Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ebino in 2020 is 17,638 people.

History

The area of Ebino was part of ancient Hyūga Province, and during the Edo period was completely within the borders of Satsuma Domain. In 1871, with the abolition of the han system, the area was incorporated into Kagoshima Prefecture, but was later transferred to Miyazaki Prefecture. The villages of Iino, Kakuto and Masayuki within Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Iino was raised to town status on April 3, 1940, followed by Masayuki on April 1, 1950 and Kakuto on February 11, 1955. The three towns merged to form the town of Ebino on November 3, 1966. The Ebino earthquake occurred on February 21, 1968, killing three inhabitants and injuring 42. Ebino was raised to city status on December 1, 1970.

Government

Ebino has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members. Ebino contributes one member to the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Miyazaki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is overwhelmingly agricultural. Ebino produces a wide range of food products, from shōchū to sweets, tea, honey, mushrooms, chicken and pork. Locally produced crafts include Ebino-yaki pottery and bamboo craftwork, among others.

Education

Ebino has four public elementary schools and three public junior high schools and one combined elementary/junior high school operated by the city, and one public high school operated by the Miyazaki Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school. The * Ebino-Kōgen International College closed on April 1, 2009.

Transportation

Railways

frameless|20x20px JR Kyushu - Kitto Line

  • - - -

frameless|20x20px JR Kyushu - Hisatsu Line

Highways

  • 25px|link=|alt= Kyūshū Expressway
  • 25px|link=|alt= Miyazaki Expressway

Sister cities

  • Belton, Texas, United States, sister city since April 21, 1994

Local attractions

Major festivals and events

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Date

! Event

! Location

! Description

|-

| Jan 1st

| First Sunrise of the Year (初日の出 Hatsuhi No De)

| Yatake Highlands Belton, Texas Auto Campground (矢岳高原ベルトンオートキャンプ場 Yatake Kōgen Beruton Ōtokyanpu Jō)

| A high-altitude view of the first sunrise of the year is possible from the Yatake Highlands Belton Auto Campground.

|-

| Jan 7th

| Takehashi Rakashi (竹はしらかし)

| Various locations throughout the city

| The sound of green bamboo burning drives away misfortune and participants pray for one year of health and longevity. <!-- it is uncertain to me from the Japanese the exact role in the sound of burning bamboo: does the sound itself drive away misfortune? is it important that the prayer is conducted to the sound of the bamboo or is the burning bamboo itself the prayer? -->

|-

| January 17

| Mokkanjin (餅勧進)

| Various locations throughout the city

| Mokkanjin is a tradition to drive misfortune away from people who have turned an unlucky age (厄年 yakudoshi) (usually 42 for men and 33 for women). We pray for good health and a safe, peaceful home. The individual who has turned an unlucky age forms a group of five or six people. They put on makeup and costumes and then tour the neighborhood, barging in on friends and relatives with loud music and dancing. While the tradition is for these friends and relatives to then offer gifts of mochi 餅) to the group, money or shōchū (焼酎) have become more common recently.

|-

| First Saturday in February

| Kyomachi Two-Day Market (京町二日市 Kyōmachi Futsukaichi)

| The streets in front of Kyomachi Onsen Station (京町温泉駅 Kyōmachi Onsen Eki)

| This historic event is the largest market in southern Kyūshū. Approximately 450 shops offering items such as plants, antiques, and specialty products line the streets in front of Kyomachi station. Around 25,000 people come annually for this approximately two kilometers of shopping.

|-

| First Saturday in March

| Ino Garden Market (飯野植木市 Īno Ueki Ichi)

| Ino Shopping District (飯野町区商店街 Īno Chō Ku Shōtengai)

| This event is a well-known reminder of spring. Approximately 100 local shops and booths, including 30 gardening tool shops line the streets. <!-- 春の風物詩としてえびの市内外で広く親しまれている恒例の植木市。植え器官系約30店舗をはじめとして、地元、露天商合わせて約100店舗の出店で賑う。 -->

|-

| Beginning of March

| Uchiue Festival (打植祭 Uchiue Matsuri)

| Katori Shrine (香取神社 Katori Jinjya), Amenomiya Shrine (天宮神社 Amenomiya Jinja)

| This is an approximately 400-year-old harvest festival. According to legend, the Deity of Women and the Deity of Men meet for a secret date once a year at this time. The festival centers around the performance of a play called Uchiue (打植). In April 2001, this festival was designated by Miyazaki Prefecture as a spiritual and cultural treasure.

<!-- 約400年前から伝わる五穀豊穣の祭。男女の神が年に1度逢瀬を果たすという言い伝えがある。狂言「」は見もの。平成13年4月に県無形民俗文化財に指定。 -->

|-

| March 24 - April 8

| Cherry Tree Lighting

| Yahataoka Park (八幡丘公園 Yahataoka Kōen)

| Paper lanterns, 2,000 cherry trees, and 200 Camellia japonica (Tsubaki) 椿) flowers are illuminated for evening viewing.

