Fukuchi is located slightly northeast of central Fukuoka Prefecture, at the northeastern tip of the Chikuho region, approximately 45 kilometers east of Fukuoka City, and approximately 35 kilometers south of Kitakyushu City. Two rivers, the Hikoyama River and the Nakamotoji River, run through the town, and both rivers meet in the center of the town. The northeastern part of the town area is a mountainous area with mountains ranging in height from 600 to 700 meters, including Mount Fukuchi (901 m (2,956 ft)), and the rest of the area is at the northeastern end of the Chikuho Basin.
Fukuchi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Fukuchi is 15.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1560 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.7 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Fukuchi is as shown below
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1940
32,854
—
1950
41,460
+26.2%
1960
39,501
−4.7%
1970
24,935
−36.9%
1980
26,104
+4.7%
1990
27,041
+3.6%
2000
26,375
−2.5%
2010
24,714
−6.3%
2020
21,398
−13.4%
History
The area of Fukuichi was part of ancient Buzen Province. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Kokura Domain. The villages of Kanda, Hōjō and Ueno were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Kanda was elevated to town status on July 28, 1916 and was renamed Kanada. Ueno was elevated to town status on November 3, 1939 and was renamed Akaike. Hōjō was raised to town status on August 1, 1956. the three municipalities merged on March 6, 2006 to form the town of Fukuchi.
Government
Fukuichi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 18 members. Fukuichi, collectively with the other municipalities of Tagawa District contributes two members to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Fukuoka 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
During the Meiji period, Fukuchi, along with the other municipalities of the Chikuho area, developed with the Kitakyushu industrial zone through coal mining, and is still considered part of to the Greater Kitakyushu Metropolitan Area. However, as the demand for coal decreased due to the energy revolution, the coal mines that had sponsored prosperity have all closed, leading to depopulation. The main economic activity is now agriculture.
Education
Fukuchi has four public elementary high schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.
