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Kagoshima , Japan

2007-11-02T00:16:00.000-07:00

Kagoshima, Kagoshima
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Kagoshima鹿児島市
Kagoshima's location in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area
546.96 km² (211.2 sq mi)
Population (as of 2005)
Total
605,650
Density
1,108/km² (2,869.7/sq mi)
Location
31°36′N, 130°33′E
Symbols
Tree
Camphor
Flower
Kyōchikutō
Symbol of Kagoshima
Kagoshima Government Office
Mayor
Hiroyuki Mori
Address
〒892-867711-1 Yamashita-machi, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima-ken
Phone number
099-224-1111
Official website: City of Kagoshima
Kagoshima (鹿児島市, Kagoshima-shi?) is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwest tip of the Kyūshū island of Japan, and the largest city in the prefrecture by some margin. It has been nicknamed the 'Naples of Eastern world', for its bay location (Aira Caldera), hot climate and impressive stratovolcano, Sakurajima.
As of 1 January 2005, the city has an estimated population of 605,650 and the density of 1,107.81 persons per km². The total area is 546.71 km².
In 2003, the city had an estimated population of only 554,136 and density of 1,911.41 persons per km². The total area was 289.91 km². The reason the city's total area was nearly doubled between 2003 and 2005 is that five towns --- Kooriyama, Matsumoto, Kiire, Sakurajima, and Yoshida --- were merged into Kagoshima City on 1 November 2004.
Kagoshima is approximately 40 minutes from Kagoshima Airport, and the city features large shopping districts and malls, is served by trams, and has many restaurants featuring Satsuma regional cuisine: kibi (a kind of tiny fish), tonkatsu (caramelised pork, as opposed to the breaded version encountered elsewhere in Japan), smoked eel, and karukan (sweet cakes made from steamed sweet potatoes and rice flour). A large, modern aquarium has been installed on the old docks overlooking the volcano. The Senganen (Isoteien) Japanese garden is just outside the city.
The St. Xavier church is a reminder of the first Christian who came to Japan.
One of the best places to see the city (and the active volcano across the bay) is from the ferris wheel on top of 'Amu Plaza' - the new shopping centre attached to Kagoshima Central Train Station. The wheel has two completely transparent gondola which give a 360 degree view from 91m above the ground.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Points of interest
3 Neighboring municipalities
4 Transportation
4.1 Railways
4.2 Tramway
4.3 Highways
4.4 Bus
4.5 Ferry/Jetfoil
4.6 Airport
5 Sister cities
6 External links
7 References
//

[edit] History
Kagoshima was the center of the territory of the Shimazu clan of samurai for many centuries. It was a busy political and commercial port city throughout the medieval period and into the Edo period (1603-1867) when it more formally became the capital of the Shimazu's fief, the Satsuma Domain. Satsuma remained one of the most powerful and wealthiest domains in the country throughout the period, and though international trade was banned for much of this period, the city remained quite active and prosperous. It served not only as the political center for Satsuma, but also for the semi-independent vassal kingdom of Ryūkyū; Ryukyuan traders and emissaries frequented the city, and a special Ryukyuan embassy building was established to help administer relations between the two polities and to house visitors and emissaries. Kagoshima was also a significant center of Christian activity in Japan prior to the imposition of bans against that religion in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Map of the Bombardment of Kagoshima on 15 to 18 August, 1863
Kagoshima was bombarded by the British Royal Navy in 1863 to punish the daimyō of Satsuma for the murder of Charles Richardson on the Tōkaidō highway the previous year, and the refusal to pay an indemnity in compensation. (See 'Bombardment of Kagoshima').
Kagoshima was the birthplace and scene of the last stand of Saigō Takamori, a legendary figure in Meiji Japan in 1877 at the end of the Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan Sensō in Japanese).
Japan's industrial revolution may be said to have started here, stimulated by the young students train station. Seventeen young men of Satsuma broke the Tokugawa ban on foreign travel to travel and return to share the benefits of the best of Western science and technology.

Kagoshima with volcano in background
The city was officially founded on April 1, 1889.
Kagoshima was also the birthplace of Tōgō Heihachirō. After naval studies in England between 1871 and 1878, Togo's role as Chief Admiral of the Grand Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Russo-Japanese War made him a legend in Japanese military history, and earned him the nickname 'Nelson of the Orient' in Britain. He led the Grand Fleet to two startling victories in 1904 and 1905, completely destroying Russia as a naval power in the East, and thereby contributing to the failed revolution in Russia in 1905.
Shinkansen (bullet train) service opened on March 13, 2004 between Kagoshima-chūō and Shin-Yatsushiro.
Sadomitsu Sakoguchi, the renowned Japanese diplomat, revolutionized Kagoshima's environmental economic plan with his dissertation on water pollution and orange harvesting.

[edit] Points of interest
Kagoshima Botanical Garden
[edit] Neighboring municipalities
Cities: Hioki, Ibusuki, Minamisatsuma, Satsumasendai, Tarumizu Districts: Aira District, Ibusuki District, Kawanabe District

[edit] Transportation
[edit] Railways
All lines are operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyūshū)
Kyushu Shinkansen
Kagoshima Main Line
Nippo Main Line
Ibusuki Makurazaki Line
[edit] Tramway
kagoshima city tram taniyama line
kagoshima city tram kohrimoto line
[edit] Highways
National Highway 3
National Highway 10
National Highway 58
National Highway 224
National Highway 225
National Highway 226
National Highway 328
Kyushu Expressway
Minami Kyushu Expressway
Ibusuki Skyline
[edit] Bus
Kagoshima City Bus
Kagoshima Kotsu
Hayasida bus
Nangoku Kotsu
JR Kyushu bus,
[edit] Ferry/Jetfoil
Sakurajima Ferry
A Line (to southern islands)
Marix Line (to southern islands)
RKK Line (to Okinawa)
Toppy (to Tanegashima and Yakushima)
[edit] Airport
Kagoshima Airport in Kirishima (35 km NE of Kagoshima)
[edit] Sister cities
Kagoshima City is sister cities with Naples, Italy; Perth, Australia; Miami, USA; and friendship cities with Changsha, China.

