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Miyakonojo, Miyazaki

Miyakonojō
都城市
City
View of downtown Miyakonojo, from Miyakonojo Castle Ruin Park
View of downtown Miyakonojo, from Miyakonojo Castle Ruin Park
Flag of Miyakonojō
Flag
Location of Miyakonojō in Miyazaki Prefecture
Location of Miyakonojō in Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyakonojō is located in Japan
Miyakonojō
Miyakonojō
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°43′N 131°4′E / 31.717°N 131.067°E / 31.717; 131.067Coordinates: 31°43′N 131°4′E / 31.717°N 131.067°E / 31.717; 131.067
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Miyazaki Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Makoto Nagamine
Area
 • Total 653.31 km2 (252.24 sq mi)
Population (November 1, 2012)
 • Total 168,072
 • Density 257.26/km2 (666.3/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Japanese zelkova
 • Flower Iris
 • Flowering tree Camellia sasanqua
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 6-21 Himegichō, Miyakonojō-shi, Miyazaki-ken
885-8555
Website www.city.miyakonojo.miyazaki.jp

Miyakonojō (都城市 Miyakonojō-shi?) is a city in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1924.

As of November 1, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 168,072, with 70,549 households and a population density of 257.26 per km². The total area is 653.31 km² making it the largest city in the prefecture in terms of area.

On January 1, 2006, the towns of Takajō, Takazaki, Yamada and Yamanokuchi (all from Kitamorokata District) were merged into Miyakonojō.

Miyakonojō is known as the birthplace of the Shimazu Estate, the largest shōen (estate or manor) of medieval Japan. In the 1020s, a powerful official named Taira no Suemoto developed a small manor named Shimazu-in. Expanded substantially in the first half of the 12th century, it eventually covered large portions of Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga Provinces. In 1185, Koremune no Tadahisa was appointed as jitō of the Shimazu Estate and thereafter claimed the clan name of Shimazu. It is said that one of Tadahisa's residences, called Iwayoshi Gosho, was located at Miyakonojō. Between the Muromachi period and Edo period, the Hōngō family, which was a branch family of the Shimazus, controlled the area. After the Boshin War, it became one of the cities to abolish the han system. In 1871, it became a prefecture for a year.


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