Suzu (珠洲市, Suzu-shi) is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2021[update], the city had an estimated population of 13,531 in 6013 households, and a population density of 54.6 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city was 247.20 square kilometres (95.44 sq mi).
Etymology
Suzu is thought to have been named after Suzu Shrine, an ancient Shinto shrine located in the Awazu area of the city. The name "Suzu" appears in Nara period records; however, the kanji for Suzu (珠洲) is not thought to have been in use until the early Wadō era (713 AD).[2] There is also the theory that the name originates from the Ainu language, as with several other place names in the Noto area.
Suzu has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Suzu is 13.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2234 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.4 °C.[3]
Climate data for Suzu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Per Japanese census data,[6] the population of Suzu has declined steadily over the past 50 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1970
29,224
—
1980
27,351
−6.4%
1990
23,471
−14.2%
2000
19,852
−15.4%
2010
16,300
−17.9%
2020
12,929
−20.7%
History
In ancient times, Suzu prospered as a gateway for trade by sea, establishing connections with places such as Izumo, Sado and Ezo. In turn, Suzu was introduced to ironware culture from a considerably early period in the Izumo era, and even gained crucial agricultural influence and knowledge to develop an agricultural society. In fact, it is thought that such ancient Noto culture originated and spread outwards from the tip of the Noto Peninsula.[citation needed]
In the second year of the Yōrō (718), Noto Province consisting of the 4 districts of Suzu, Fugeshi, Hakui and Noto was established. For a short period of time, the land was claimed as part of Etchū Province. During this period the famous Ōtomo no Yakamochi recited a poem about the picturesque scenery of Suzu Bay, which would later be included in the famous poetry anthology Man'yōshū.
Later in the Kōji period (1143), Noto Provincial Governor Minamoto no Toshikane established Wakayama shōen which grew to become the largest estate in Noto, expanding territory to take over the majority of land in Suzu. Around this time, production of Suzu ware began, which was exported as far as Hokkaido. The area was also noted from ancient times for the production of salt.[7]
Since 2020, the city has been hit by an earthquake swarm.[9] A MJMA 5.4 earthquake in June 2022 injured seven people, damaged a temple and shattered windows.[10][11][12] In May 2023, a MJMA 6.5 earthquake hit the city.[13] One person died, 47 others were injured, 38 houses collapsed, 263 were partially destroyed and 1,825 others were damaged in Suzu, over one-third of the city's housing stock.[14][15] At the beginning of 2024, another earthquake, measuring MJMA 7.6, hit close to Suzu, causing 102 deaths in the city and destroying or severely damaging 5,916 of the city's 6,000 houses.[16]
Government
Suzu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 14 members.
Economy
Industries
Suzu ware large jar, Heian period, 12th century, excavated from Sekiyama-jinja sutra mound, Myōkō, Niigata
Ceramics: portable stoves called shichirin and Suzu ware are the chief ceramic goods produced in the city. Also, diatomaceous earth is found almost anywhere within the city limits, and it has been used for ceramics since the Edo period.
Salt: salt is still manufactured traditionally with evaporation ponds, particularly through the Agehama method of artificially flooded saltpans.
Sake: there are several sake producers in the area, including the Sougen Sake Brewery.
Suzu has seven public elementary schools and four middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates one special education school.
Transportation
Noto Railway's Noto Line ran from Anamizu Station to Suzu's Takojima Station until April 2005, when the line was permanently closed. Today, the city does not have any passenger railway service.[18]
Iida-machi Toroyama Festival (established by the city as an important intangible folk culture asset in 1996)
Houryuu Tanabata Kiriko Festival – Held on the first Saturday of August in Ukai, Houryuu-machi. A 14 meter tall kiriko is carried by a group of young people on their shoulders around the Ukai area in Houryuu-machi. Although the kiriko in Jike, Misaki-machi, is recognized as being the biggest in Japan, the kiriko used in this festival is the largest among kiriko that are carried on the shoulders. In the final stages of the festival, with fireworks in the background, the kiriko is pushed towards the sea and the participants do boisterous dance in the sea around pine torches.
Suzu's mascot is Mitsuketarou (みつけたろう), a fairy from Mitsukejima. Its goal is to promote Suzu to the rest of the country and the world. It became the mascot on 7 November 2011.[20]
^市政施行からの歴史 - 珠洲市ホームページ [History from the establishment of municipal administration]. Suzu City (in Japanese). 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
^"【被害まとめ】震度6弱 石川県珠洲市 午後5時" [[Summary of damage] Seismic intensity 6 lower Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture 5 pm]. NHK News World (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
^"石川県珠洲市で震度6弱 Ｍ5.4、一連の地震活動で最大" [Seismic intensity 6 lower M5.4 in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, maximum in a series of seismic activities]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
^"石川・能登地方で相次ぐ地震 最大で震度5強、けが人は計7人に" [A series of earthquakes in the Ishikawa and Noto regions, with a maximum seismic intensity of 5 or higher, with a total of 7 injured]. The Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 June 2022.
^"令和５年奥能登地震による被害等の状況について（第５６報） 危機管理監室【令和５年７月３日１３時００分現在】" [Regarding the status of damage caused by the 2020 Oku-Noto Earthquake (56th report) Crisis Management Office [As of 13:00, July 3, 2023]] (PDF) (in Japanese). Crisis Management Office, Ishikawa Prefecture. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
^"珠洲を茶道炭の一大産地に 大野長一郎さん" [Making Suzu a major producer of tea ceremony charcoal: Mr. Choichiro Ohno]. Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). Tokyo. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
^"のと鉄道能登線（廃止）". www.pcpulab.mydns.jp. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
