Minamata, Kumamoto

Minamata 水俣市
—  City  —
Flag
Location of Minamata in Kumamoto
Minamata
Coordinates: 32°13′N 130°24′E / 32.217°N 130.4°E / 32.217; 130.4Coordinates: 32°13′N 130°24′E / 32.217°N 130.4°E / 32.217; 130.4
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Kumamoto
Government
- Mayor	Katsuaki Miyamoto
Area
- Total	162.88 km2 (62.9 sq mi)
Population (May 2008)
- Total	27,856
- Density	171/km2 (442.9/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Sakura
- Flower	Azalea
Phone number	0966-61-1603
Address	1-1-1, Jinnai, Minamata-shi, Kumamoto-ken 867-8555
Website	City of Minamata

Minamata (水俣市, Minamata-shi^?) is a city located in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. It is on the west coast of Kyūshū. The city was founded on April 1, 1949.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 27,856 and the density of 171 persons per km². The total area is 162.88 km².

It is the birthplace of Princess Princess bass player Atsuko Watanabe - October 26, 1964.

Minamata environmental disaster

The city is best known as the former site of an environmental disaster caused by industrial pollution of the bay with mercury; see Minamata disease.

Sister cities

Minamata has a formal sister city agreement with Devonport in Tasmania, Australia. This was ratified in 1996.

• Devonport, Australia (1996)
• Liverpool, England

External links

Media related to Minamata, Kumamoto at Wikimedia Commons

• Minamata official website (Japanese)