Shiiba, Miyazaki

right|270px|thumb|traditional house in Shiiba

right|270px|thumb|festival in Shiiba

is a village located in Higashiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. , the village had an estimated population of 2299 in 1023 households, and a population density of 4.3 persons per km². The total area of the village is .

Geography

Shiiba is a small, mountainous village situated in northwest Miyazaki prefecture, on the border with Kumamoto Prefecture. The entire area is surrounded by mountains ranging from 1,000 to 1,700 meters above sea level in the central Kyushu Mountains, including Mt. Kunimi in the northwest, and numerous rivers originate and flow through the valleys. Most of the village area is in the headwaters of the Mimi River, but the southern part of the village straddles the headwaters of the Hitotsuse and Komaru rivers. Due to the extremely rugged terrain, the habitable land area is only 4% of the village area, and villages exist scattered along rivers and on gentle slopes, mainly in the middle of mountains. The main area of Shiiba village (known as Kami-Shiiba) itself is quite small, however, several small hamlets surround the village to make up the area/region known as Shiiba. There are also a few dams located in the area, the main one being the Kamishiiba Dam which can be found in close proximity to Shiiba Secondary School. Due to its many rivers, waterfalls, and forests, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the village is within the borders of the Kyūshū Chūō Sanchi Quasi-National Park.

Due to the remote, natural, cool environment of Shiiba, it is home to many kinds of wildlife. Although many of the native animals are rarely seen during the day, they can often be seen very early in the morning or at night, especially when driving. Shiiba is home to a large number of tanuki or raccoon dogs that live in the nearby forests and often come out at night to look for food.There are also a great number of wild boar in the area and they also come out at night and sometimes during the day to look for food.A large population of Sika deer also live in the Shiiba area. These animals are seldom seen, however, when they are spotted they will run off and disappear into the forest. This usually occurs during the early morning, dusk or at night time. In the late evening their cries can be heard all over Shiiba. Despite this, they have been known to jump in front of cars when startled and have caused a few accidents in the past. This is however, an uncommon occurrence. Both wild boar meat and deer meat are local delicacies that are often sold during the Heike festival (see below) and are sometimes served during special events and parties in the village.

The region is also host to a large number of insect groups. Although their numbers dwindle in the colder times of the year and are rarely seen, many are present during the summer months. A large number of Mantis can be seen during this period all over the village usually lying in wait to capture smaller insects for food. The summer also brings in a large number of butterflies, including large, almost hand-sized ones, that can be seen all over the place usually flying near plants and flowers. These can be seen in abundance around the local schools as many Japanese schools grow and keep flowers on their premises. During the summer months a variety of beetles can be found including rhinoceros beetles and the Japanese rhinoceros beetle. These large insects usually live underground and in cool, damp areas, hence they are not always easily seen. Many children in Japan, catch or buy these to breed or study them. Much like butterflies, they can be encountered around schools. Cockroaches can occasionally be seen during the humid periods of the summer months, however, they are not as common as they are in other parts of Japan. Cicadas can seldom be seen but can always be heard in the summer. As Shiiba has a number of rivers, waterfalls and reservoirs, a number of frogs and toads can be seen around the town during the summer months. As with cicadas they can often be heard more than seen. However, during the rainy season they have been known to swarm across several roads en masse on their way to their breading grounds so care should be taken.

Neighbouring municipalities

Kumamoto Prefecture

• Kizukami
• Yamato
• Yatsushiro

Miyazaki Prefecture

• Gokase
• Misato
• Morotsuka
• Nishimera
• Saito

Climate

The winters can be very cold, especially in the Okawachi area, with heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures. Although it changes slightly every year, it annually snows from the period starting from mid to late December until February. During this time most locals have to change their car tires to ones equipped with stronger treading (snow tires). This reduces the chance of slipping on the roads and makes it easier to drive up the more hilly, steep and occasionally exposed roads in the region. In summer Shiiba has high humidity and regular rains as result of the typhoon season. But, due to its central location within Kyushu, Shiiba tends to be protected by the surrounding mountain ranges and is relatively unaffected for the most part. However like many mountainous regions of Japan landslides have been known to occur, and during the period care should be taken as rivers and dams will be swollen. For most of the year Shiiba is relatively a cool compared to other parts of Miyazaki and Kyushu. This is directly due to its location in Kyushu, the slightly higher altitude, and the surrounding mountains and forests which keep it sheltered.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Shiiba has declined over the past 60 years.