Tsushima, Nagasaki
History. An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Izuhara, Sasuna, and Shishimi as open ports for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom. On April 1, 1975, Toyotama Village was promoted to the status of a town. Mine Village was also elevated to the status of a town in the following year. The modern city of Tsushima was established on March 1, 2004, from the merger of six towns on Tsushima Island: Izuhara, Mitsushima, and Toyotama (all from Shimoagata District), and Mine, Kamiagata, and Kamitsushima (all from Kamiagata District). Both districts were dissolved as a result  of this merger. Geography. The city of Tsushima is located on Tsushima Island and other small neighbouring islands, lying slightly to the west side of Tsushima Strait, south of the Sea of Japan and north-east of the East China Sea. The island also lies between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese mainland. Its coastline has a total length of 915 km. Asō Bay, a prominent bay with a rias coastline, is located between the islands. Tsushima lies about 60 km from Iki, 138 km from the city of Fukuoka, and 49.5 km from Busan, South Korea. Islands. Several other  islands encompass Tsushima city, in addition to Kamino-shima and Shimono-shima, both of which makes up the Tsushima Island(s): Flora and fauna. Tsushima cat. Native to the island is the Tsushima cat (or Tsushima leopard cat, an endemic subspecies of the leopard cat, "Prionailurus bengalensis"). Present on the islands since ancient times, its numbers have decreased sharply, and it is now listed as an endangered species. , it was estimated that only 80 to 100 animals remain. Climate. Tsushima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification "Cfa") with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the  year, but is much heavier in summer than in winter. Demographics and culture. The population of Tsushima Island has been decreasing significantly. Between the years of 1995 and 2000, the decline was 5.2%. As nuclear families replace the traditional extended families, the average household is smaller, as is the total population. The elderly comprise nearly a quarter of the population here, compared to 20.8% of the Nagasaki Prefecture as a whole, and 17.3% of the population of Japan. Religious traditions on Tsushima Island mirror those of the rest of Japan, with a majority of the population adhering to Buddhism or  Shinto. Economy. Many Tsushima residents are employed as fishermen. It is also known for its pearl culture. The natural environment of the Tsushima Islands also contributes to the local tourism industry. Beaches are crowded with tourists in the summer. Transportation. Airport. Tsushima Airport (TSJ) is approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of the city. Seaport. Tsushima has two sea ports, Izuhara and Hitakatsu. Ferries cross to the port of Hakata on Kyūshū a few times per day. Ferries also travel a few times a week to Busan in South Korea.