Kawasaki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kawasaki is 14.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1678 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.7 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Kawasaki is as shown below
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1940
24,663
—
1950
37,638
+52.6%
1960
38,974
+3.5%
1970
23,190
−40.5%
1980
22,872
−1.4%
1990
22,046
−3.6%
2000
20,190
−8.4%
2010
18,275
−9.5%
2020
15,176
−17.0%
History
The area of Kawasaki was part of ancient Buzen Province, and was part of the holdings of Kokura Domain during the Edo period. The village of Kawasaki was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on August 15, 1938. On September 20, 1960 the embankment of the Chumotoji River burst due to torrential rains and 67 people were killed when river water flowed into the Toyosu Coal Mine.
Government
Kawasaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Kawasaki, collectively with the other municipalities of Tagawa District contributes two members to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Fukuoka 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
During the Meiji period, Kawasaki, along with the other municipalities of the Chikuho area, developed with the Kitakyushu industrial zone through coal mining, and is still considered part of to the Greater Kitakyushu Metropolitan Area. However, as the demand for coal decreased due to the energy revolution, the coal mines that had sponsored prosperity have closed, leading to depopulation.
Education
Kawasaki has four public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. There is one private high school. There is also a special education school for the handicapped operated by the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education.
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