# Yoshika, Shimane

Yoshika (吉賀町, Yoshika-chō) is a town located in Kanoashi District, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2023, the town had an estimated population of 5,759 in 3042 households and a population density of 17 persons per km$^2$. The total area of the town is 336.50 square kilometres (129.92 sq mi).

## Geography

Yoshioka is located in the Chugoku Mountains in the far southwestern corner of Yamaguchi Prefecture. Heavily forested and surrounded by steep mountains, arable land is available along the Takatsu River and its tributaries.

## Neighboring municipalities

Shimane Prefecture
* Masuda
* Tsuwano
Yamaguchi Prefecture
* Iwakuni
* Shūnan
* Yamaguchi

### Climate

Yoshika has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year. The average annual temperature in Yoshika is 13.4 °C (56.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,940.5 mm (76.40 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.3 °C (77.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around 2.2 °C (36.0 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Yoshika was 36.8 °C (98.2 °F) on 19 August 2020; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −12.0 °C (10.4 °F) on 8 February 2018.
Climate data for Yoshika (2006−2020 normals, extremes 2006−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.8 (60.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 24.4 (75.9) | 29.4 (84.9) | 33.0 (91.4) | 33.0 (91.4) | 36.1 (97.0) | 36.8 (98.2) | 36.2 (97.2) | 30.3 (86.5) | 25.8 (78.4) | 22.5 (72.5) | 36.8 (98.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 12.9 (55.2) | 18.3 (64.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 29.3 (84.7) | 30.9 (87.6) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.1 (70.0) | 15.4 (59.7) | 9.2 (48.6) | 19.0 (66.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) | 3.7 (38.7) | 6.8 (44.2) | 11.6 (52.9) | 16.7 (62.1) | 20.5 (68.9) | 24.4 (75.9) | 25.3 (77.5) | 21.1 (70.0) | 15.1 (59.2) | 9.5 (49.1) | 4.3 (39.7) | 13.4 (56.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.4 (29.5) | −0.7 (30.7) | 1.3 (34.3) | 5.3 (41.5) | 10.6 (51.1) | 16.3 (61.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 21.3 (70.3) | 17.1 (62.8) | 10.5 (50.9) | 4.8 (40.6) | 0.5 (32.9) | 8.9 (47.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −8.8 (16.2) | −12.0 (10.4) | −5.3 (22.5) | −3.4 (25.9) | 0.2 (32.4) | 6.5 (43.7) | 14.1 (57.4) | 13.1 (55.6) | 8.4 (47.1) | 2.6 (36.7) | −3.4 (25.9) | −5.6 (21.9) | −12.0 (10.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 102.5 (4.04) | 105.3 (4.15) | 144.9 (5.70) | 147.7 (5.81) | 139.0 (5.47) | 241.5 (9.51) | 340.2 (13.39) | 189.4 (7.46) | 186.6 (7.35) | 127.0 (5.00) | 87.2 (3.43) | 127.8 (5.03) | 1,940.5 (76.40) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 14.1 | 12.3 | 12.2 | 10.7 | 8.8 | 12.1 | 13.4 | 10.1 | 11.1 | 8.1 | 9.7 | 14.7 | 137.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 76.4 | 95.7 | 147.2 | 178.4 | 208.1 | 132.1 | 135.3 | 178.4 | 128.1 | 146.7 | 117.4 | 79.1 | 1,621.8 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

### Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Yoshioka in 2020 is 6,077 people. Yoshioka has been conducting censuses since 1920.

## History

The area of Yoshioka was part of ancient Iwami Province. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Tsuwano Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Muikaichi and Kakinoki were established on within Kanoashi District, Shimane on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Muikaichi was elevated to town status on November 13, 1947. The town of Yoshioka was formed on October 1, 2005 from the merger of the town of Muikaich and the village of Kakinoki.

## Government

Yoshioka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Yoshioka, collectively with the town of Tsuwano, contributes one member to the Shimane Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Shimane 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

## Economy

Yoshioka is a very rural area, with an economy based on agriculture and forestry.

## Education

Yoshioka has five public elementary school and four public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Shimane Prefectural Board of Education.

## Transportation
### Railway

Yoshioka has no passenger railway service. The nearest train stations are Nishikigawa Seiryū Line Nishikichō Station in Iwakuni and JR West Yamaguchi Line Nichihara Station in Tsuwano.

### Highways

* Chugoku Expressway
* National Route 187

## Notable people from Yoshika

* Hanae Mori, fashion designer