Nichinan (日南市, Nichinan-shi) is a city in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2023^[update], the city had an estimated population of 47,872 in 21482 households, and a population density of 89 persons per km². ^[1] The total area of the city is 536.11 km² (206.99 sq mi).

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Quick Facts 日南市, Country ...

Nichinan 日南市
City
Nichinan City Hall
Flag Emblem
Location of Nichinan in Miyazaki Prefecture
Nichinan Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°36′7″N 131°22′43″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Miyazaki
Government
• Mayor	Kyohei Sakita (﨑田恭平)
Area
• Total	536.11 km2 (206.99 sq mi)
Population  (March 31, 2023)
• Total	47,827
• Density	89/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-1-1 Chūō-dōri, Nichinan-shi, Miyazaki-ken 887-8585
Climate	Cfa
Website	Official website
Symbols
Bird	Common kingfisher
Flower	Farfugium japonicum
Tree	Obi sugi (Cryptomeria)

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Nichinan is located in the southern part of Miyazaki Prefecture on Japan's southernmost main island, Kyūshū. It is surrounded by the Wanizuka mountain range on the north, east and south, and faces the Hyūga Sea to the east. Much of the city is within the borders of Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park. Approximately 78% of the city's area is forest, much of which is occupied by the Obi cedar, a specialty tree. The Sakatanigawa River runs through the city from east to west. This river joins the Hiroto River near its mouth and flows into the Pacific Ocean.

The area of Nichinan was part of ancient Hyūga Province. During the Sengoku period, the area was ruled by the Itō clan based at Obi Castle and the site of numerous battles with the neighbouring Shimazu clan. The Shimazu clan had unified Satsuma Province and Ōsumi Province under its control, and began to clash with the Itō in 1570. The Itō were finally defeated by the Shimazu clan in 1578. After seeking help from the Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the family's lands were restored in 1587 after his invasion of Kyūshū. By the Edo Era, the Itō clan ruled as daimyō of Obi Domain, and the present-day city borders roughly correspond to the holdings of the domain. The domain was noted for the quality of its han school, one of whose graduates as the Meiji period diplomat Marquis Komura Jutarō. The town of Aburatsu and the villages of Agata, Obi, Hosoda, Nangō and Tōgō were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Obi was raised to town status on January 1, 1900, followed by Nangō on December 1, 1940, Hosoda on January 1, 1941 and Agata on May 3, 1950.

On January 1, 1950, the city of Nichinan was established through an amalgamation of the towns of Agata, Aburatsu, and Obi, and the village of Tōgō. On February 1, 1955, Futo village and Hosoda town joined the city. On April 1, 1956, Nichinan amalgamated with Sakatani village, Kahara village, and the Odotsu district.

Since 1963, Nichinan has been the spring training location for the Hiroshima Carp baseball team.

In 1999, a 12-meter wharf was completed at the eastern head of Aburatsu port. Aburatsu's increasing role as a harbor has made it a regular stopover for both domestic and foreign ships,^{[citation needed]} and it is becoming an authentic international trading port. From 2001 to 2010, a general plan for the future of Nichinan was drawn up, with the simple theme of progressing Nichinan as, "a city that combines its fragrant history and culture with the sunshine and lush green mountains."^{[citation needed]}

During the nationwide round of Heisei-era mergers, the Nichinan-Kitagō-Nangō Merger Association (日南市・北郷町・南郷町合併協議会, Nichinan-shi-Kitagō-chō-Nangō-chō Gappei Kyōgikai) was formed in August 2004 by the area's residents to consider the merger of the three municipalities. The group was, however, dissolved in May 2005 when the Kitagō Town Council vetoed the proposed merger bill despite the support for the merger by residents in both Kitagō and Nangō towns.^{[citation needed]} The association was reconstituted on September 28, 2007, when merger supporters in both towns gained majorities on their respective town councils.^{[citation needed]} On March 30, 2009, the three municipalities agreed to merge and become the new city of Nichinan.^{[citation needed]}

Nichinan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 19 members. Nichinan contributes two members to the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Miyazaki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries and the pillars of the local economy. Commercial fishing of bonito was designated as a Japanese agricultural heritage in 2021 and Katsuomeshi, a dish of bonito sashimi served with soy sauce, is a noted local dish. Mandarin oranges, ponkan, sweet peas, green peppers, kumquats, and rice are the main agricultural products of Nichinan.

Nichinan has 14 public elementary schools, seven public junior high schools and three combined elementary/middle schools operated by the city, and two public high schools operated by the Miyazaki Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private junior high school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

There are seven kindergartens, 14 elementary schools, 11 junior high schools, and three high schools located within the city.

• Naha, Okinawa Prefecture (Since April 24, 1969)
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States (Since September 5, 1985)
• Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture (Since August 10, 2000)
• Albany, Western Australia, Australia (Since November 17, 2010)

• The Obi district of Nichinan was the location for the NHK television series "Wakaba" broadcast from September 2004 to March 2005.