Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Nagato in 2020 is 32,519 people.

History

The area of Nagato was part of ancient Nagato Province. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Chōshū domain. After the Meiji restoration, the area was divided into eight villages within Ōtsu District, Yamaguchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Senzaki was raised to town status on April 15, 1914, followed by Fukagawa on November 1, 1928. The city of Nagato was established on March 31, 1954 by the merger of

Fukawa and Senzaki, with the villages of Kayoi and Tawarayama. On March 22, 2005 the city annexed the villages of Yuya, Heki and Misumi with the district of Ōtsu dissolved by this merger.

Government

Nagato has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Nagato conributes one member to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Yamaguchi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Between 1993 and 2022, Nagato was represented by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the lower house of the diet.

In the 2017 Japanese general election, 76.25% of Nagato's proportional ballots were cast for either one of the two parties in the conservative ruling coalition (the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito) or one of the two minor LDP-allied conservative parties (Party for Japanese Kokoro) and New Party Daichi), making it the most conservative city in the country for that election under this definition, and the second most conservative municipality overall behind Himeshima, Ōita.

Economy

The main industries in Nagato are commercial fishing, agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing. Fujimitsu Corporation, a manufacturer of fish surimi products, is headquartered in the city. The tourism industry is also a major component of the local economy.

Education

Nagato has 12 public elementary school and five public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private high school.

Transportation

Railway

frameless|20x20px JR West (JR West) - San'in Main Line

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frameless|20x20px JR West (JR West) - San'in Main Line (branch line)

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frameless|20x20px JR West (JR West) - Mine Line

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Highways

  • 25px|link=|alt= San'in Expressway

Noted people from Nagato

  • Kan Abe, politician
  • Misuzu Kaneko, poet

References

  • Nagato City official website