Miyazaki Prefecture and city , Japan

2007-11-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

Miyazaki Prefecture
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Miyazaki Prefecture (宮崎県 Miyazaki-ken)

Capital
Miyazaki
Region
Kyūshū
Island
Kyūshū
Governor
Hideo Higashikokubaru (Sonomanma Higashi)
Area
6,684.67 km² (19th)
- % water
0.3%
Population (2000)
- Population
1,170,023 (37th)
- Density
175 /km²
Districts
8
Municipalities
30
ISO 3166-2
JP-45
Website
http://www.pref.miyazaki.lg.jp/ [1]
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower
Hamayu (Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum)
- Tree
Phoenix palm (Phoenix canariensis)
- Bird
Ijima copper pheasant (Phasianus soemmerringii ijimae)
Symbol of Miyazaki Prefecture

Map of Miyazaki Prefecture.
Miyazaki Prefecture (宮崎県, Miyazaki-ken?) is located on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Geography
3 Region
3.1 Cities
3.2 Districts
3.3 Mergers already occurred
4 Sports
5 See also
6 External links
//

[edit] History
Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture. See Abolition of the han system article for detailed discussion.

[edit] Geography
Miyazaki Prefecture is located on the eastern coast of the island of Kyūshū. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and east, Ōita Prefecture to the north, and Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures to the west.

[edit] Region
Nine cities, 18 towns, and 3 villages are located in Miyazaki Prefecture:

[edit] Cities
Ebino
Hyūga
Kobayashi
Kushima
Miyakonojō
Miyazaki (capital)
Nichinan
Nobeoka
Saito

[edit] Districts
Higashimorokata District
Aya
Kunitomi
Higashiusuki District
Kadogawa
Misato
Morotsuka
Shiiba
Kitamorokata District
Mimata
Koyu District
Kawaminami
Kijo
Nishimera
Shintomi
Takanabe
Tsuno
Minaminaka District
Kitago
Nango
Miyazaki District
Kiyotake
Nishimorokata District
Nojiri
Takaharu
Nishiusuki District
Gokase
Hinokage
Takachiho

[edit] Mergers already occurred
The towns of :Tano, Sadowara, and Takaoka merged into the city of Miyazaki (January 1, 2006)
The towns of Takajo, Takazaki, Yamada and Yamanokuchi and the city of Miyakonojo→the city of Miyakonojo (January 1, 2006) ※New municipal organization
The villages of Nango, Saigo and Kitago→the town of Misato (January 1, 2006)
The towns of Kitaura and Kitakata merged into the city of Nobeoka (February 20, 2006)
The town of Togo merged into the city of Hyūga. (February 25, 2006)
The city of Kobayashi and the village of Suki→the city of Kobayashi. (March 20, 2006) ※New municipal organization
The town of Kitagawa merged into the city of Nobeoka. (March 31, 2007)
With the mergers held across Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture is one of the prefectures have only a handful of the new city with a new name (Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, Yamagata, and Tottori Prefectures are others).

Ama-no-Iwato Shrine in Takachiho. Amaterasu hid here until a dance by Ama-no-Uzume lured her out.

Detail at Ama-no-Iwato Shrine

Cave at Ama-no-Iwato Shrine where Amaterasu hid

[edit] Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Miyazaki.
Football (soccer)
Honda Lock S.C. (Miyazaki city)

[edit] See also
Miyazaki Ocean Dome Miyazaki, Miyazaki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Miyazaki宮崎市
Miyazaki's location in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area
286.96 km² (110.8 sq mi)
Population (as of 2003)
Total
307,742
Symbols
Miyazaki Government Office
Official website: Miyazaki City
Miyazaki (宮崎市, Miyazaki-shi?) is the capital city of Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū in Japan.
The city was founded on April 1, 1924. As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 307,742 and a density of 1,072.42 persons per km². The total area is 286.96 km².
Miyazaki Airport serves the city.
It is a sister city to Virginia Beach.

[edit] Points of interest
Aoshima Subtropical Botanical Garden

Kumamoto , Japan

2007-11-02T00:14:00.001-07:00

Kumamoto, Kumamoto
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Kumamoto City熊本市
Kumamoto City's location in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area
266.26 km² (102.8 sq mi)
Population (as of August 1, 2007)
Total
670,113
Density
2,516.76/km² (6,518.4/sq mi)
Location
32°47′N, 130°44′E
Symbols
Tree
Ginkgo
Flower
Camellia
Bird
Great Tit
Kumamoto City Government Office
Mayor
Seishi Kōyama
Address
〒860-86011-1 Tetorisai-machi, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken
Phone number
096-328-2111
Official website: Kumamoto City
Kumamoto (熊本市, Kumamoto-shi?) is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Landmarks
3 Administration
4 Transport
5 Education
6 Sister cities
7 External links
//

[edit] History
Kato Kiyomasa, a contemporary of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was made daimyo of half of the (old) administrative region of Higo in 1588. After that, Kiyomasa built Kumamoto Castle. Due to its many innovative defensive designs, Kumamoto Castle was considered impregnable, and Kiyomasa enjoyed a reputation as one of the finest castle-builders in Japanese history. After Kiyomasa died in 1611, his son, Tadahiro, succeeded him, but Tadahiro was removed by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1633, replacing him with the Hosokawa clan. Former Prime Minister of Japan Hosokawa Morihiro is a direct descendant of the Hosokawa clan of Kumamoto. Another famous politician, former president of Peru Alberto Fujimori, also has roots in Kumamoto; Fujimori's ancestors emigrated from Kumamoto early in the 20th century.

