Saito, Miyazaki

Saito (西都市, Saito-shi) is a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

Saito

西都市
City
Flag
Seal
Location of Saito in Miyazaki Prefecture
Saito
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°7′N 131°24′E
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureMiyazaki Prefecture
First official recordedearly 3rd AC
City SettledNovember 1, 1958
Government
 • MayorShuichirō Oshikawa (from February 2017)
Area
 • Total438.79 km2 (169.42 sq mi)
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
 • Total29,262
 • Density67/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
Postal code(s)
881-0000
City hall address2-1 Seiryo-cho, Saito-shi, Miyazaki-ken
881-8501
Websitecity.saito.miyazaki.jp
Symbols
BirdCettia diphone (ウグイス)
FlowerAzalea (ミツバツツジ)
TreeMyrica rubra (ヤマモモ)
Japanese Bayberry
Hitotsuse Dam (1976)

As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 29,262 and a population density of 66.7 persons per km2. The total area is 438.79 km2.

The agricultural products of Saito include green peppers, cucumbers and sweet corn. And the Saito is famous for its eel from Hokita and the Saito Baru Burial Mounds.

Geography

Saito is the 5th largest city in the Miyazaki prefecture. 70% of the city is mountainous, and a river cuts through the city from northwest to southeast. Many other smaller streams cut through the valleys in Saito. Much of the city is covered by mountains and forest (approximately 80%). It is bordered by Kijo Town, Takanabe Town, Shintomi Town in the East and Sadowara Town and Kunitomi Town in the South, and Nango Village and Shiba (椎葉) Village in the north.

  • Mountains: Higuchi Yama (樋口山), Soubugaku (掃部岳)
  • Rivers: Hitotsuse Gawa (一ツ瀬川), Sakura Kawa (桜川)
  • Lakes and Marshes: Komeryoujinzouko (米良人造湖), Chigokeike (稚児ケ池)
  • Dams: Hitotsuse Dam (一ツ瀬ダム, Hitotsuse Damu)

Mythology
Main article: Kojiki

The Kojiki is an ancient manuscript which tells many creation and origin stories which attribute to different traditions and in Saito.

The myth of the all night Kagura dance in Shiromi goes thus: When Amatsuhiko-Hiko-Hononinigi-no-Mikoto (Hononinigi) descended from heaven onto the peak of Mt. Takachiho in a place called Himuka of Tsukushi, with him came many servants and gifts received from the sun god Amaterasu, among the gifts were a sickle, a sword and a mirror.

When he met Konohana-no-Sakuya-Bime (Tree-Blossom-Blooming-Princess), a beautiful princess he asked her father for her hand in marriage and her father agreed sending with her many gifts and her sister Ihanaga-Hime (Eternal-Rock-Princess), Ihanaga-Hime's father wanted to endow Hononinigi's children with long life like that of a rock.

However Hononinigi found Ihanaga-Hime so ugly he sent her back to her father and then proceeded to consummate his marriage with Konohana-no-Sakuya-Bime, which was the first marriage between a deity of earth with one of heaven. On returning home Ihanaga-Hime bemoaning her misfortune threw away a mirror reflecting her own image in its glass, the mirror fell in Shiromi. So the Shiromi shrine is dedicated to Ihanaga-Hime.[1][2]

Festivals and Traditions

Saito City Flower Festival

  • Date: 31 March ~ 8 April
  • Time: 10am - 10pm daily
  • Location: Saitobaru

The Flower Festival is a chance to enjoy Saitobaru's 2000 sakura trees as they flower for the short time at the end of March and beginning of April. Saitobaru is also full of canola plants (菜の花, nanohana).

'Kofun Matsuri'

  • Date: 27th - 29 August
  • Time: 10am -10pm daily
  • Location: Saitobaru

Summer matsuri (festivals) are a regular occurrence and popular summer event all over Japan.

Places of interest

There are many places of interest in Saito. These include shrines, temples, museums and buildings of architectural or historical interest. Saito is perhaps most famous for Saitobaru which is a National Special Historic site and historical research site. Other notable places include Saito's Sports Center, Concert Hall and Irifune Eel Restaurant.

Saitobaru

Saitobaru kofungun is a collection of 9 clusters of tumuli comprising 311 burial mounds which lay on a plateau roughly 4 by 2 km in size, making it one of the largest collections of burial mounds in Japan. It was designated a Special Historic site by the Japanese government in 1952.

