Isen, Kagoshima

{{Infobox settlement  | name = Isen | official_name = Isen chō | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|伊仙町}}}} | other_name = Isyn | native_name_lang = ja | settlement_type = Town  | image_skyline = Intabu cape.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = Cape Itabu | image_flag = Flag of Isen, Kagoshima.svg | flag_alt = | image_seal = Emblem of Isen, Kagoshima.svg | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | image_blank_emblem = | nickname = | motto =  | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | mapframe-point = none | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Isen in Kagoshima Prefecture | pushpin_map = Japan | pushpin_label_position =  | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption =   | coordinates = {{coord|27|40|24|N|128|56|16|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint =  | coordinates_footnotes =   | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Japan | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Kyushu (Amami Islands) | subdivision_type2 = Prefecture | subdivision_name2 = Kagoshima | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 = Ōshima  | established_title =  | established_date = | founder = | named_for =  | seat_type =  | seat =  | government_footnotes =  | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 =   | total_type =  | unit_pref =   | area_magnitude =  | area_footnotes =  | area_total_km2 = 62.71 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note =  | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m =  | population_footnotes =  | population_total = 6,137 | population_as_of = November 30, 2024 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_demonym =  | population_note =  | timezone1 = Japan Standard Time | utc_offset1 = +9 | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST =  | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type =  | area_code =  | blank_name_sec1 = Phone number | blank_info_sec1 = 0997-86-3111 | blank1_name_sec1 = Address | blank1_info_sec1 = 891-8293 Kagoshima-ken Ōshima-gun Isen-chō Isen 1842  | blank_name_sec2 = Climate | blank_info_sec2 = Cfa  | website = {{Official website|1=www.town.isen.kagoshima.jp}} | footnotes = | module = {{Infobox region symbols| embedded=yes | tree = Ficus microcarpa | flower = Hibiscus | bird = | flowering_tree = | butterfly = | fish = | other_symbols = }} }} right|thumb|280px|Isen Town Hall {{nihongo|'''Isen'''|伊仙町|Isen chō|Tokunoshima: {{transliteration|ryu|Isyn}}|lead=yes}} is a town located on Tokunoshima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. {{As of |2024|11|30}}, the town had an estimated population of 6,137 in 3048 households and a population density of 10 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Isen-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.town.isen.kagoshima.jp|title=Isen town official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the village is {{cvt|62.71|km2}}.

==Geography== Isen occupies the southwestern tip of the island of Tokunoshima, with the East China Sea to the west and Pacific Ocean to the east. Most of the area is outside the mountainous areas of Tokunoshima, and it has the highest percentage of arable land area among the three towns on Tokunoshima. However, it is mainly made up of Ryukyu limestone, and its water conditions are the worst among the three towns. There are many limestone caves in the town. A major feature of the karst topography of Isen is that rivers are characterized by the fact that they go underground, carving deep valleys, and then emerge above ground to carve deep valleys again. The coastline is filled with coral reefs and oddly shaped rocks caused by marine erosion. Parts of the town were designated as part of the Amami Guntō National Park in 2017.

===Surrounding municipalities=== *Amagi *Tokunoshima

===Climate=== The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification ''Cfa'') with very warm summers and mild winters (average temperature {{convert|21.1|C}}). Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. Because of its climate, tropical and sub-tropical fruits are in abundance.

