Kumamoto

Kumamoto
Kumamoto; 熊本
	Designatit ceety
	熊本市 · Kumamoto Ceety
	Frae tap left:Central Kumamoto view frae Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Ceety Tramway, Fujisaki hachimangu shrine, Suizenji jojuen
	Flag
	Location of Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefectur
	Coordinates: 32°47′N 130°44′E / 32.783°N 130.733°ECoordinates: 32°47′N 130°44′E / 32.783°N 130.733°E
Kintra	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefectur	Kumamoto Prefectur
Govrenment
• Mayor	Seishi Kōyama
Area
• Total	389.53 km2 (150.40 sq mi)
Population (March 1, 2010)
• Total	731,286
• Density	1880/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Ginkgo
• Flouer	Camellia
• Bird	Great Tit
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Staundart Time)
City Hall Address	1-1 Tetorisai-machi, Chūō-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken; 860-8601
Website	www.city.kumamoto.kumamoto.jp

Kumamoto (熊本市, Kumamoto-shi) is the caipital ceety o Kumamoto Prefectur on the island o Kyushu, Japan. Greater Kumamoto (熊本都市圏) haes a population o 1,460,000, as o the 2000 census. It is nae considered pairt o the Fukuoka–Kitakyushu metropolitan aurie, despite thair shared border. The ceety wis designatit on Aprile 1, 2012 bi govrenment ordinance.

History

Katō Kiyomasa, a contemporary o Toyotomi Hideyoshi, wis made daimyo o hauf o the (auld) admeenistrative region o Higo in 1588. Efter that, Kiyomasa biggit Kumamoto Castle. Due tae its mony innovative defensive designs, Kumamoto Castle wis considered impregnable, an Kiyomasa enjoyed a reputation as ane o the finest castle-builders in Japanese history. Efter Kiyomasa died in 1611, his son, Tadahiro, succeedit him, but Tadahiro wis removed bi Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1632, replacin him wi the Hosokawa clan.

The current admeenistrative body o the Ceety o Kumamoto wis foondit on Aprile 1, 1889.

On Februar 1, 1991 the touns o Akita, Kawachi, Tenmei an Hokubu, aw frae Hōtaku Destrict, wur merged intae Kumamoto.

On October 6, 2008 the toun o Tomiai, frae Shimomashiki Destrict, wis merged intae Kumamoto.

On Mairch 23, 2010 the toun o Jōnan, an aa frae Shimomashiki Destrict; an the toun o Ueki, frae Kamoto Destrict, wur merged intae Kumamoto.^[1]

Geografie

Climate

Kumamoto haes a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) wi het simmers an cuil winters. Precipitation is signeeficant throughoot the year, but is much hivier aroond the simmer, especially the months o Juin an Julie.

Climate data for Kumamoto, Kumamoto (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record heich °C (°F)	22.5 (72.5)	26.4 (79.5)	27.4 (81.3)	35.5 (95.9)	34.4 (93.9)	36.1 (97.0)	38.8 (101.8)	37.7 (99.9)	37.0 (98.6)	33.7 (92.7)	28.9 (84.0)	24.6 (76.3)	38.8 (101.8)
Average heich °C (°F)	10.5 (50.9)	12.1 (53.8)	15.7 (60.3)	21.3 (70.3)	25.6 (78.1)	28.2 (82.8)	31.7 (89.1)	33.2 (91.8)	29.9 (85.8)	24.6 (76.3)	18.5 (65.3)	13.0 (55.4)	22.0 (71.6)
Average law °C (°F)	1.2 (34.2)	2.3 (36.1)	5.6 (42.1)	10.3 (50.5)	15.2 (59.4)	19.8 (67.6)	24.0 (75.2)	24.4 (75.9)	20.8 (69.4)	14.2 (57.6)	8.3 (46.9)	3.1 (37.6)	12.5 (54.5)
Record law °C (°F)	−9.2 (15.4)	−9.2 (15.4)	−6.9 (19.6)	−2.5 (27.5)	1.3 (34.3)	7.1 (44.8)	14.3 (57.7)	15.3 (59.5)	6.7 (44.1)	0.5 (32.9)	−3.8 (25.2)	−7.9 (17.8)	−9.2 (15.4)
Average rainfaw mm (inches)	60.1 (2.37)	83.3 (3.28)	137.9 (5.43)	145.9 (5.74)	195.5 (7.70)	404.9 (15.94)	400.8 (15.78)	173.5 (6.83)	170.4 (6.71)	79.4 (3.13)	80.6 (3.17)	53.6 (2.11)	1,985.9 (78.19)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.5 mm)	8.6	9.0	12.4	10.9	11.1	14.4	13.5	10.7	10.6	6.9	7.9	8.2	124.2
Average relative humidity (%)	70	67	67	66	68	75	77	73	72	69	72	71	71
Mean monthly sunshine oors	132.6	139.5	158.5	181.4	187.2	141.0	184.5	211.0	175.9	189.7	153.0	147.5	2,001.8
Source #1: Japan Meteorological Agency^[2]
Source #2: Japan Meteorological Agency (records)^[3]