sasebo

Sasebo is located in the northwestern part of Kyushu, in the northern part of Nagasaki Prefecture, from the base of the Kitamatsuura Peninsula to the central and southern part of the peninsula. It is located about 50 kilometers north-northwest of Nagasaki City (the shortest distance by land is about 60 kilometers). The west, southwest, and southern parts of the city face the sea, and the east borders Saga Prefecture. The city includes the island of Ukujima, at the northern end of the Goto Islands. Although not as steep as Nagasaki City, the city is characterized by many hills. Because the mountains approach the central downtown area in the center of the city, bicycles are not widely used. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Saikai National Park.

Nagasaki Prefecture

• Hasami
• Hirado
• Kawatana
• Matsuura
• Ojika
• Saikai
• Saza

Saga Prefecture

• Arita
• Imari

The climate is similar to that of Norfolk, Virginia, which also has major US naval facilities. Rainy season lasts from early June to mid-July, and the summer is hot and humid. During the winter, there may be light snowfall and some freezing.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/cruising/JPN_Port_of_Sasebo_1413.php |title=Port of Sasebo Cruising |publisher=Worldportsource.com |access-date=17 March 2016}}

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Sasebo has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter.

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Sasebo (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1946–present

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 20.3

|Feb record high C = 22.4

|Mar record high C = 24.8

|Apr record high C = 28.4

|May record high C = 31.7

|Jun record high C = 36.2

|Jul record high C = 37.6

|Aug record high C = 38.1

|Sep record high C = 37.5

|Oct record high C = 33.0

|Nov record high C = 27.2

|Dec record high C = 23.9

|Jan record low C = -4.9

|Feb record low C = -6.1

|Mar record low C = -3.9

|Apr record low C = -0.4

|May record low C = 5.7

|Jun record low C = 11.6

|Jul record low C = 14.2

|Aug record low C = 17.1

|Sep record low C = 10.0

|Oct record low C = 4.8

|Nov record low C = 0.4

|Dec record low C = -3.3

|Jan high C = 10.5

|Feb high C = 11.7

|Mar high C = 15.1

|Apr high C = 19.6

|May high C = 23.8

|Jun high C = 26.5

|Jul high C = 30.1

|Aug high C = 31.8

|Sep high C = 28.7

|Oct high C = 24.0

|Nov high C = 18.5

|Dec high C = 12.9

|Jan mean C = 7.0

|Feb mean C = 7.8

|Mar mean C = 11.0

|Apr mean C = 15.3

|May mean C = 19.7

|Jun mean C = 23.0

|Jul mean C = 26.8

|Aug mean C = 28.0

|Sep mean C = 24.8

|Oct mean C = 20.0

|Nov mean C = 14.4

|Dec mean C = 9.2

|Jan low C = 3.6

|Feb low C = 4.1

|Mar low C = 7.2

|Apr low C = 11.3

|May low C = 15.8

|Jun low C = 20.0

|Jul low C = 24.4

|Aug low C = 25.2

|Sep low C = 21.8

|Oct low C = 16.4

|Nov low C = 10.5

|Dec low C = 5.7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 63.4

|Feb precipitation mm = 81.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 120.7

|Apr precipitation mm = 152.9

|May precipitation mm = 171.1

|Jun precipitation mm = 328.9

|Jul precipitation mm = 342.2

|Aug precipitation mm = 255.4

|Sep precipitation mm = 195.6

|Oct precipitation mm = 98.6

|Nov precipitation mm = 101.6

|Dec precipitation mm = 77.5

|year precipitation mm = 1989.0

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 8.1

|Feb precipitation days = 8.1

|Mar precipitation days = 9.9

|Apr precipitation days = 8.9

|May precipitation days = 8.8

|Jun precipitation days = 12.3

|Jul precipitation days = 11.3

|Aug precipitation days = 10.2

|Sep precipitation days = 9.1

|Oct precipitation days = 6.2

|Nov precipitation days = 7.7

|Dec precipitation days = 7.4

|Jan snow cm = 1

|Feb snow cm = trace

|Mar snow cm = 0

|Apr snow cm = 0

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 0

|Dec snow cm = 0

|year snow cm = 1

|unit snow days = 1 cm

|Jan snow days = 0.3

|Feb snow days = 0.1

|Mar snow days = 0

|Apr snow days = 0

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 0

|Dec snow days = 0

|humidity colour= green

|Jan humidity = 63

|Feb humidity = 62

|Mar humidity = 63

|Apr humidity = 66

|May humidity = 70

|Jun humidity = 78

|Jul humidity = 79

|Aug humidity = 76

|Sep humidity = 71

|Oct humidity = 65

|Nov humidity = 66

|Dec humidity = 62

|Jan sun = 111.5

|Feb sun = 128.2

|Mar sun = 167.2

|Apr sun = 183.2

|May sun = 197.2

|Jun sun = 128.2

|Jul sun = 165.6

|Aug sun = 209.0

|Sep sun = 177.6

|Oct sun = 188.6

|Nov sun = 142.1

|Dec sun = 122.0

|year sun = 1922.9

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web |url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=84&block_no=47812&year=&month=&day=&view=h0|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） |publisher=JMA |access-date=April 2, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=84&block_no=47812&year=&month=&day=&view=h0|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） |publisher=JMA |access-date=April 2, 2022}}}}

Per Japanese census data, the population of Sasebo in 2020 is 243,223 people. Sasebo has been conducting censuses since 1920.

