Usamae

Usamae [風前;うさまえ] is a city located in Aoma Prefecture. It is the second-largest municipality in the prefecture by population, with around 220,000 residents as of 2020.
The area around Usamae has been occupied since prehistoric times, coming under control of the Gōda clan, who were rulers of northern Aoma during the Hanjō and Yūjō periods. Usamae was a prominent destination for Summui settlers from the Honnan islands who decided to relocate to the mainland. As a result, Usamae has absorbed a considerable amount of Summui culture, and was once something of a melting pot, with Summui and Kantonese living side-by-side in the growing city. Due to the lenient laws by which the Hakata clan governed, Summui emigrants were able to find a degree of acceptance and peace in Usamae.
Due to the influx and influence of Summui islanders, Usamae quickly flourished as a fishing town during the middle ages and remained consistent in population until the 1600s. The town prospered as a fishing city centered on Usamae Harbour, and served as a small commercial hub. Today, the port still serves the fishing industry and a number of international cargo vessels.
== Geography ==
Usamae is located on a large, flat plain below the foothills of the Aomaki Hills. Its coastal edges are fringed with attractive stoney beaches and towering cliffs. 
== Economy ==
Usamae serves as the regional industrial and commercial center of northern Aoma. Commercial fishing still plays a major role in the local economy, with Usamae Harbour having the largest volume of landed fish in the prefecture. Since the 1990s, Usamae has developed a large industrial belt with a diverse range of chemical, steel, cement and fertiliser products being manufactured. The Usamae Thermal Power Station is also located in the city.
== Local attractions ==
* Hado Coast [also known as Hado Beach] is a stretch of coastline
* Nanman Summui Festival, a celebration of Summui culture which takes place every July
* Gōda Castle, the ruins of the Gōda clan's last 17th century fortress