Key Facts
This section provides an introduction to Sado's topography, climate, agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry, traditional crafts and population.
Topography
In the north of Sado is the Osado mountain range, crowned by the 1172 meter high peak of Mount Kinpoku. In the Kosado range in the south, the highest peak, Mount Oochi, has a height of 645 meters. Between these two mountain ranges lies the Kuninaka Plain, famous for its rice. The island has a total area of 855.25 km square and the coastline extends for 280.4 km. In terms of area therefore, Sado is equivalent to the 23 wards of Tokyo, and at one and a half times as big as Awajishima and two thirds as big as Okinawa, we can proudly proclaim it to be Japan's biggest isolated island.
Climate
Sado does not fit the usual image of an island in the Japan Sea. The warm Tsushima current in the waters off Sado makes Sado's winters one or two degrees warmer than those on the mainland (Echigo) , and there is very little snow. In summer on the other hand, the temperature on Sado is one or two degrees cooler, which means that Sado is a pleasant place to live.
Industry
Industries such as agriculture, forestry, fishery and folk crafts, have taken advantage of the rich soil and lush climate, and have thrived.
Agliculture, Fruits, and Dairy Farming
In addition to rice, cultivation of Okesa kaki (persimmon) , le lectier pears, apples and other fruit also flourishes and Sado's produce has an excellent reputation for quality. In addition, Sado has a long history of dairy farming and the pastures of Mount Donden, where the famous breed of Sado cattle graze, are a heartwarming sight.
Shiitake Mushroom Growing
Three quarters of Sado is covered with lush forest where plants belonging to both hot and cold weather systems can be found. Cultivation on oak pulpwood of shiitake mushrooms thrives in particular and Sado accounts for 94 per cent by volume (approximately 43 tons annually) of Niigata Prefecture's production of dried shiitake.
Marine Products
Surrounded by the Japan Sea, Sado is also a treasury of marine products. Seaweed and many types of fish including crab, shrimp, Japanese amberjack, cuttlefish and tuna, are landed at 34 fishing harbors of all sizes. Small, tasty oysters are also raised in Lake Kamo and Mano Bay.
Crafts
Traditional handcrafts practiced on Sado include pottery, bamboo work, wax casting, and rag weaving (sakiori) . Mumyoi pottery using the red clay from the gold mines is particularly famous. There are some twenty workshops engaged in the creation of Mumyoi artefacts and one of the potters is a living national treasure.
Local Sake
Local sake made with Sado's delicious rice and water is smooth and dry. Currently seven sake brewers are engaged in producing sakes which are the delight of connoisseurs.
Population
According to records from 1741, at that time Sado had a population of 90,334. This had increased to 106,262 by 1872. Population peaked just after the Second World War in 1950 when there were 125,597 people living on the island. The figure of 67,384 from the national census of 2005 shows that Sado is no exception to the phenomenon of rural depopulation.