{{Weather box |width= auto |collapsed = Y |single line = Y |metric first = Y |location = Isen (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) |Jan record high C = 24.4 |Feb record high C = 24.6 |Mar record high C = 26.6 |Apr record high C = 28.1 |May record high C = 30.8 |Jun record high C = 33.0 |Jul record high C = 34.8 |Aug record high C = 35.2 |Sep record high C = 34.0 |Oct record high C = 32.5 |Nov record high C = 29.7 |Dec record high C = 27.0 |Jan record low C = 4.6 |Feb record low C = 5.3 |Mar record low C = 4.1 |Apr record low C = 9.0 |May record low C = 13.3 |Jun record low C = 16.1 |Jul record low C = 19.1 |Aug record low C = 21.4 |Sep record low C = 19.0 |Oct record low C = 13.4 |Nov record low C = 10.5 |Dec record low C = 6.5 |Jan high C = 18.3 |Feb high C = 18.6 |Mar high C = 20.5 |Apr high C = 22.9 |May high C = 25.7 |Jun high C = 28.4 |Jul high C = 31.4 |Aug high C = 31.6 |Sep high C = 30.4 |Oct high C = 27.4 |Nov high C = 23.9 |Dec high C = 20.1 |Jan mean C = 15.2 |Feb mean C = 15.5 |Mar mean C = 17.3 |Apr mean C = 19.7 |May mean C = 22.6 |Jun mean C = 25.5 |Jul mean C = 28.3 |Aug mean C = 28.4 |Sep mean C = 27.1 |Oct mean C = 24.3 |Nov mean C = 20.9 |Dec mean C = 17.0 |Jan low C = 12.3 |Feb low C = 12.6 |Mar low C = 14.2 |Apr low C = 16.8 |May low C = 20.0 |Jun low C = 23.5 |Jul low C = 26.0 |Aug low C = 26.0 |Sep low C = 24.6 |Oct low C = 21.7 |Nov low C = 18.3 |Dec low C = 14.3 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 104.9 |Feb precipitation mm = 99.0 |Mar precipitation mm = 154.8 |Apr precipitation mm = 162.7 |May precipitation mm = 208.0 |Jun precipitation mm = 349.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 170.6 |Aug precipitation mm = 174.6 |Sep precipitation mm = 189.7 |Oct precipitation mm = 162.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 113.0 |Dec precipitation mm = 98.8 |year precipitation mm = 1987.4 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 11.3 |Feb precipitation days = 10.6 |Mar precipitation days = 12.3 |Apr precipitation days = 11.4 |May precipitation days = 12.4 |Jun precipitation days = 13.3 |Jul precipitation days = 7.6 |Aug precipitation days = 11.3 |Sep precipitation days = 12.5 |Oct precipitation days = 9.6 |Nov precipitation days = 9.0 |Dec precipitation days = 11.0 |Jan sun = 91.8 |Feb sun = 87.2 |Mar sun = 112.2 |Apr sun = 125.2 |May sun = 129.7 |Jun sun = 131.5 |Jul sun = 236.0 |Aug sun = 228.2 |Sep sun = 186.2 |Oct sun = 164.3 |Nov sun = 128.4 |Dec sun = 102.5 |year sun = 1724.5 |source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=88&block_no=1139&year=1978&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=88&block_no=1139&year=1978&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 15, 2022}}</ref>}}

===Demographics=== Per Japanese census data, the population of Isen is as shown below:

{{Historical populations | 1940 | 13725 | 1950 | 17190 | 1960 | 16234 | 1970 | 12,142 | 1980 | 10,318 | 1990 | 8,821 | 2000 | 7,769 | 2010 | 6,844 | 2020 | 6,139 |align = none | footnote = }}

==History== Archaeological sites have revealed historic ruins (pottery and tools) dating back 30,000 years. The now famous Kamuiyaki ware were discovered in 1983 and declared a National Historic Site in 2006. The findings suggest that the Sue ware pottery that spread around the Ryukyu Islands and up into the Kyushu mainland were largely made in Tokunoshima. From the 15 Century, Tokushima was part of Kingdom of Ryukyu but was annexed by Kagoshima Domain in the early 17 Century.

On April 1, 1908, the village of Shimajiri Village was founded with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was renamed Isen on June 29, 1921. As with all of Tokunoshima, the village came under the administration of the United States from 1 July 1946 to 25 December 1953. On 1 January 1962, Isen was upgraded to town status.

==Government== Isen has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 14 members. Isen, collectively with the other municipalities of Oshima District, contributes two members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kagoshima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

== Economy == While mountainous in the north, the majority of land is relatively flat and arable, making Isen a prime location for agriculture. Isen's main agricultural products include sugar cane, potatoes, pumpkins, horticulture, and fruit trees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.100-sai.jp/ |title=Home |website=100-sai.jp}}</ref>

==Education== Isen has eight public elementary school and three public junior high schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.town.isen.kagoshima.jp/school.php |title=伊仙町公式サイト｜くらし情報：学校 |website=www.town.isen.kagoshima.jp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220021348/http://www.town.isen.kagoshima.jp/school.php |archive-date=2010-02-20}}</ref>

==Transportation== ===Railways=== Isen, as with the rest of Tokunoshima, does not have any passenger railway services.

=== Highways === Isen is not located on any national highway or expressway.

==Local attractions== Isen has numerous sightseeing locations, including the Kamyuiki Ruins, Cape Inutabu, Yamamoto War Memorial, Seta-umi Beach, Kinenbama Beach, and a historical museum showcasing many of the archaeological discoveries found in Isen.

Among historical sites is Shigechiyo Izumi's (泉重千代) grave site. Shigechiyo was Isen's oldest resident, being born on June 29, 1865, and dying February 21, 1986, making him 120 years old at the time of his death. He was inducted into the ''Guinness Book of World Records'' for being the oldest living person alive; however subsequent research has brought into question his birth date. He is now widely considered to have lived until he was 105 years old, putting his real birthday as June 29, 1880.

Isen is also famous for ''Tōgyū'' (bullfighting). Different from western bullfighting, in Tōgyū two bulls fight each other while people cheer them on. There are four main tournaments held every year: January (New Year Tournament), May (Golden Week Tournament), August, and October (All Tokunoshima Championship). [http://www.tokunoshima.biz/Bullfight/bull_indexn.html]

==Noted people from Isen== *Shigechiyo Izumi – Japanese centenarian

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} *[http://www.town.isen.kagoshima.jp/ Isen official website] {{in lang|ja}}

Category:Towns in Kagoshima Prefecture Category:Populated coastal places in Japan Category:Amami Islands