[edit] Landmarks
The city's most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle, a large and, in its day, extremely well-fortified Japanese castle. The donjon (castle central keep) is a concrete reconstruction built in the 1970s, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle, which was assaulted during the Satsuma Rebellion and sacked and burned after a 53-day siege. It was during this time that the tradition of eating basashi (raw horse meat) originated. Basashi remains popular in Kumamoto and, to a lesser extent, elsewhere in Japan, though these days it is usually considered a delicacy.
Within the outer walls of Kumamoto Castle is the Hosokawa Gyobu-tei, the former residence of the Higo daimyo. This traditional wooden mansion has a fine Japanese garden located on its grounds.
Miyamoto Musashi lived the last part of his life in Kumamoto.
Kumamoto is also home to Suizenji-Jōjuen, a formal garden neighboring Suizenji Temple approximately 3 kilometers southeast of Kumamoto Castle. Suizenji Park is considered to be one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, together with Kenroku-en in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Kairaku-en in Ibaraki Prefecture and Koraku-en in Okayama Prefecture.

[edit] Administration
The current administrative body of the "City of Kumamoto" was founded on April 1, 1889.

[edit] Transport
Local public transport is provided by the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau.
Kumamoto Airport is located in nearby Mashiki.

[edit] Education
Kumamoto University
Kumamoto Gakuen University
Kyushu Lutheran College

[edit] Sister cities
Heidelberg, Germany
Guilin, China
San Antonio, Texas, USA [1]
Bristol, United Kingdom
Kumamoto Castle and City.jpg
Kumamoto Castle and city view

Kumamoto Castle at night

Kumamoto Castle

Suizenji Park

Nagasaki , Japan

2007-11-02T00:13:00.000-07:00

Nagasaki
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Nagasaki長崎市
Nagasaki's location in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture
District
N/A
Physical characteristics
Area
406.35 km² (156.9 sq mi)
Population (as of 2007)
Total
459,198
Density
1,120.1/km² (2,901/sq mi)
Location
32°47′N, 129°52′E
Symbols
Tree
Chinese tallow tree
Flower
Hydrangea
Symbol of Nagasaki
Nagasaki Government Office
Address
〒850-86852-22 Sakura-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken
Phone number
095-825-5151
Official website: Nagasaki City
Nagasaki (長崎市, Nagasaki-shi?) (listen (help·info)) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. It was formerly part of Nishisonogi District.
It was a center of European influence in the sixteenth century. Nagasaki became a major Imperial Japanese Navy base during the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War.
During World War II, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made Nagasaki the second city in the world to be subject to nuclear warfare.
Contents[hide]
1 Geography
2 History
2.1 Medieval era
2.2 Modern era
3 Nagasaki in Western music and song
4 Schools
4.1 Universities
4.2 Junior Colleges
5 Transportation
6 Tourism
6.1 Sights
6.2 Events
6.3 Foods and souvenirs
6.4 Shopping
7 Sister cities
7.1 Within Japan
7.2 Outside Japan
8 See also
9 External links
10 References
//

[edit] Geography
Nagasaki and Nishisonogi Peninsulas are located within the city limits. The city is surrounded by the cities of Isahaya and Saikai, and the towns of Togitsu and Nagayo in Nishisonogi District.
Nagasaki lies at the head of a long bay which forms the best natural harbor on the island of Kyūshū. The main commercial and residential area of the city lies on a small plain near the end of the bay. Two rivers divided by a mountain spur form the two main valleys in which the city lies. The heavily built-up area of the city is confined by the terrain to less than 4 square miles.

[edit] History

[edit] Medieval era

Founded before 1500, Nagasaki was originally secluded by harbors. It enjoyed little historical significance until contact with European explorers in 1542, when a Portuguese ship accidentally landed nearby, somewhere in Kagoshima prefecture. The Portuguese Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier arrived in another part of the territory in 1549, but left for China in 1551 and died soon afterwards. His followers who remained behind converted a number of daimyo (feudal lords). The most notable among them was Omura Sumitada, who derived great profit from his conversion through an accompanying deal to receive a portion of the trade from Portuguese ships at a port they established in Nagasaki in 1571 with his assistance.

