Editing Uto, Kumamoto

{{for|the district|Uto District, Kumamoto}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Uto
| official_name           = 
| native_name             = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|宇土市}}}}}}
| native_name_lang        = ja
| settlement_type         = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
| other_name              = 
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Uto City hall.JPG
| imagesize               = 
| image_caption           = Uto City Hall
| image_flag              = Flag of Uto Kumamoto.svg
| image_seal              = Emblem of Uto Kumamoto.svg
| seal_type               = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=265|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=8}}
| image_map1               = Uto in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location of Uto in Kumamoto Prefecture
| pushpin_map             = Japan
| pushpin_relief          = 
| pushpin_label_position  = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in Japan
| coordinates             = {{coord|32|41|17|N|130|39|35|E|region:JP-43|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = Japan
| subdivision_type1       = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Kyushu]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Kumamoto Prefecture|Kumamoto]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3       = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title       = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date        = 
| extinct_title           = Now part of
| extinct_date            = 
| founder                 = 
| named_for               = 
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type               = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat                    = 
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = 
| leader_title1           = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1            = 
<!-- display settings  -->
| total_type              = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude          = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes          = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2          = 74.30
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_note               = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m             = 
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes    =  <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total        =36,149
| population_as_of        = August 31, 2024
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_est          = 
| pop_est_as_of           = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1               = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1             = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type        = 
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code               = 
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1         = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1         = 51 Uratacho, Uto-shi, Kumamoto-ken 869-0492
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = {{Official|1=http://www.city.uto.kumamoto.jp/}}
| footnotes               = 
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Osmanthus fragrans]]
 | flower = [[Hydrangea macrophylla]]
 | bird = [[Warbling white-eye]]
 | flowering_tree = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
 | other_symbols = 
}}
}}
[[file:長部田海床路.JPG|right|thumb|290px|Nagata Seabed Road]]
[[file:Utojyoushi.jpg|right|thumb|290px|Ruins of Uto Castle]]
{{nihongo|'''Uto'''|宇土市|Uto-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Kumamoto Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of |2024|07|31}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 36,149 in 16127 households, and a [[population density]] of 490 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Uto-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.uto.lg.jpl|title= Uto City official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{cvt|74.30|km2}}.

==Geography==
Uto occupies the northern half of the Uto Peninsula and is bordered on the northwest by the [[Ariake Sea]].

=== Neighboring municipalities ===
Kumamoto Prefecture
* [[Kumamoto, Kumamoto| Kumamoto]]
* [[Uki, Kumamoto|Uki]]

===Climate===
Uto has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Uto is 16.0&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 2128&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 5.5&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/kumamoto/uto-5446/ Uto climate: Average Temperature, weather by month]</ref>

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

{{Historical populations 
| 1950 |  33412
| 1960 |  33057
| 1970 | 31,327
| 1980 | 32,954
| 1990 | 33,390
| 2000 | 37,255
| 2010 | 37,727
| 2020 | 36,122
|align       = none
| footnote = 
}}

==History==
The area of Uto was part of ancient [[Higo Province]], During the [[Edo Period]] it was part of the holdings of [[Kumamoto Domain]]. After the [[Meiji restoration]], the town of Uto was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Uto annexed the neighboring village of Hanazono, Todoroki, Midorikawa, Amizu and Hashiragata in 1954. On October 1, 1958  Uto merged with the village Amida and was raised to city status.

==Government==
Uto has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 18 members. Uto contributes one member to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the [[Kumamoto 4th district]] of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

== Economy ==
* Agriculture - Fruit cultivation is popular, taking advantage of the warm climate. Navel oranges, ''dekopon'', and Andean melons are local specialties.
* Fisheries - [[Nori]] farming is popular in the Ariake Sea. [[Venerupis philippinarum|''Asari'' clam]]s are also a local speciality.
* Manufacturing - In addition to the food processing industry, there are also chemical and steel industries.

*[[Papier-mache]] is a traditional craft that is a local specialty.

==Education==
Uto has seven public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education. 

==Transportation==
===Railways===
[[File:JR logo (west).svg|frameless|20x20px]] [[Kyushu Railway Company|JR Kyushu]] -  [[Kagoshima Main Line]]
:{{colorbull|Red}} - {{STN|Uto|x}} - {{STN|Midorikawa|x}} - {{STN|Sumiyoshi|x|Kumamoto}} - {{STN|Higo-Nagahama|x}} - {{STN|Ōda|x|Kumamoto}} - {{STN|Akase|x}}

[[File:JR logo (west).svg|frameless|20x20px]] [[Kyushu Railway Company|JR Kyushu]] -  [[Misumi Line]]
:{{Color|#0095d9|■}} - {{STN|Uto|x}} 

=== Highways ===
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|3}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|57}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|501}}

==Local attractions==
*[[Uki Castle]] ruins, National Historic Site
*[[Todoroki Shell Mound]], National Historic Site

==Notable people of Uto==
*[[Shiranui Dakuemon]], retired [[sumo]] wrestler, 8th [[Yokozuna (sumo)|''yokozuna'']]
*[[Hamanoshima Keishi]], retired sumo wrestler, [[komusubi]]
*[[Kusano Naoya]], sumo wrestler, [[Professional_sumo_divisions#Jūryō|''jūryō]]
*[[Shōdai Naoya]], sumo wrestler, [[Makuuchi#Ōzeki|''ōzeki'']]
*[[Naomichi Ueda]], Footballer
<!-- Please enter in alphabetical order -->

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* {{Official website|http://www.city.uto.kumamoto.jp}} {{in lang|ja}}

{{Kumamoto}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kumamoto Prefecture]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]
[[Category:Uto, Kumamoto]]

{{Kumamoto-geo-stub}}