Usa

Usa, city, Ōita ken (prefecture), northern Kyushu, Japan; it lies 24 miles (39 km) northwest of the prefectural capital Ōita. The city developed around the site of the first and most famous of shrines dedicated to the Shintō god Hachiman, Usa Hachiman Shrine, which dates to about 717–724. An annual festival is held on March 18, and the Shinkōsai festival, with a procession of portable shrines (mikoshi), is held from July 31 to August 2. The city’s industries turn out machinery, textiles, and rice products (such as ame, or rice jelly), and the region grows rice, vegetables, and mandarin oranges. Pop. (2005) 60,809; (2010) 59,008.