Usa, Ōita

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Usa in 2020 is 52,771 people.

History

The area of Usa was the southeastern tip of the former Buzen Province and on the border with the former Bungo Province. The name "Usa" appears in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki and Emperor Jimmu visited Usa prior to departing to the east for his conquest of Yamato. Due to the economic and political power of Usa Jingū, no samurai clan was able to dominate the area until the Sengoku period during which time it became a battleground between the Ōuchi clan and Ōtomo clan and later the Shimazu clan. Under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Buzen province became the territory of Kuroda Yoshitaka, who constructed Nakatsu Castle. During the Edo period it was mostly tenryō administered directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, with smaller areas under control of Nakatsu Domain, Shimabara Domain and Usa Jingū. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Usa within Usa District, Ōita was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

On April 1, 1955 Kitsuki merged with the villages of Yasaka, Kita-Kitsuki and, Nakarie and was raised to city status. On October 1, 2005 Kitsuki merged with the town of Yamaka from Hayami District and the village of Ota from Nishikunisaki District, Ōita. On April 1, 1967 Usa merged with the towns of Ekigawa, Yokkaichi, and Nagasu to form the city of Usa. On March 31, 2005, the towns of Ajimu and Innai (both from Usa District) were merged into Usa.

During World War II, the Usa Naval Air Group (宇佐海軍航空隊, Usa Kaigun Koukūtai) was stationed at an airbase in Usa. Towards the end of the war, the airbase was used to launch kamikaze attacks against American forces. It was subject to B-29 air raids in 1945 which led to the destruction of many of the airfield's facilities and caused the deaths of many soldiers and civilians.

thumb|[[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|A6M Zero bunker at the former Usa airbase]]

Government

Usa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 21 members. Usa contributes three members to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Usa remains largely agricultural. It has close economic ties with neighboring Nakatsu, and belongs to the urban employment area (10% commuting area) of the Nakatsu metropolitan area.

Education

Usa has 24 public elementary schools and seven public junior high schools operated by the city government and three public high schools operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private high school.

Transportation

Railways

frameless|20x20px JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line

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Highways

25px|link=|alt= Higashikyushu Expressway

Local attractions

thumb|upright=1.2|West gate of Usa Shrine

Futaba no Sato, a museum dedicated to sumo wrestler Futabayama Sadaji, is located in the city. There is a statue outside the museum, built by the government in 1999, depicting the names and hand prints of three sumo wrestlers who have won more than 60 competitive bouts. In addition to Futubayama, Tanikaze Kajinosuke and Hakuhō Shō are represented on the statue.