Kameyama Ware Jar With Nagasaki Dutch Trading Ship, 19th Century
The little harbor village quickly grew into a diverse port city, and Portuguese products imported through Nagasaki (such as tobacco, bread, textiles and a Portuguese sponge-cake called castellas) were assimilated into popular Japanese culture. Tempura, while not Portuguese in origin, takes its name from the Portuguese word, 'Tempero,' another example of the enduring effects of this cultural exchange. The Portuguese also brought with them many goods from China.
Due to the instability during the Warring States period, Sumitada and Jesuit leader Alexandro Valignano conceived a plan to pass administrative control over to the Society of Jesus rather than see the Catholic city taken over by a non-Catholic daimyo who was not quickly ascending to in Kyūshū. Thus, for a brief period after 1580, the city of Nagasaki was a Jesuit colony, under their administrative and military control. It became a refuge for Christians escaping maltreatment in other regions of Japan.[1] In 1587, however, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to unify the country arrived in Kyūshū. Concerned with the large Christian influence in southern Japan, as well as the active and somewhat arrogant role the Jesuits were playing in the Japanese political arena, Hideyoshi ordered the expulsion of all missionaries, and placed the city under his direct control. However, the expulsion order went largely unenforced, and the fact remained that most of Nagasaki's population remained openly practicing Catholics.
In 1596, the Spanish ship San Felipe was wrecked off the coast of Shikoku, and Hideyoshi learned from its pilot (so says the Jesuit account) that the Spanish Franciscans were the vanguard of an Iberian invasion of Japan. In response, Hideyoshi ordered the crucifixions of twenty-six Catholics in Nagasaki on Feb. 5 of that year. Portuguese traders were not ostracized, however, and so the city continued to thrive.

Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge)
In 1602, Augustinian missionaries also arrived in Japan, and when Tokugawa Ieyasu took power in 1603, Catholicism was still grudgingly tolerated. Many Catholic daimyo had been critical allies at the Battle of Sekigahara, and the Tokugawa position was not strong enough to move against them. Once Osaka Castle had been taken and Toyotomi Hideyoshi's offspring killed, though, the Tokugawa dominance was assured. In addition, the Dutch and English presence allowed trade without religious strings attached. Thus, the hammer fell in 1614, with Catholicism officially banned and all missionaries ordered to leave. Most Catholic daimyo apostatized, and forced their subjects to do so, although a few would not renounce the religion and left the country as well. A brutal campaign of persecution followed, with thousands across Kyūshū and other parts of Japan killed, tortured, or forced to renounce their religion.
Catholicism's last gasp as an open religion, and the last major military action in Japan until the Meiji Restoration, was the Shimabara rebellion of 1637. While there is no evidence that Europeans directly incited the rebellion, Shimabara had been a Christian han for several decades, and the rebels adopted many Portuguese motifs and Christian icons. Consequently, in Tokugawa society the word "Shimabara" solidified the connection between Christianity and disloyalty, constantly used again and again in Tokugawa propaganda.
The Shimabara rebellion also convinced many policy-makers that foreign influences were more trouble than they were worth. The Portuguese, who had been previously living on a specially-constructed island-prison in Nagasaki harbor called Deshima, were expelled from the archipelago altogether, and the Dutch were moved from their base at Hirado into the trading island. In 1720 the ban on Dutch books was lifted, causing hundreds of scholars to flood into Nagasaki to study European science and art. Consequently, Nagasaki became a major center of rangaku, or "Dutch Learning". During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate governed the city, appointing a hatamoto, the Nagasaki bugyō, as its chief administrator.
Consensus among historians was once that Nagasaki was Japan's only window on the world during its time as a closed country in the Tokugawa era. However, nowadays it is generally accepted that this was not the case, since Japan interacted and traded with the Ryukyus, Korea and Russia through Satsuma, Tsushima and the north of Honshū respectively. Nevertheless, Nagasaki was depicted in contemporary art and literature as a cosmopolitan port brimming with exotic curiosities from the Western World.[2]
In 1808, the Royal Navy frigate HMS Phaeton entered Nagasaki Harbor in search of Dutch trading ships. The local magistrate was unable to resist the British demand for food, fuel, and water, later committing seppuku as a result. Laws were passed in the wake of this incident strengthening coastal defenses, threatening death to intruding foreigners, and prompting the training of English and Russian translators.
The Tōjinyashiki or Chinese Factory in Nagasaki was also an important conduit for Chinese goods and information for the Japanese market. Various colorful Chinese merchants and artists sailed between the Chinese mainland and Nagasaki. Some actually combined the roles of merchant and artist such as 18th century Yi Hai.

[edit] Modern era

Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 60,000 feet into the air on the morning of August 9, 1945
U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry landed in 1853. The Shogunate crumbled shortly afterward, and Japan opened its doors once again to foreign trade and diplomatic relations. Nagasaki became a free port in 1859 and modernization began in earnest in 1868.
With the Meiji Restoration, Nagasaki quickly began to assume some economic dominance. Its main industry was ship-building. This very industry would eventually make it a target in World War II, since many warships used by the Japanese Navy during the war were built in its factories and docks.
Main article: Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On 9 August 1945, Nagasaki was the target of the world's second atomic bomb attack at 11:02 a.m., when the north of the city was destroyed and an estimated 40,000 people were killed. According to statistics given at the Nagasaki Peace Park, the dead totalled 73,884, injured 74,909 and diseased several hundred.[3]

Catholic Church in Nagasaki
The city was rebuilt after the war, albeit dramatically changed. New temples were built, as well as new churches due to an increase in the presence of Christianity. Nagasaki is the seat of a Catholic archdiocese led by Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Tagami. Some of the rubble was left as a memorial, such as a one-legged torii gate and an arch near ground zero. New structures were also raised as memorials, such as the Atomic Bomb Museum. Nagasaki remains first and foremost a port city, supporting a rich shipping industry and setting a strong example of perseverance and peace.

