# Miyoshi, Tokushima

Miyoshi (三好市, Miyoshi-shi) is a city located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2022, the city had an estimated population of 23,782 in 12103 households and a population density of 33 persons per km$^2$. The total area of the city is 721.42 square kilometres (278.54 sq mi).

## Geography

Miyoshi is located in the western part of Tokushima Prefecture and is the largest municipality on the island of Shikoku, accounting for 1/6 of the prefecture's geographic area. However, it is a very mountainous area with only 13% considered habitable. The Shikoku Mountains have many steep slopes and are subject to landslides and rockfalls. Traditional steep slope farming methods are used to prevent soil erosion. The Hashikura Prefectural Natural Park spans the border between Miyoshi and Higashimiyoshi.

### Neighbouring municipalities

Ehime Prefecture
* Shikokuchūō
Kagawa Prefecture
* Kan'onji
* Mannō
* Mitoyo
Kōchi Prefecture
* Kami
* Ōtoyo, Kōchi
Tokushima Prefecture
* Higashimiyoshi
* Mima
* Naka
* Tsurugi

### Climate

Miyoshi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is high, but there is a pronounced difference between the wetter summers and drier winters. The average annual temperature in Miyoshi is 14.3 °C (57.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,497.5 mm (58.96 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.6 °C (78.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.5 °C (38.3 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Miyoshi was 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) on 16 July 1994; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −11.5 °C (11.3 °F) on 28 February 1981.
Climate data for Ikeda, Miyoshi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) | 21.9 (71.4) | 24.4 (75.9) | 30.9 (87.6) | 32.4 (90.3) | 33.8 (92.8) | 37.1 (98.8) | 37.0 (98.6) | 35.5 (95.9) | 30.7 (87.3) | 26.5 (79.7) | 23.1 (73.6) | 37.1 (98.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) | 9.3 (48.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 19.3 (66.7) | 24.1 (75.4) | 26.6 (79.9) | 30.5 (86.9) | 31.6 (88.9) | 27.3 (81.1) | 21.6 (70.9) | 15.9 (60.6) | 10.4 (50.7) | 19.8 (67.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) | 4.2 (39.6) | 7.5 (45.5) | 13.0 (55.4) | 17.7 (63.9) | 21.2 (70.2) | 25.1 (77.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 21.8 (71.2) | 16.0 (60.8) | 10.5 (50.9) | 5.6 (42.1) | 14.3 (57.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) | −0.3 (31.5) | 2.3 (36.1) | 7.1 (44.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 16.9 (62.4) | 21.1 (70.0) | 21.5 (70.7) | 17.8 (64.0) | 11.8 (53.2) | 6.1 (43.0) | 1.7 (35.1) | 9.8 (49.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −6.0 (21.2) | −7.9 (17.8) | −5.1 (22.8) | −2.4 (27.7) | 2.3 (36.1) | 8.2 (46.8) | 13.6 (56.5) | 14.6 (58.3) | 7.5 (45.5) | 1.3 (34.3) | −1.4 (29.5) | −5.1 (22.8) | −7.9 (17.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 56.5 (2.22) | 60.9 (2.40) | 94.5 (3.72) | 86.1 (3.39) | 124.6 (4.91) | 197.6 (7.78) | 211.5 (8.33) | 169.2 (6.66) | 222.1 (8.74) | 136.8 (5.39) | 78.6 (3.09) | 84.6 (3.33) | 1,497.5 (58.96) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.9 | 10.0 | 11.9 | 10.0 | 9.8 | 12.6 | 11.9 | 10.3 | 11.0 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 10.8 | 126.1 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 102.5 | 113.9 | 157.3 | 188.1 | 198.9 | 138.5 | 177.5 | 200.3 | 144.3 | 151.8 | 124.5 | 101.6 | 1,799.4 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Higashiiyakyojo, Miyoshi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.9 (64.2) | 22.6 (72.7) | 23.7 (74.7) | 29.8 (85.6) | 31.6 (88.9) | 32.7 (90.9) | 35.7 (96.3) | 35.5 (95.9) | 33.4 (92.1) | 30.4 (86.7) | 24.4 (75.9) | 21.5 (70.7) | 35.7 (96.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) | 8.0 (46.4) | 12.3 (54.1) | 18.1 (64.6) | 22.6 (72.7) | 25.1 (77.2) | 28.8 (83.8) | 29.6 (85.3) | 25.8 (78.4) | 20.5 (68.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 18.4 (65.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) | 2.4 (36.3) | 5.9 (42.6) | 11.1 (52.0) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.1 (66.4) | 22.8 (73.0) | 23.2 (73.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 14.1 (57.4) | 8.6 (47.5) | 3.5 (38.3) | 12.3 (54.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.1 (28.2) | −1.8 (28.8) | 0.8 (33.4) | 5.2 (41.4) | 9.7 (49.5) | 14.7 (58.5) | 18.7 (65.7) | 19.0 (66.2) | 15.7 (60.3) | 9.6 (49.3) | 4.0 (39.2) | −0.3 (31.5) | 7.8 (46.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.6 (12.9) | −11.5 (11.3) | −7.7 (18.1) | −3.8 (25.2) | −0.6 (30.9) | 4.3 (39.7) | 9.1 (48.4) | 11.3 (52.3) | 5.4 (41.7) | −0.3 (31.5) | −2.9 (26.8) | −8.7 (16.3) | −11.5 (11.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 81.2 (3.20) | 104.0 (4.09) | 142.9 (5.63) | 142.2 (5.60) | 177.9 (7.00) | 299.1 (11.78) | 414.1 (16.30) | 331.8 (13.06) | 356.0 (14.02) | 188.0 (7.40) | 103.3 (4.07) | 108.9 (4.29) | 2,437.3 (95.96) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.8 | 11.7 | 12.9 | 11.0 | 10.7 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 9.9 | 8.6 | 12.1 | 143.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 94.3 | 109.1 | 151.4 | 188.8 | 199.6 | 141.8 | 166.2 | 174.7 | 136.4 | 149.6 | 118.9 | 98.3 | 1,732.3 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Miyoshi in 2020 is 23,605 people. Miyoshi has been conducting censuses since 1920.