{{Historical populations

| 1920 | 183,601

| 1925 | 196,391

| 1930 | 228,039

| 1935 | 277,451

| 1940 | 312,817

| 1945 | 281,555

| 1950 | 313,259

| 1955 | 351,820

| 1960 | 346,598

| 1965 | 302,431

| 1970 | 287,936

| 1975 | 288,368

| 1980 | 288,231

| 1985 | 287,349

| 1990 | 280,261

| 1995 | 279,551

| 2000 | 274,399

| 2005 | 269,574

| 2010 | 261,146

| 2015 | 255,439

| 2020 | 243,223

|align = none

|cols=2

| footnote=Sasebo population statistics{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/nagasaki/ |title=Nagasaki (Japan): Prefecture, Cities, Towns and Villages – Population Statistics, Charts and Map |website=www.citypopulation.de |accessdate=May 6, 2022}}

}}

The area of present-day Sasebo was part of ancient Hizen Province. It was a small fishing village under the control of nearby Hirado Domain until shortly after the start of the Meiji period. Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō, when surveying the coasts of northwestern Kyūshū for the site of a navy base, selected this location based on its protected, deep-water harbor, geographic proximity to China and Korea, and the presence of nearby coal fields. Sasebo Naval District, founded in 1886, became the major port for the Japanese navy in its operations in the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War. It remained a major naval base to the end of World War II. Along with the base facilities, the navy also constructed the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, which included major shipyards and repair facilities. After the end of the war, part of the base facilities were taken over by the United States Navy, which formed U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo. Some parts of the base are shared with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, in particular the JMSDF. The primary base of the JGSDF's Western Army Infantry Regiment is also among the facilities there.

The village of Sasebo was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised directly to city status on April 1, 1902. Sasebo annexed the neighboring villages: Sase, Hio and Hirota on April 1, 1927 and town of Ainoura on April 1, 1938. The city had 206,000 inhabitants in 1945 and suffered severe damage by United States bombing on June 29, 1945, during World War II. 48% of the city was destroyed.John Keegan: Atlas Zweiter Weltkrieg, S. 196. Augsburg 1999 Sasebo was one of the original 17 targets considered by the United States as a target for the atomic bomb intended to end the war. The city continued to grow by annexing neighboring municipalities: Ono, Minamise, Nakazato, Saki (May 27, 1942), Yuzuki and Kuroshima (April 1, 1954), Orioze, Egami, Sakihario (April 1, 1955), Miya (August 1, 1958). On April 1, Sasebo was designated a special city with increased local autonomy. This designation was raised to core city on April 1, 2016.

• On April 1, 2005, the towns of Sechibaru and Yoshii (both from Kitamatsuura District) were merged into Sasebo.
• On March 31, 2006, the towns of Kosaza and Uku (both from Kitamatsuura District) were merged into Sasebo.
• On March 31, 2010, the towns of Emukae and Shikamachi (both from Kitamatsuura District) were merged into Sasebo.{{cite web |url=http://www.kokudo.or.jp/new/cities/sub/kyusyu/42.htm |title=市町村合併情報 長崎県 ＜国土地理協会＞ |access-date=2008-09-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203022519/http://www.kokudo.or.jp/new/cities/sub/kyusyu/42.htm |archive-date=2006-02-03}}

File:Sasebo cityhall.jpg

Sasebo has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 33 members. Sasebo contributes nine members to the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Nagasaki 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-28 |title=公職選挙法の一部を改正する法律 |url=https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_housei.nsf/html/housei/21020221128089.htm |access-date=2025-02-04 |publisher=Shugiin}} Part of the city was previously part of Nagasaki 4th district, which was abolished in 2022.

Shipbuilding and associated heavy industries continue to dominate the economy of Sasebo. Adjacent to the naval base is the shipyard of Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ssk-sasebo.co.jp/ssk/us/home/index.html |title=Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. |website=www.ssk-sasebo.co.jp |access-date=May 6, 2022}}

The Port of Sasebo has an active fishing fleet. In addition, many oyster and pearl farms are located on the Kujū-ku Islands.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/commerce/JPN_Port_of_Sasebo_1413.php |title=Port of Sasebo Commerce |publisher=Worldportsource.com |access-date=17 March 2016}}

The Mikawachi district has a 400-year-old pottery manufacturing industry.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/review/JPN_Port_of_Sasebo_1413.php |title=Port of Sasebo Review |publisher=Worldportsource.com |access-date=17 March 2016}}

Sasebo has 42 public elementary schools, 25 public junior high schools and two combined elementary/junior high schools operated by the city government and one public junior high school operated by the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates nine public high schools and two schools for the handicapped. There is also one national high school and five private high schools. Institutions of higher education include the private Nagasaki International University and Nagasaki Junior College.