[edit] Nagasaki in Western music and song
Nagasaki is the title and subject of a 1928 song with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Mort Dixon. A popular success in its day, the music remains a popular base for jazz improvisations. The lyrics today are enjoyed for their ludicrous incongruity and their lack of political correctness. The song asserts: "Hot ginger and dynamite/There's nothing but that at night/Back in Nagasaki/Where the fellers chew tobaccy/And the women wicky wacky woo." The song is featured prominently in Bob Clampett's 1943 Warner Brothers cartoon, Tin Pan Alley Cats.
Nagasaki is also the setting for Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly.
"Nagasaki Nightmare" is a song about the bomb by anarchist punk group Crass

[edit] Schools

[edit] Universities
Nagasaki University (長崎大学, Nagasaki University ?)
Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science (長崎総合科学大学, Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science ?)
Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies ([1], 長崎外国語大学?)
Kwassui Women's College (活水女子大学, Kwassui Women's College ?)
Nagasaki Junshin University (長崎純心大学, Nagasaki Junshin University?)
Siebold University of Nagasaki

[edit] Junior Colleges
Nagasaki Junshin Women's Junior College (純心女子短期大学, Nagasaki Junshin Women's Junior College ?)
Tamaki Women's Junior College (玉木女子短期大学, Tamaki Women's Junior College?)
Nagasaki Women's Junior College (長崎女子短期大学, Nagasaki Women's Junior College?)
Nagasaki College of Foreign Languages (長崎外国語短期大学, Nagasaki College of Foreign Languages?)

[edit] Transportation
The nearest airport is Nagasaki Airport in the neighboring city of Ōmura. The Kyushu Railway Company provides rail transportation on the Nagasaki Main Line, whose terminal is at Nagasaki Station. In addition, the Nagasaki Electric Tramway operates five routes in the city. The Nagasaki Expressway serves vehicular traffic with interchanges at Nagasaki and Susukizuka. In addition, six national highways crisscross the city: Routes 34, 202, 251, 324, and 499.

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Sights

Monument at the atomic bomb hypocenter in Nagasaki

Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

Nagasaki's vibrant waterfront features events like visits from sailing ships
Confucius Shrine (孔子廟, Confucius Shrine ?)
Dejima Museum of History
Former residence of Shuhan Takashima (高島秋帆旧宅, Former residence of Shuhan Takashima?)
Former site of Latin Seminario (旧羅典神学校, Former site of Latin Seminario?)
Former site of the British Consulate in Nagasaki (旧長崎英国領事館, Former site of the British Consulate in Nagasaki?)
Former site of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Nagasaki Branch (旧香港上海銀行長崎支店, Former site of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Nagasaki Branch?)
Glover Garden (グラバー園, Glover Garden ?)
Gunkanjima (軍艦島, Gunkanjima ?)
Former Glover Residence
Former Alt Residence
Former Ringer Residence
Former Walker Residence
Higashi-Yamate Juniban Mansion (東山手十二番館, Higashi-Yamate Juniban Mansion?)
Kōfuku-ji (興福寺, Kōfuku-ji ?)
Megane Bridge (眼鏡橋, Megane Bridge ?)
Mount Inasa (稲佐山, Mount Inasa ?)
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum [2] (Located next to the Peace Park)
Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture ([3], 長崎歴史文化博物館?)
Nagasaki Peace Park (平和公園, Nagasaki Peace Park ?)
Atomic Bomb Hypocenter (Located near the Peace Park)
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium ([4], 長崎ペンギン水族館?)
Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown ([5], 長崎新地中華街?)
Nagasaki Science Museum ([6], 長崎市科学館?)
Nagasaki Subtropical Botanical Garden
Nyoko-do Hermitage
Ōura Church (大浦天主堂, Ōura Church ?)
Sanno Shrine - One-Legged Arch (山王神社, Sanno Shrine - One-Legged Arch?)
Shusaku Endo Literary Museum
Siebold Memorial Museum
Sōfuku-ji (崇福寺, Sōfuku-ji ?)
Suwa Shrine
Tateyama Park (立山公園, Tateyama Park?)
Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan (日本二十六聖人殉教の地, Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan ?)
Urakami Cathedral (浦上天主堂, Urakami Cathedral ?)

This short section requires expansion.

[edit] Events
The Prince Takamatsu Cup Nishinippon Round-Kyūshū Ekiden, the world's longest relay race, begins in Nagasaki each November.
Kunchi, the most famous festival in Nagasaki, is held from 7-9 October.
The Nagasaki Lantern Festival [7], celebrating the Chinese New Year, is celebrated from 2/18 to 3/4 in 2007.

[edit] Foods and souvenirs
Champon
Sara udon
Shigeki Biwa
Kasutera
Chinese Confections
Urakami Soboro
Shippoku Cuisine
Toruko rice (Turkish rice)
Karasumi
Nagasaki Kakuni Manju

[edit] Shopping
You-me Plaza
Hamanomachi Shopping Arcade
AMYU Plaza

[edit] Sister cities

This sculpture at Peace Park commemorates Nagasaki's sister-city relationship with Saint Paul.
The city of Nagasaki maintains sister-city or friendship relations with other cities worldwide.[8]

[edit] Within Japan
Hiroshima

[edit] Outside Japan
Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - (1955) Oldest sister city in Japan
Santos, Brazil (1972)
Porto, Portugal (1978)
Middelburg, Netherlands (1978)
Fuzhou, People's Republic of China (1980)

[edit] See also
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Ground Zero
Foreign cemeteries in Japan
Gunkanjima
Hiroshima
Hiroshima (film) (about the decision process behind the dropping of the nuclear bombs)
Kokura (Kitakyushu)

