Oita

Oita is located in the eastern Kyushu region, with diverse topography: the Kunisaki Peninsula in the north, the Oita Plain in the central area, the eastern edge of the Aso caldera in the west, and the Bungo Channel coast in the south. The annual average temperature is about 15-17°C, with microclimate differences from the north facing the Seto Inland Sea to the south opening to the Pacific Ocean. The Bungo Channel is known as a fishing ground where warm currents (branches of the Kuroshio Current) flow in, creating ocean conditions that foster the Seki saba (mackerel) and Seki aji (horse mackerel) brand fisheries. In terms of agriculture, the plains around Oita City and Usuki City are main production areas for leafy and root vegetables, while inland basins like Hita and Kusu utilize high summer temperatures and temperature differences between day and night for greenhouse cultivation. Oita almost exclusively produces Kabosu (citrus), accounting for about 95% of national production. Oita ranks 1st nationally in the production of Shiitake mushrooms (dried Shiitake mushrooms), with log cultivation continuing in rural forests across the prefecture. In the mountainous areas of Bungo-Ono City and Taketa City, greenhouse Mandarin Orange production areas are formed utilizing the temperature difference between day and night, making multi-item production leveraging multiple climate zones a strength of Oita's agriculture.

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), JMA historical weather data

The characteristic of Oita's agriculture, forestry, and fisheries lies in its overwhelming presence in specific items. Kabosu has a prominent figure of about 95% national share, creating a structure where a stable supply of Kabosu is not possible without Oita. It also ranks 1st nationally for dried Shiitake mushrooms, and Seki saba and Seki aji have built a solid position in the national market as highly fresh brands. Bungo-gyu (beef) is a Japanese Black wagyu brand with high recognition within the Kyushu region; few prefectures possess distinct brands in all three sectors of agriculture, fisheries, and livestock. Topographically, the essence of Oita's agriculture is a multi-layered structure where the nature of the industry differs by small regional divisions, such as peninsula agriculture on the Kunisaki Peninsula, inland agriculture in the Hita Basin, and coastal fisheries along the Bungo Channel coast.