Tsukumi, Ōita

Tsukumi (津久見市) is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 15,492 in 7666 households, and a population density of 190 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 79.48 km2. Although it has the smallest population among the cities in Ōita Prefecture, it has the third highest population density after Ōita City and Beppu City.

Geography
Tsukumi is located in southeastern Ōita Prefecture, approximately 30 kilometers southeast of the prefectural capital at Ōita City. The eastern side faces the Bungo Channel and surrounds Tsukumi Bay, which is part of the Bungo Channel, from three sides, and the northern half of the Youra Peninsula on the south side of the bay and the southern half of the Nagame Peninsula on the north side.

Neighboring municipalities
Ōita Prefecture
 * Saiki
 * Usuki

Climate
Tsukumi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tsukumi is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1759 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.5 °C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Tsukumi has declined in recent decades.

History
The area of Tsukumi was part of ancient Bungo Province. According to legend Emperor Jimmu climbed Mount Suisho in Tsukumi and offered mandarin oranges to the people. Historical records indicate that mandarin oranges were cultivated in the area from around 740 AD. During the Edo period the area was divided between Usuki Domain and Saiki Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Tsukumi (津組村) within Minamiamabe District, Ōita was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on January 1, 1921, changing the kanji of its name to the present characters. It was raised to city status on April 1, 1951.

Government
Tsukumi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 12 members. Tsukumi contributes one member to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
The economy of Tsukumi is center around limestone quarries and cement manufacturing. West of the city is the Todaka Mine, one the biggest limestone quarries in Japan. The limestone is used in the Tsukumi cement plant owned by the Taiheiyo Cement Corporation.

Education
Tsukumi has five public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the city government. The city has one public high school operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education.

Railways
JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line
 * Tsukumi - Hishiro

Notable people from Tsukumi

 * Yasuei Yakushiji, former professional boxer