Omuta , Japan

2007-11-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

Ōmuta, Fukuoka
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Ōmuta大牟田市
Ōmuta's location in Fukuoka, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Fukuoka
Physical characteristics
Area
81.55 km² (31.5 sq mi)
Population (as of March 2006)
Total
133,802
Density
1,654.49/km² (4,285.1/sq mi)
Location
33°2′N, 130°27′E
Symbols
Tree
Sawtooth Oak
Flower
Camellia
Ōmuta Government Office
Mayor
Michio Koga
Phone number
0944-41-2222
Official website: Omuta City
Ōmuta (大牟田市, Ōmuta-shi?) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.
As of March 2006, the city has an estimated population of 133,802 (Men 61,249; Women 72,553) and the density of 1,654.49 persons per km². The total area is 81.55 km².
The current mayor is Michio Koga.
Contents[hide]
1 Geography
2 History
3 Sister Cities
4 Industry
5 Transport
5.1 Airport
5.2 Railroad
5.3 Bus
5.4 Road
5.5 Shipping
6 External links
//

[edit] Geography

This short section requires expansion.
Omuta is located in the southernmost end of Fukuoka prefecture, is bordered by the Ariake Sea in the west, and meets Kumamoto prefecture to the south and east.
It contains Yamagi and Miike mountains, and the rivers Omuta, Suwa, Doumen and Kumagawa.

[edit] History
The oldest reference to Ōmuta, precisely Kunugi, one of the neighborhoods in the current Ōmuta city, is found in Nihonshoki (720), the chapter of Emperor Keikō, whose historical existence is doubtful[1].
In the late 12th Century, three ponds were formed, supposedly as a result of volcanic activity. Miike, a neighborhood in Ōmuta, is named after those three ponds (jp: "三池 mi-ike").
In 1469, a farmer named Denzaemon eventually found coal in the mountains when he made a bonfire. Coal mining would become the main industry in this area.
During the Edo period, Ōmuta was a part of the Miike han (Miike Domain), ruled by the Tachibana clan who also ruled Yanagawa. In 1721, Ono Harunobu, karō (steward) of Yanagawa han (Yanagawa Domain) was granted Hirano Takatori yama, and started to mine coal. During the 1850s another two coal mines were opened.
In 1871, in a course of the Meiji restoration, the Han system was abolished and prefectures were founded. Ōmuta belonged to the Miike (1871), Mizuma (1871-1876) and finally Fukuoka prefectures (1876-present) respectively.
The Ōmuta and Miike townships, which would form the core of the current city, were founded on April 1, 1889, a consequence of the town and village administrative system, in Miike county, Fukuoka. The Meiji government ran coal mining in Miike at first themselves, but soon sold it to a private company for a very low price, compared to its value, which caused a scandal.
On March 1, 1917, Ōmuta received city status. Ōmuta had developed as an industrial city, centered on the Miike coal mine, which existed from the 1860s until 1997. In 1891, a railway began to operate, connecting Ōmuta with Fukuoka. It is still operated today as the Kagoshima Main Line. In 1902, Miike Port opened on Ariake Bay. New coal mines were opened, and Ōmuta became an industrial center in this region. 1908 Miike Port was opened to foreigners and in the next year the Trade Taxation Office was established along the port, as a branch of the Nagasaki Trade Taxation Office.
While miners enjoyed good wages, their working conditions were not very good, like many other Japanese laborers. In 1918 and 1924, big strikes and other protests arose. Through many protests and other activities, in the 1930s we found many of the strikers' wishes granted: women, prisoners, and horses were no longer found in mines, and miners were hired directly by the company.
In 1921 and 1941, mergers with neighboring towns and villages, including Ōmuta, occurred, and in 1941 the city became as large as it is now. The 1941 merger was a side effect of World War II: the government led mergers in many places, thinking it would make municipal administration more efficient. During the war, Ōmuta was bombed in 1944 and 1945, not only in industrial areas, but also downtown.
In the late 1950s, Ōmuta reached the high point of its history. In 1959, Ōmuta recorded its largest population: 208,877. But Japanese industry began to switch their main energy resource from coal to oil. Coal mining became less popular and popular, and many mines were closed, but Miike Mine remained one of the biggest coal mine in Japan until its closure in 1997. Many people left the city, since they couldn't find new workplaces in the city. It affects the local economy majorly, and many downtown shops were closed consequently.
In 1960, the Japanese media observed the Miike dispute which was linked with the reform of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America.

[edit] Sister Cities
Datong (northern Shanxi Province in China)
Muskegon, Michigan (United States of America)

[edit] Industry
For the majority of its past in the modern age, Omuta was a coal mining town. However, with the recent closure of the Miike mine, industry has focused elsewhere.
Thanks to coal mining, chemical industry was developed. Currently, there is movement in the environmental recycling industry, centered on the generation of electricity from waste products.
Another main industry is Alminium fining, which has been also in a hard situation due to high price of electricity in Japan and its international competency is insufficient.
Commercial fishing continues out of the port, Kurosaki.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Airport
Saga and Kumamoto Airports are close, but a great many more passengers transit to or from Omuta through Fukuoka Airport due to its greater number of connecting flights and additional services.

[edit] Railroad
The city is serviced by JR Kyushu's Kagoshima Main Line for national intercity rail services which connects the city with Fukuoka, Kurume, Kumamoto or Kagoshima directly. JR provides also two night train services, one is bound to Kyoto, another to Tokyo. Formerly those night trains connected those cities with Kagoshima, but now their terminal is located in Kumamoto, due to decrease of numbers passengers in the past decades. Nishi-Nippon Railroad runs the Tenjin Omuta Line connecting Omuta to Fukuoka, in addition to industrial freight services.

