Location and Terrain
The newly created New Matsusaka City is located almost in the center of Mie Prefecture. Ise Bay is to the east and to the west there is the Daikou Mountain Range forming the border with Nara Prefecture. The south has the village of Takigun, and the city of Tsu is found to the north on other side of the River Kumozu.
The west of New Matsusaka City is entirely mountainous, comprising the Kii Mountains, the Takami Mountains and the Daikou Mountain Range. The central region is hilly and to the east is the Ise Plain. The River Kumozu flows in the north and the Kushida River in the south.
Climate
The climate is typical for the Tokai region and it can be described as generally mild overall. However, the west of the region has more extreme differences in temperature, which is characteristic of an inland climate away from the influence of the sea.
The average temperature is between 14℃～16℃. The average precipitation on the plain is about 1500mm, but is higher in the mountainous areas with between 2000～2500mm falling.
Area
New Matsusaka City, at 623.8km2, makes up about 10.8% of the total land area of Mie Prefecture. It is a long stretch of land 50km from north to south, and 37km from east to west. Forests and mountains account for the greater part of the land area at 429.57km2 (68.9%). There are 82.06km2（13.2％）of farmland and 27.98km2（4.5％）of land that has been built on.
Population and Households
According to the census taken in 2000, the general population of the five municipalities which now make up the city was 164,504 people. This accounts for 8.8% of the total population of Mie Prefecture and represents an increase in the population in lowland areas and a decrease in the mountainous areas. In 2006 the population of Matsusaka City (Matsusaka-shi) was 171,065 and density was 274.23/km2 (710.3/sq mi).
In 2000 there were 56,087 households, or about 1.4 times as many as in 1975. The make up of these households is moving away from extended families towards nuclear families, with the average household having 2.93 members.
The percentage of children (0～14 years old) in the population was 22.2% in 1975, and 14.8% in 2000. Further, the percentage of people over 65 years of age was 10.8% in 1975, but had increased to 20.3% by 2000. This is higher than the prefecture average of 18.9%. The demographic follows the pattern of an increasing elderly population and falling birthrates.
Municipal emblem
The Japanese character “マ”, which is pronounced “MA”, is the first syllable in Matsusaka. It conveys the image of a region and its inhabitants who have exciting personalities and a proud and beautiful city which takes part in exchanges with others. The ellipse represents the future opening up in front of the city、and the intersecting curves symbolize encounters and meetings. The blue represents the lively activity and individuality of the people. Matsusaka City symbols is Pine Tree.
Matsusaka City Government Office Administrative Strategy Department, Public Relations Division 1340-1 Tonomachi, Matsusaka City (Matsusaka-shi), Mie prefecture 515-8515 TEL: 0598-53-4312, 0598-53-4311, 0598-53-4405 (Tourism Exchange Division) FAX: 0598-22-1119
Website: http://www.city.matsusaka.mie.jp/