File:Midori_Thsc782_Sasebostation.jpg trains on the Sasebo Line provide fast transportation to/from Fukuoka's Hakata Station]]

{{ric|JR Kyushu|name=y}} - Sasebo Line

• {{STN|Mikawachi|x}} - {{STN|Haiki|x}} - {{STN|Daitō|x}} - {{STN|Hiu|x}} - {{STN|Sasebo|x}}

{{ric|JR Kyushu|name=y}} - Ōmura Line

• {{STN|Huis Ten Bosch|x}} - {{STN|Haenosaki|x}}

25px Matsuura Railway- Nishi-Kyūshū Line

• {{STN|Suetachibana|x}} - {{STN|Emukae-Shikamachi|x}} - {{STN|Takaiwa|x|Nagasaki}} - {{STN|Inotsuki|x}} - {{STN|Senryūgataki|x}} - {{STN|Yoshii|x|Nagasaki}} - {{STN|Kōda|x|Saza}} - {{STN|Seihō-Koukou-Mae|x}} - {{STN|Saza|x}} - {{STN|Koura|x}} - {{STN|Masaru|x}} - {{STN|Tanagata|x}} - {{STN|Ainoura|x}} - {{STN|Daigaku|x}} - {{STN|Kami-Ainoura|x}} - {{STN|Motoyama|x|Nagasaki}} - {{STN|Nakazato|x}} - {{STN|Kaize|x|Nagasaki}} - {{STN|Nonaka|x}} - {{STN|Hidariishi|x}} - {{STN|Senpukuji|x}} - {{STN|Yamanota|x}} - {{STN|Kita-Sasebo|x}} - {{STN|Naka-Sasebo|x}} - {{STN|Sasebo-Chūō|x}} - {{STN|Sasebo|x}}

• File:JP Expressway E35.svg Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|35}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|202}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|204}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|205}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|384}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|498}}

Sasebo has sister-city relations with the following:{{cite web |publisher=Sasebo City office |year=2008 |script-title=ja:姉妹・友好都市等との交流事業 |access-date=2009-02-08 |url=http://www.city.sasebo.nagasaki.jp/www/contents/1053317965925/index.html}}

• {{flagdeco|US}} Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
• {{flagdeco|AUS}} Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
• {{flagdeco|JPN}} Kokonoe, Ōita
• {{flagdeco|ROK}} Paju, Korea
• {{flagdeco|PRC}} Shenyang, Liaoning, China (friendship city)
• {{flagdeco|PRC}} Xiamen, Fujian, China

File:Huis Ten Bosch - 01.jpg

• Fukui cave, National Historic Site
• Huis Ten Bosch (theme park) is inspired by a Dutch trading post in nearby Hirado
• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Museum{{Cite web |url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298217-d2080624-Reviews-Maritime_Self_Defense_Force_Sasebo_Museum-Sasebo_Nagasaki_Prefecture_Kyushu.html |title=Maritime Self-Defense Force Sasebo Museum |website=Tripadvisor |access-date=May 6, 2022}}
• Kōzakihana, westernmost point on the island of Kyūshū
• Kujū-ku Islands
• {{ill|Miuramachi Catholic Church|ja|カトリック三浦町教会}}, a large church which was built in a neogothic style in 1930, is the symbol of Sasebo. It is opposite the main railway station in Miura-cho district.Chris Taylor: Japan, p. 632. Berlin, 1998. Sasebo is the only Japanese city that uses the image of a Christian church as part of its seal/flag.
• Saikai Pearl Sea Resort
• Sasebo City Museum Shimanose Art Center
• Sasebo Zoological Park and Botanical Garden
• Senpukuji Cave
• Tenkaihō

{{wide image|Port of Sasebo viewed from Mount Yumihari.jpg|900px|align-cap=right|thumb|Panoramic view of Sasebo}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Sasebo, Nagasaki}}

• [http://www.city.sasebo.lg.jp/index.html Sasebo City official website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://travel.sasebo99.com/en/ Sasebo Tourist Information site] {{in lang|en}}
• [http://saigonnezumi.com/sasebo-japan/ Sasebo, Japan, Photo Gallery] {{in lang|en}}
• [https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/regional/nagasaki/sasebo.html Japan National Tourism organization] {{in lang|ja}}
• {{Osmrelation|4010194}}

{{Wikivoyage|Sasebo}}

{{Nagasaki}}

{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}

{{Most populous cities in Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Nagasaki Prefecture

Category:Port settlements in Japan

Category:Populated coastal places in Japan