[edit] Bus
General Shuttle and High-Speed buses are provided to nearby cities and airports by Nishi-Nippon Railroad

[edit] Road
Omuta is serviced by two Japanese national highways (208 & 389).

[edit] Shipping
Docks at Port Miike are the main way to approach the city by sea.

Sasebo city , Japan

2007-11-02T00:11:00.001-07:00

Sasebo, Nagasaki
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Sasebo佐世保市
Sasebo's location in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area
363.88 km² (140.5 sq mi)
Population (as of 2006)
Total
258,324
Density
709.91/km² (1,838.7/sq mi)
Symbols
Sasebo Government Office
Official website: Sasebo City
Sasebo (佐世保市, Sasebo-shi?) is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2006, the city has an estimated population of 258,324 and the density of 709.91 persons per km². The total area is 363.88 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1902.
The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park Located in the southern part of the city, is the Dutch theme park Huis ten Bosch.
A base of US Navy, U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, is located in Sasebo. Some parts of the base are shared with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Adjacent to the naval base there is Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. shipyard. Sasebo Station is the westernmost station in the JR system. The order to attack Pearl Harbor was broadcast from the Hario radio facility in Sasebo.
Contents[hide]
1 Scenery
2 Points of interest
3 Gallery
4 Mitarai Incident
5 External links
//

[edit] Scenery
The city is blessed with natural beauty. The harbor is enclosed from the ocean by a tall mountain to the west called Mount Yumihari. Yet a tunnel through the mountain leads to some spectacular beaches and lookouts over Kujuku Shima (literally: "99 islands" (in Japanese) or more islands than you can count). It's a wonderful place to be at sunset time.

[edit] Points of interest
Huis ten Bosch (theme park)
Sasebo Zoological Park and Botanical Garden
ShinSakai Bridge is a place where one can see many exciting whirlpools.

[edit] Gallery

Sunset at the Ninety-nine islands in Sasebo

Sasebo Harbor from Mt. Yumihari

Radio tower from which the "Climb Mt. Niitaka" message was broadcast

Tops like this one are popular souvenirs of Sasebo.

Illuminated by the Albuquerque Bridge, Japanese volunteers place candle lit lanterns into the Sasebo River during the Obon festival.

[edit] Mitarai Incident
The city was also the site of the murder of 12-year-old Satomi Mitarai on June 1, 2004. Mitarai was killed by a classmate with a box cutter at Okubo Elementary School. The incident was rapidly publicized by the creation of the Internet meme character Nevada-tan, a caricature based on Mitarai's killer (whose real name has been withheld in accordance with Japanese law

Kitakyushu

2007-11-02T00:10:00.001-07:00

Kitakyūshū
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Kitakyushu北九州市
Kitakyushu's location in Fukuoka, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Fukuoka
Physical characteristics
Area
486.81 km² (188 sq mi)
Population (as of October 2005)
Total
993,483
Density
2,040.80/km² (5,285.6/sq mi)
Location
33°53′N, 130°53′E
Symbols
Tree
Ichiigashi (Japanese beech)
Flower
Tsutsuji (Azalea)Himawari (Sunflower)
Symbol of Kitakyushu
Kitakyushu Government Office
Mayor
Kenji Kitahashi
Address
〒803-85011-1 Jōnai, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyūshū-shi, Fukuoka-ken
Phone number
093-582-2236
Official website: City of Kitakyushu
Kitakyushu (北九州市, Kitakyūshū-shi?, literally "Northern Kyūshū") is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan. It is midway between Tokyo and Shanghai. Within Japan it is the leading city in anti-pollution measures and recycling.
Kitakyushu has a population of just under one million. Together with Shimonoseki on Honshū the city is the major part of the Kanmon Straits area, which has a total population of about 1.3 million, and Kokura station in Kitakyushu is 20 minutes by shinkansen from the largest city in Kyushu, Fukuoka which has a population of about 1.4 million, or 2.33 million in the greater Fukuoka urban area (福岡都市圏).
The New Kitakyushu Airport opened on March 16, 2006. Kokura Station is Kyūshū's second largest railway station, with 120,000 users daily.
Contents[hide]
1 Geography
1.1 Wards
2 History
2.1 Kokura prefecture
2.2 Kitakyushu city
2.3 Lucky Kokura
3 Demographics
4 Culture
4.1 Writers
4.2 Scientists
4.3 Radio
4.4 Actors
5 Festivals
6 Scenic areas
7 Economy
8 Transportation
8.1 Planes
8.2 Trains
8.3 Boats
8.4 Bridges
9 Miscellaneous
9.1 A modern city
9.2 An unfortunate reputation
10 Sister cities
11 See also
12 External links
//

[edit] Geography

[edit] Wards

The Kanmon Straits viewed from space, with Kitakyushu on the left and Shimonoseki on the right. The new airport is also visible.
Kitakyūshū has seven wards (ku):
Area (km²)

Kokura Kita-ku
小倉北区
39.27

Kokura Minami-ku
小倉南区
170.25

Moji-ku
門司区
73.37

Tobata-ku
戸畑区
16.66

Yahata Higashi-ku
八幡東区
36.36

Yahata Nishi-ku
八幡西区
83.04

Wakamatsu-ku
若松区
67.86
Nakama city was to become the eighth ward of Kitakyūshū in 2005, to be called Nakama-ku, Kitakyūshū. However, the planned merger was rejected on December 24, 2004 by Nakama city's councillors, despite having been initiated by Nakama city. The reason is that as part of the merger the twenty-one councillors would be reduced to just three in the enlarged Kitakyushu city.