## History

As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Miyoshi was part of ancient Awa Province. From the Muromachi period it was the seat of the Miyoshi clan, a once powerful warlord clan who ruled most of Shikoku and parts of Honshu.. 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. Following the Meiji restoration, it was organized into 10 villages within Miyoshi District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889, including the villages of Ikeda (池田村), Mino (三野村), Sanmyo (三名村), and Minawa (三縄村). Ikeda was raised to town status on October 1, 1905 and Mino on January 26, 1924. Sanyo and Minawa merged on September 30, 1956 to form the town of Yamashiro.
The city of Miyoshi was established on March 1, 2006, from the merger between the towns of Ikeda, Ikawa, Mino and Yamashiro, (all from Miyoshi District) and the villages of Higashiiyayama and Nishiiyayama from Mima District.

## Government

Miyoshi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Miyoshi contributes two members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokushima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

## Economy

The economy of Miyoshi is strongly dependent on agriculture, forestry and small-scale food processing.

## Education

Miyoshi has 13 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government and three public high schools operated by the Tokushima Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

## Transportation
### Railway

Shikoku Railway Company – Tokushima Line
* Tsuji - Tsukuda
Shikoku Railway Company – Dosan Line
* Tsubojiri - Hashikura - Tsukuda - Awa-Ikeda - Minawa - Iyaguchi - Awa-Kawaguchi - Koboke - Ōboke

### Highways

* Tokushima Expressway
* National Route 32
* National Route 192
* National Route 319
* National Route 438
* National Route 439

## Sister cities

* The Dalles, Oregon, United States

## Local attractions

* Iya Valley
* Hashikura Prefectural Natural Park
* Kazura Bridge
* Koboke Gorge
* Oboke Gorge
* Oku Kazura Bridge
* Unpen-ji, 66th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage
* Yoshino River
* Hasikura Ropeway
* Kazura-bashi, Iya Valley
* Oboke Koboke
* Hashikura-ji

## Noted people from Miyoshi

* Miho Takai, politician
* Shunichi Yamaguchi, politician
* Kikuji Yamashita, artist