Arao, Kumamoto

"Arao" redirects here. For the settlement in Portugal, see Arão, Portugal. For the Iranian government department ARAO, see Administrative and Recruitment Organization.
Arao
荒尾市
City

Arao City hall

Flag

Location of Arao in Kumamoto Prefecture
Arao

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 32°59′00″N 130°26′07″E / 32.98333°N 130.43528°E / 32.98333; 130.43528Coordinates: 32°59′00″N 130°26′07″E / 32.98333°N 130.43528°E / 32.98333; 130.43528
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Kumamoto Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Jyunji Maehata (since January 2003)
Area
 • Total 57.15 km2 (22.07 sq mi)
Population (April 30, 2011)
 • Total 56,144
 • Density 980/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Pinus
 • Flower Pyraspyrifolia
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 390 Kunai-Deme, Arao-shi, Kumamoto-ken
864-8686
Website www.city.arao.lg.jp

Arao (荒尾市 Arao-shi) is a city in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1942.

As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 56,144, with 23.966 households and a population density of 982.40 persons per km². The total area is 57.15 km².

History

Arao was once a large coal mining town, but it has since lost a great deal of its population, due to the closing of the mine 11 years ago. Some schools that once housed 1,500 children have now been looking at declining enrollments down 1,000 students or more. Arao's political concentration is on tourism, to try to lure people back to this once heavily populated land. Recent hopes to pull in tourists are in its two big amusement parks, Mitsui Greenland and Ultraman Land.

Economy

One notable aspect of this city includes Shōdai ware, an art form almost completely exclusive to Arao, involving slow kilning and under glazing.

Also, the Arao nashi pear is a fruit product grown widely in this town. The pear is round, brown and about the size of a bowling ball.

External links

Media related to Arao, Kumamoto at Wikimedia Commons


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