Tsushima (???, Tsushima-shi) is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is the only city of Tsushima Subprefecture and it encompasses all of Tsushima Island Archipelago, which lies in the Tsushima Strait north of Nagasaki on the western side of Kyushu, the southernmost mainland island of Japan.
As of March 2017, the city has an estimated population of 31,550 and a population density of 45 persons per km2. Its total area is 708.61 km2, 17.3% of the area of Nagasaki Prefecture.
Video Tsushima, Nagasaki
History
An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Izuhara, Sasuna and Shishimi as open ports for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom.
On April 1, 1975, Toyotama Village was promoted to the status of a town. Mine Village was also elevated to the status of a town in the following year.
The modern city of Tsushima was established on March 1, 2004, from the merger of six towns on Tsushima Island: Izuhara, Mitsushima and Toyotama (all from Shimoagata District), and Mine, Kamiagata and Kamitsushima (all from Kamiagata District). Both districts were dissolved as a result of this merger.
Maps Tsushima, Nagasaki
Geography
The city of Tsushima is located on Tsushima Island and other small neighbouring islands, lying slightly to the west side of Tsushima Strait, south of the Sea of Japan and north-east of the East China Sea. The island also lies between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese mainland. Its coastline has a total length of 915 km. Aso Bay, a prominent bay with a rias coastline, is located between the islands. Tsushima lies about 60 km from Iki, 138 km from the city of Fukuoka, and 49.5 km from Busan, South Korea.
Islands
Several other islands encompass Tsushima city, in addition to Kamino-shima and Shimono-shima, both of which makes up the Tsushima Island(s):
- Santsu-jima (???)
- Shimayama-jima (???)
Flora and fauna
Tsushima cat
Native to the island is the Tsushima cat (or Tsushima leopard cat, an endemic sub-species of the leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis). Present on the islands since ancient times, its numbers have decreased sharply, and it is now listed as an endangered species. As of 2009, it was estimated that only 80 to 100 animals remain.
Climate
Tsushima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is much heavier in summer than in winter.
Demographics and culture
The population of Tsushima Island has been decreasing significantly. Between the years of 1995 and 2000, the decline was 5.2%. As nuclear families replace the traditional extended families, the average household is smaller, as is the total population. The elderly comprise nearly a quarter of the population here, compared to 20.8% of the Nagasaki Prefecture as a whole, and 17.3% of the population of Japan.
Religious traditions on Tsushima Island mirror those of the rest of Japan, with a majority of the population adhering to Buddhism or Shinto.
Economy
Tsushima is ideally located for fishing, and many Tsushima residents are employed as fishermen. It is also famous for its pearl culture. The natural beauty of the Tsushima Islands ensures there is much to see and the tourism industry is quite substantial. Beaches are crowded with tourists in the summer.
Tourism
Tsushima Island is known for its wildlife. Tsushima offers adventure packages catering primarily to South Koreans. These are generally guided adventure tours consisting of hiking and fishing. Vacation packages are generally booked through South Korean tour agencies. Local English speakers are extremely rare in Tsushima. However, some hotels offer a telephone English translating service. The port town of Izuhara, the point of debarkation for boats arriving from Busan, South Korea, consists of a handful of modern hotels and restaurants. Seafood is plentiful, prices relatively low, and most restaurants keep their supplies submerged in the ocean within netted cages.
Transportation
Airport
- Tsushima Airport (TSJ)
Seaport
Tsushima has two sea ports, Izuhara and Hitakatsu. Ferries cross to the port of Hakata on Ky?sh? a few times per day. Ferries also travel a few times a week to Busan in South Korea.
Sister cities
- Guam (United States of America)
- Busan (South Korea)
See also
- History of Japan
- Oei Invasion (?????)
- Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)
- Battle of Tsushima
- So clan
- Tsushima Fuchu domain
Notes
External links
- Tsushima City English Webpage
- A Profile of Tsushima city
Japanese
- Map of Tsushima, general overview
- Tsushima's Statistics
- Tsushima Airport
- Old pictures of Tsushima
- Tsushima Tourist and Product Society
Korean
- Tsushima Tourist and Product Society
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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