Susaki, Kōchi
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Template:Nihongo is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. Template:As of, the city had an estimated population of 20‚429 in 10672 households and a population density of 150 persons per km2.<ref name="Susaki-hp">Template:Cite web</ref> The total area of the city is Template:Convert.
Geography
Susaki is located in central Kōchi Prefecture, facing Tosa Bay of the Pacific Ocean to the south and bordered by mountains to the north. Most of the city area is forest. The coastline is intricate, with deep coves such as Uranouchi Bay and Susaki Bay.
Neighbouring municipalities
Kōchi Prefecture
Climate
Susaki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Susaki is Template:Convert. The average annual rainfall is Template:Cvt with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around Template:Convert, and lowest in January, at around Template:Convert.<ref name=normals/> The highest temperature ever recorded in Susaki was Template:Cvt on 8 August 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was Template:Cvt on 26 February 1981.<ref name=extremes/> Template:Weather box
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Susaki in 2020 is 20,590 people.<ref name=zensus/> Susaki has been conducting censuses since 1920. Template:Historical populations
History
As with all of Kōchi Prefecture, the area of Susaki was part of ancient Tosa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by the Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Susaki was established within Takaoka District, Kōchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1954.
Government
Susaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members. Susaki contributes one member to the Kōchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kōchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Agriculture and commercial fishing are mainstays of the local economy, with charcoal production and cement also major contributors.
Education
Susaki has eight public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high schools operated by the Kōchi Prefectural Department of Education. There is also one private combined middle and high school.
Transportation
Railway
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Shikoku Railway Company - Dosan Line
Highways
Sister cities
- Template:Flagicon Castanhal, Pará, Brazil, since October 1, 1979
- Template:Flagicon Tauranga, New Zealand, since December 19, 1997
Local attractions
- Tosa Domain Battery site, National Historic Site
In popular media
Susaki's official mascot is Shinjo-kun, a Japanese river otter wearing a hot pot ramen dish for a hat. Japanese river otter is an extinct variety of otter, that was last documented in the mouth of the Shinjo River in Susaki.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Susaki has hit the worldwide press due to an unofficial mascot, also an otter, named Chiitan. Chiitan is somewhat violent, but in a humorous way. A 2019 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver discussed the humor of Chiitan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2019, Chiitan was banned from Twitter for inflammatory content.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> There is speculation that this disturbing but amusing content can help the city of Susaki, either by attracting tourists or because Japanese can donate a portion of their taxes to cities where they are not resident.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>