<!-- 2,000本もの桜、200本の椿の花が鮮やか。ぼんぼり点灯とライトアップで夜桜も楽しめる。-->

|-

| April 15

| Kibatto Forest Bamboo Shoot Harvest (きばっど村竹の子狩り Kibatto Mura Take No Ko Gari)

| Ue Okobira District (上大河平地区 Ue Okobira Chiku)

| This event was revived by the Ue Okobira District community revitalization volunteer group, Kibatto Mura (きばっと村 Kibatto Mura).<!-- 4月15日 きばっど村 竹の子狩り 上大河平地区 上大河平地区の有志の村おこしグループ「きばっど村」が行う、竹林を活かしたイベント。-->

|-

| April 8

| Mount Karakuni (韓国岳 Karakuni Dake) Climbing Season Opener

| Ebino Highlands Mount Karakuni Climb Start Point (えびの高原韓国岳登山口 Ebino Kōgen Karakuni Dake Tozan Guchi)

| Prayers are spoken for a safe mountain climbing season. <!-- 参加者には、温泉通行手形をプレゼント。 --> <!-- 登山シーズンの安全祈願を行う。参加者には、温泉通行手形をプレゼント。 -->

|-

| April 22

| Kyomachi Onsen Fun Run (京町温泉マラソン大会 Kyōmachi Onsen Marason Taikai)

| Kyomachi Onsen Village (京町温泉郷 Kyōmachi Onsen Kyō)

| <!-- 「走って、温泉に浸かって」を合言葉に、川内川や霧島連山を眺めながら走り、京町温泉に入って春のひとときを楽しみませんか。 -->

|-

| May 4

| Kizakipara Battle Memorial (木崎原古戦場供養祭 Kizakipara Kosenjō Kuyō Matsuri)

| Ikejima District (池島地区 Ikejima Chiku)

| This festival is a memorial for the soldiers of the Shimadu (島津) and Satsuma (伊藤) clans who died at Kizakipara. Kizakipara is considered by some to have been the unifying battle of Kyūshū. <!-- 九州の関が原の戦といわれる木崎原合戦で戦死した島津藩・伊藤藩の武者を弔う供養祭-->

|-

| May 8

| Battokannon Festival (馬頭観音祭 Battōkannon Matsuri)

| Yahataoka Park (八幡丘公園 Yahataoka Kōen) (and other locations)

| In this festival, residents express gratitude to their livestock and pray for their health. The origin of this festival, Battokannon, is located in Rokkannon Oike (六観音御池). <!-- 家畜の無病息災を祈願し、家畜に感謝する行事で、市内各地でも行われる。起源となる馬頭観音は、えびの高原の六観音御池にある。 -->

|-

| Mid-July

| Kyomachi Onsen Summer Festival (京町温泉夏祭り Kyōmachi Onsen Natsu Matsuri)

| Kawauchi River Kyomachi Riverbed (川内川京町河川敷 Kawauchi Gawa Kyōmachi Kasenshiki)

| Fireworks Festival <!-- 観光客と市民が一体となって楽しむ花火大会。-->

|-

| July 28

| Cow Jumping Festival (牛越祭 Ushigoe Matsuri)

| Nishigawakita District (西川北区 Nishigawakita Ku) Sugawara Shrine (菅原神社 Sugahwara Jinja) Grounds

| Gratitude is expressed for the health of livestock in this rare celebration. With over 300 years of tradition, this festival has become a cherished spiritual and cultural symbol of Miyazaki Prefecture. During this festival, cows are encouraged to leap over a log raised above the ground. Participants pray that the gods will notice this display of energy and health and protect their livestock.

|-

| Beginning of August

| Taiko (太鼓 Taiko) Festival

| Ebino International Center (えびの市国際交流センター Ebino Shi Kokusai Kōryū Sentā)

| Taiko drumming teams from Ebino and beyond come together to compete.

|-

| August 26

| Odaiko Odori (大太鼓踊り Ōdaiko Odori)

| Nishi Nagaeura District (西長江浦地区 Nishi Nagaeura Chiku) Suwa Jinja (諏訪神社 Suwajinja)

| Also known as the Ubaccho (ウバッチョ Ubaccho) or 大ばち dance. This festival is about 420 years old. Performers carry and play taiko drums 120&nbsp;cm across while dancing.

|-

| September 23

| Shiratori Sight-Seeing Festival (白鳥観光祭 Shiratori Kankō Matsuri)

| Shiratori Shrine Grounds (白鳥神社境内 Shiratori Jinja Keidai)

| Approximately 400 elementary and junior high school students from through the Nishimorokata Region (西諸県郡 Nishimoro Katagun). gather for a kendo tournament.

|-

| September 23

| Kanamatsu Hōnen Festival (金松法然祭 Kanamatsu Hōnen Sai)

| Kurishita District (栗下地区 Kurishita Chiku) Plaza

| <!-- 「一言さぁ」「焼酎法然」の名で親しまれている法然様の命日に開催される祭。郷土芸能などが披露される。-->

|-

| September 30

| International Festival (国際交流フェスティバル Kokusai Kōryū Fuesuteibaru)

| International Center Outdoor Stage (国際交流センター野外ステージ Kokusai Kōryū Sentā Yagai Sutēji)

| A tug-of-war competition as well as a variety of shops are the main attractions in this event <!-- 市内外の外国人と『綱引き』を行い、交流を深めるイベント。物産展も開かれる。-->

|-

| End of October

| Ebino Autumn Festival (えびの秋季観光際 Ebino Shuki Kankō Sai)

| Green Park Ebino

| Blooming cosmos, paragliding, canoeing, local shops, fishing, and musical performances are part of this festival. <!-- 公園内のコスモスが咲くなか、パラグライダー、カヌー、物産展、フリーマーケット、魚のつかみ取り、バンド演奏などを行う。-->

|-

| Beginning of December

| Ice Skating Opener

| Ebino Highlands Ice Skating Rink (えびの高原アイススケート場 Ebino Kōgen Aisusukēto Jō)

| Season opening of Japan's southernmost outdoor ice rink. <!-- 日本最南端の屋外スケートリンクのシーズンイン。初心者スケート教室などが行われる。-->

|-

| Mid-December

| Illumination

| Ino Intersection (飯野交差点 Īno Kōsaten)

| <!-- 年末年始にかけてイルミネーションが輝く。-->

|}

Facilities

  • Ebino Cultural Center
  • Ebino International Center
  • Ebino VLF transmitter, a large facility for broadcasting messages to submerged submarines.

References