Kuratake, Kumamoto  As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 3,587 and a density of 140.17 persons per km². The total area was 25.59 km². On March 27, 2006, Kuratake, along with the cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, and the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Shinwa and Sumoto (all from Amakusa District), was merged to create the new city of Amakusa and no longer exists as an independent municipality.