Adachi Museum gardensruins of Gassan-Toda CastleYasugi city center
Yasugi (安来市, Yasugi-shi) is a city located in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 May 2023[update], the city had an estimated population of 35,965 in 14257 households and a population density of 85 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 420.93 square kilometres (162.52 sq mi).
Geography
Yasugi is located in far eastern Shimane, bordered by the Nakaumi to the north, the Chugoku Mountains to the south and Tottori Prefecture to the east.
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classificationCfa). The average annual temperature in Yasugi is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1828 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.6 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Yasugi has been declining over the past 40 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1940
46,239
—
1950
54,689
+18.3%
1960
52,943
−3.2%
1970
48,382
−8.6%
1980
49,321
+1.9%
1990
48,492
−1.7%
2000
45,255
−6.7%
2010
41,604
−8.1%
History
The area of Yasugi was the center of ancient Izumo, which was a powerful kingdom during the Yayoi and Kofun period. According to legend, the goddess Izanami was buried here. The port at Yasugi on the Nakaumi was a center for trade with the Korean Peninsula from ancient times. Due to plentiful supplies of iron sand and timber, ancient tatara steelmaking flourished and was a source of economic strength.[4] The Yasugi Steel brand name bears the name of the city, and was established by Hitachi Metals, Ltd. During the Sengoku Period, Gassantoda Castle was the stronghold of the Amago clan, and under the Edo PeriodTokugawa shogunate, the area was ruled by Matsue Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Yasugi was established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The city was founded on April 1, 1954, by the merger of Yasugi with the villages of Iinashi, Arashima, Akae, Shimada, and Otsuka. On October 1, 2004, the towns of Hakuta and Hirose (both from Nogi District) were merged into Yasugi.
Government
Yasugi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Yasugi contributes two members to the Shimane Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Shimane 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The local economy is strongly orientated to agriculture.
Education
Yasugi has 17 public elementary school and five public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Shimane Prefectural Board of Education.
The Adachi Museum of Art has a widely known Japanese garden and a collection of contemporary Japanese paintings, comprising approximately 1,300 of the country's most highly regarded paintings produced after the Meiji period and centering on the works of Yokoyama Taikan. In 2021, the gardens of the Adachi Museum were ranked as the best in Japan for the 19th year in a row.[5] There is a free shuttle between JR Yasugi Station and the museum (20 minutes).
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