Main article: Saitobaru kofungun

Tsuma Temple

Yamajibishamonten

Tonokori Castle Ruins

Sugiyasu

Local Schools

Elementary Schools

  • Tsumakita elementary 妻北小学校
  • Tsumaminami elementary 妻南小学校
  • Sanzai elementary 三財小学校
  • Minoh elementary 三納小学校
  • Yamada bunko elementary 山田分校
  • Chausubaru elementary 茶臼原小学校
  • Shirokami elementary 銀上小学校
  • Tonokouri elementary 都於郡小学校
  • Hokita elementary　穂北小学校

Junior High Schools

  • Tsuma JHS 妻中学校
  • Sanzai JHS 三財中学校
  • Minoh JHS 三納中学校
  • Shiromi JHS 銀鏡中学校
  • Hokita JHS　穂北中学校
  • Tonokouri JHS　都於郡中学校

High Schools

  • Tsuma High School 妻高校
  • Saito Commercial High School 西都商業高校

Colleges

History
YearMonth DayEvent
1924April 1Koyugunshimohokita Village (児湯郡下穂北 ) became Shimohokita( 下穂北) Town.
1924August 1Koyugunshimohokita Town became Tsuma Town
1952March 29Saitobaru Burial Mounds appointed a special historical place
1953July 22The Hibi (日肥) line (Hitoyoshi – Tsuma National Railway bus) opened to traffic。
1958April 1Koyogun—Saito Town, Sanzai Village and Tonokori Village were abolished and replaced by Saito City.
1958September 1Saitobaru and Sugiyasu gorge were appointed as prefectural parks
1958November 1Koyugun—Saito Town became Saito City (And the city was founded).
1962April 1Saito City,　Sanzai Village and Higashinishimera village amalgamated.
1963January 24A large fire on Heisuke (平助通) Street damages 100 houses, injures 418 and kills 4 people.
1963June 4Kyūshū Electric Company's Hitotsuse plant completed.
1964October 27The Shimozuruusu Taiko Dance appeared in a folk art public performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
1966November 17The Fuudoki Hill (風土記の丘) Project began, a project to turn the Saitobaru Burial Mounds into a public park.
1971October 8The Shimozuruusu Taiko dance was appointed a national cultural asset
1979October 16The Emperor visited Saitobaru
1981March 10Ohae kagura was appointed a prefectural cultural asset
1984November 30National Railway's Tsuma line closes after 70 years in service, leaving neighbouring town Sadowara to the west as the closest station on the JR Railway.
1988July 1Sugiyasu River Nakashima Park Opened
1994November 28Mokuzo Yamaji Bishamonten appointed as a prefectural cultural asset
1995May 29Construction began on the Saito-Kiyotake link of the Eastern Kyūshū Motorway
1995JuneSaitobaru burial mounds selected to be part of a national large-scale project to preserve remains
1996November 1木喰上人造仏五体 appointed a prefectural cultural asset.
1998October 1Ceremony to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the city.
1998October 12Maintenance of the Saitobaru Burial mounds and surrounding area selected as part of the Ministry of Home Affairs Reading Project.
2000September 6The ruins of Tonokori Castle were appointed as a National Historical place.
2004April 2555th National Tree Planting ceremony held in Saito city.
2006November20th Saitobaru Kofun Festival takes place.

Translated from the Saito Homepage[3]

Mayors of Saito City
First NameLast NameIn Office From
1st武男 (Takeo)落合 (Ochiai)November 1958
2nd武男 (Takeo)落合 (Ochiai)April 1962
3rd守 (Mamoru)岩倉 (Iwakura)April 1966
4th重美 (Shigemi)中武 (Nakatake)April 1970
5th重美 (Shigemi)中武 (Nakatake)April 1974
6th重美 (Shigemi)中武 (Nakatake)April 1978
7th重美 (Shigemi)中武 (NakatakeApril 1982
8th重美 (Shigemi)中武 (Nakatake)April 1986
9th昭 (Akira)黒田 (Kuroda)February 1989
10th昭 (Akira)黒田 (Kuroda)February 1993
11th昭 (Akira)黒田 (Kuroda)February 1997
12th光幸 (Mitsuyuki)日野 (Nichino)February 2001
13th和実 (Kazumi)橋田 (Hashida)February 2005
14th和実 (Kazumi)橋田 (Hashida)February 2009
15th和実 (Kazumi)橋田 (Hashida)February 2013

Notable People

References
  1. "The Palace of Japanese Myth". nihonsinwa.at.infoseek.co.jp. October 26, 2005. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  2. "Mythology of Miyazaki City" (Press release). Miyazaki City Tourism Association. 1 October 2005.
  3. "西都市の歴史". city.saito.miyazaki.jp. Archived from the original on February 4, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2007.
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