Minami, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Minami is a town located in Kaifu District, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It was founded on March 31, 2006 from the merger of the towns of Hiwasa and Yuki, both from Kaifu District. Located 50 km south of prefecture's capital, Tokushima city, Minami is over 33 km from east to west, and covers an area of approximately 140 km². It is bordered on the south-west by the Kaifu mountains and on the east by the Pacific Ocean, making Minami a scenic town surrounded by mountains and sea.

Geography Minami is located in the south-eastern part of Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. Located 50 km south of prefecture's capital, Tokushima city, Minami is over 33 km from east to west, and covers an area of approximately 140 km². It is bordered on the south-west by the Kaifu mountains and on the east by the Pacific Ocean, making Minami a scenic town surrounded by mountains and sea. The Akamatsu and Hiwasa Rivers from the west to east, forming small-scale cultivated land and basins due to erosion plains and sedimentary plains. The mouth of the Hiwasa River is the most densely populated urban area, and also has a fishing port. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities • Anan • Naka • Kaiyō • Mugi.

History As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Minami was part of ancient Awa Province. It was noted for ocean-borne shipping, especially of timber, from Tosa Province to the Kinai region. In 935, the author of Tosa Nikki, Ki no Tsurayuki stayed at Hiwasa port for four nights on his way back from Tosa to Kyoto. In 1223 Emperor Tsuchimikado, who had been exiled to Tosa due to the Jokyu War, was allowed to relocate to Yakuo-ji. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tokushima Domain ruled by the Hachisuka clan from their seat at Tokushima Castle. In 1868, the Battle of Awa, a naval engagement of the Boshin War took place offshore Minami.

The village of Hiwasa was established within Kaifu District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on January 1, 1907. The 1946 Nankai earthquake caused great damage to the town. On March 31, 2006 Hiwasa merged with the neighboring town of Yuki to form the town of Minami.

Government Minami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Minami, together with the other municipalities of Kaifu District, contributes two members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tokushima 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Minami has an economy based on agriculture and commercial fishing.

Education Minami has three public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school; however the prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail Shikoku Railway Company – Mugi Line • Yuki - Tainohama - Kiki - Kitagawachi - Hiwasa - Yamagawachi.

Transport: Road • National Route 55.

Local attractions • Yakuō-ji, 23rd temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage • Ohama Beach • Hiwasa Sea Turtle Museum

Festivals • Hiwasa Hachiman Jinja Autumn Festival - A two-day harvest festival held one weekend early October every year. On the first day, the eight neighborhoods in Hiwasa parade their portable shrines through the streets of the town while praying for the safety of the townspeople and success in fishing. On the second day about 50 men from each neighborhood carry the portable shrine onto the beach and finally into the ocean, quite literally, proceeding through the waves to the far end of the beach. Each neighborhood vies with the others to put on the most spectacular display and also to prove their strength and bravery by taking their shrine furthest through the ocean waves. The heavy wooden portable shrines, known as chosa, each weigh about a tonne and four children ride atop the shrine drumming taiko drums. On the first evening of the festival there is a night bazaar with various refreshments and traditional dancing and taiko drumming, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display. Records of this festival go back to 1795, but the festival in its current form was started in 1957.