Amakusa, Kumamoto
Encyclopedia
was a town
located in Amakusa District
, Kumamoto
, Japan
.
Amakusa-machi consists of five villages, four spread along the west coast of Shimo-shima and one located in the mountains between the coast and Hondo
, the administrative capital of Amakusa city. They are, in order of geographic location starting from the south, Ōe 大江, Takahama 高浜, Shimoda-minami 下田南, Shimoda-kita 下田北, and Fukuregi 福連木.
Amakusa-machi is famous for its scenic coastline along the Amakusa-nada sea, including a natural, white sandy beach in Takahama called Shiratsuru-hama 白鶴浜 and beautiful, strange rock formations in the bay Myoken-ura 妙見浦. Shimoda-kita is also home to a famous hot spring which, according to legend, was discovered by a white heron. Many tourists come to Amakusa-machi to enjoy these leisure spots.
The village of Ōe, along with the Sakitsu in Kawaura-machi
to the south, were both visited by Christian missionaries in the wake of St. Francis Xavier's
mission to Japan in 1549. Many were converted and kept their faith even during the periods of harsh persecution and the Shimabara rebellion
. The romanesque style church in Ōe and the gothic style church in Sakitsu have both become symbols of Amakusa's Christian history, and are visited by many throughout the year. Museums located in both Kawaura and Ōe exhibit various artifacts from the time of Christian persecution that show how the Japanese Christians of that time
kept their faith.
Between the five villages of the town, there used to be as many as five elementary schools, four junior high schools, and one high school, with the total junior high school population reaching as high as 800 students. While there are still elementary schools in every village, a steep decline in the population has reduced the junior high schools to one, now located in Takahama. The junior high school student population is around 90, while total elementary school population is around 160.
On March 27, 2006 Amakusa absorbed the towns of Ariake
, Goshoura
, Itsuwa
, Kawaura
, Kuratake
, Shinwa
and Sumoto
, all from Amakusa District
, and the old cities of Hondo
and Ushibuka
, to become the new city of Amakusa
. "Amakusa city" refers to this union of six towns and two cities, while "Amakusa town" or "Amakusa-machi" refers to the one town of those six.
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population
of 4,405 and a density
of 51.54 persons per km². The total area was 85.46 km².
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Amakusa District
Amakusa District, Kumamoto
is a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.Following the March 27, 2006 Amakusa merger the district consists of the single town of Reihoku. After the merger, the district has an estimated population of 9,105 and a density of 135.77 persons per km²...
, Kumamoto
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Amakusa-machi consists of five villages, four spread along the west coast of Shimo-shima and one located in the mountains between the coast and Hondo
Hondo, Kumamoto
was a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Hondo was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old city of Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer exists as an independent...
, the administrative capital of Amakusa city. They are, in order of geographic location starting from the south, Ōe 大江, Takahama 高浜, Shimoda-minami 下田南, Shimoda-kita 下田北, and Fukuregi 福連木.
Amakusa-machi is famous for its scenic coastline along the Amakusa-nada sea, including a natural, white sandy beach in Takahama called Shiratsuru-hama 白鶴浜 and beautiful, strange rock formations in the bay Myoken-ura 妙見浦. Shimoda-kita is also home to a famous hot spring which, according to legend, was discovered by a white heron. Many tourists come to Amakusa-machi to enjoy these leisure spots.
The village of Ōe, along with the Sakitsu in Kawaura-machi
Kawaura, Kumamoto
Kawaura was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Kawaura was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no...
to the south, were both visited by Christian missionaries in the wake of St. Francis Xavier's
Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...
mission to Japan in 1549. Many were converted and kept their faith even during the periods of harsh persecution and the Shimabara rebellion
Shimabara Rebellion
The was an uprising largely involving Japanese peasants, most of them Catholic Christians, in 1637–1638 during the Edo period.It was one of only a handful of instances of serious unrest during the relatively peaceful period of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule...
. The romanesque style church in Ōe and the gothic style church in Sakitsu have both become symbols of Amakusa's Christian history, and are visited by many throughout the year. Museums located in both Kawaura and Ōe exhibit various artifacts from the time of Christian persecution that show how the Japanese Christians of that time
Kakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
kept their faith.
Between the five villages of the town, there used to be as many as five elementary schools, four junior high schools, and one high school, with the total junior high school population reaching as high as 800 students. While there are still elementary schools in every village, a steep decline in the population has reduced the junior high schools to one, now located in Takahama. The junior high school student population is around 90, while total elementary school population is around 160.
On March 27, 2006 Amakusa absorbed the towns of Ariake
Ariake, Kumamoto
was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Ariake was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer exists...
, Goshoura
Goshoura, Kumamoto
was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Goshoura was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer exists...
, Itsuwa
Itsuwa, Kumamoto
was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Itsuwa was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer exists...
, Kawaura
Kawaura, Kumamoto
Kawaura was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Kawaura was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no...
, Kuratake
Kuratake, Kumamoto
Kuratake was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Kuratake was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no...
, Shinwa
Shinwa, Kumamoto
Shinwa was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Shinwa was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer...
and Sumoto
Sumoto, Kumamoto
Sumoto was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Sumoto was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake and Shinwa, all from Amakusa District, and the old cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer...
, all from Amakusa District
Amakusa District, Kumamoto
is a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.Following the March 27, 2006 Amakusa merger the district consists of the single town of Reihoku. After the merger, the district has an estimated population of 9,105 and a density of 135.77 persons per km²...
, and the old cities of Hondo
Hondo, Kumamoto
was a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Hondo was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old city of Ushibuka, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer exists as an independent...
and Ushibuka
Ushibuka, Kumamoto
Ushibuka was a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.On March 27, 2006 Ushibuka was merged with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto, all from Amakusa District, and the old city of Hondo, to become the new city of Amakusa and no longer exists as an...
, to become the new city of Amakusa
Amakusa, Kumamoto
was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.Amakusa-machi consists of five villages, four spread along the west coast of Shimo-shima and one located in the mountains between the coast and Hondo, the administrative capital of Amakusa city. They are, in order of geographic location...
. "Amakusa city" refers to this union of six towns and two cities, while "Amakusa town" or "Amakusa-machi" refers to the one town of those six.
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 4,405 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 51.54 persons per km². The total area was 85.46 km².