Matsuura, Nagasaki

Matsuura 松浦市
—  City  —
Flag
Location of Matsuura in Nagasaki
Matsuura
Coordinates: 33°20′N 129°43′E / 33.333°N 129.717°E / 33.333; 129.717Coordinates: 33°20′N 129°43′E / 33.333°N 129.717°E / 33.333; 129.717
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Nagasaki
Area
– Total	130.37 km2 (50.3 sq mi)
Population (January 1, 2009)
– Total	25,567
– Density	196/km2 (507.6/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Podocarpaceae
- Flower	Rhododendron
Phone number	0956-72-1111
Address	859-4598
Website	City of Matsuura

Matsuura (松浦市, Matsuura-shi^?) is a city located in Nagasaki, Japan. Matsuura City is bordered on three sides by mountains. Matsuura Bay makes up the fourth side.

History

Mention of a "Matsuura County" appears in written records from the Heian period, and this area was the home of the Matsuura clan, a local warrior clan. Takashima, within the borders of the modern town, is the location where the Mongol invasions of Japan, floundered due to the winds of typhoons in 1274 and 1281, giving rise to the legend of the kamikaze. In the Edo period, the area was largely under the control of the Hirado Domain. The discovery of coal seams in the early Meiji period led to the rapid economic development of the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; however, the coal mines closed in the 1960s.

The modern city was founded on March 31, 1955 through the merger of several towns and villages. On January 1, 2006, Matsuura City absorbed the towns of Fukushima and Takashima, both from Kitamatsuura District.

Overview

Matsuura City is a grouping of small towns, outlaying communities, and some islands. Former Shisa Town is the most populated area and makes up downtown and central Matsuura City. East from Shisa is Tsukinokawa, and further east is Imabuku Township, which were separate towns until a few years ago.

Aoshima is a fairly small island in the bay. Fukushima and Takashima are the largest. Fukushima and Takashima can be accessed by bridge. Fukushima and Tsukinokawa are known for their cascading rice terraces.

Economy

Matsuura is located in a primarily rural area, with several industrial companies located near the city center including a steel works , a commercial fish market, and a regional power plant. The amount of catch at Matsuura fish market is about 89,294 tons. (8th place in Japan)

Sister City relations

• Mackay, Australia

External links

Media related to Matsuura, Nagasaki at Wikimedia Commons

• Matsuura official website (Japanese)