanemaru, politician
- Masae Kasai, women's volleyball player
- Tachū Naitō, architect, engineer
- Akira Takabe, professional football player
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ City official statistics(in Japanese)
- ^ climate data[dead link]
- ^ Minami-Alps population statistics
- ^ "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.
External links
edit Media related to Minami-Alps, Yamanashi at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website (in Japanese)