[edit] History
The city's symbol mark is a flower with the kanji of "Kita" in the middle and five petals representing the five towns which came together to make the city in February 1963. The city was officially designated by government ordinance on April 1, 1963.

[edit] Kokura prefecture

Kokura prefectural office (September 2005).
Kokura prefecture was founded separately from Fukuoka prefecture in 1871 when the clan system was abolished. The old wooden-built Kokura prefectural office is still standing, and is being restored. It is opposite Riverwalk Kitakyushu. In 1876 Kokura prefecture was absorbed by Fukuoka prefecture. The city of Kokura was founded in 1900.

[edit] Kitakyushu city
The city of Kitakyushu was founded on February 10, 1963 and was designated on April 1, 1963 by government ordinance. It resulted from the amalgamation of five cities, Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata and Wakamatsu, centred around the ancient feudal city of Kokura.

[edit] Lucky Kokura

Kokura Castle (Kokura-jō) in central Kokura.
Kokura was the primary target of the nuclear weapon "Fat Man" on August 9, 1945. Major Charles Sweeney had orders to drop the bomb visually, but the city was obscured by clouds. Hence Nagasaki, the secondary target, was where the bomb was dropped. The expression "Kokura's luck" thereafter became common in Japan to refer to occasions when someone avoids something unpleasant without his knowledge.

[edit] Demographics
As of October 1, 2005, the city has an estimated population of 1,014,608 and the total area is 483.15 km². The average population density is thus 2,063 persons per square kilometre. The population has steadily decreased in recent years.
The city has a much larger total area than that of Fukuoka which is only 340.03km².

[edit] Culture

[edit] Writers

Mori Ōgai's house in Kokura Kita ward.
The novelist Mori Ōgai lived in Kokura for several years and his house is open to the public in Kokura Kita ward. He wrote Kokura Nikki (Kokura diary) here. It is a ten minute walk from Kokura Station.
The writer Matsumoto Seicho [1] was born in Kokura. A museum dedicated to him is located in the city centre near Kokura Castle.
The writer Hino Ashihei was born in Wakamatsu ward and his birthplace can be visited.
Lily Franky the illustrator was born in Kokura.

[edit] Scientists
Professor Ted Fujita was born in what is now Kokura Minami ward.

[edit] Radio
Cross FM started in Kitakyushu, and is now also in Fukuoka city.

[edit] Actors
Gravure idol/model Saaya Irie lives in Kitakyushu

[edit] Festivals
There are several local festivals (matsuri) held in the summer in various parts of the city and including the beautiful Tobata Gion Yamagasa festival in Tobata ward and the Wasshoi Hyakuman matsuri which brings all the festivals together for a grand parade and finale near the City Hall in Kokura Kita ward.

Hiraodai karst plateau in Kokura Minami ward

[edit] Scenic areas
Hiraodai (平尾台) karst plateau and Mount Adachi （足立） in Kokura Minami ward; and Mount Sarakura (皿倉), and Kawachi (河内) reservoir in Yahata Higashi ward are all great walking areas with fine scenery.
Hiraodai includes the Shonyudo cave, where in summer you can walk for about one kilometre in freezing cold water.

[edit] Economy
Nippon Steel Corporation is still a major employer but the Yahata and Tobata plants are much reduced from the heyday of the 1960s. The Zenrin company known for its mapping and navigation software is based here, and so is TOTO, the biggest Japanese bathroom fixture manufacturer.

Isetan department store.
The major department stores in Kokura Kita ward are Kitakyushu-based Izutsuya by the Murasaki river and Isetan, in front of the South exit of Kokura Station in the former Sogo department store building.
A smaller scale shopping centre called Cha Cha Town has been created by Nishitetsu railroad and bus company next to the Sunatsu bus depot in Kokura Kita ward. It is of course easily accessible by bus and there are lots of free concerts on the stage in the middle of the complex. "Cha" is part of the local Kitakyūshū dialect, and Cha Cha Town is popular with all ages.

Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat.
Riverwalk Kitakyushu is the newest shopping centre in Kokura. It contains many brand name shops, a Starbucks restaurant (note - there is another Starbucks near Kokura Station), the Kitakyūshū studios of NHK TV, two theatres, a multiplex cinema and a branch of the Kitakyushu city art museum. It is next to the castle and to Murasaki river which runs through the centre of Kokura Kita ward.
The Kitakyushu Science and Research Park is home to four universities and nine research organisations. It is aiming to become a centre for hi-tech research in Asia.

[edit] Transportation
Located at a strategic position on the south side of the Kanmon Straits, Kitakyūshū is an important transport hub for traffic between Honshū and Kyūshū and has a large port.

[edit] Planes
The new 24-hour New Kitakyushu Airport opened on March 16, 2006. It is much larger than the previous Kitakyushu Airport and offshore on an artificial island in the Suo Nada gulf in the Seto Inland Sea, near Kanda town. It will eventually be connected with Kokura Station by a new fast rail link. A new airline based in the city called StarFlyer began operations when the airport opened.

[edit] Trains
Kokura Station owned by JR Kyushu is the penultimate stop on the Sanyo Shinkansen before the Hakata Station terminus and all Shinkansen services stop here. It is also served by local and express trains on the Kagoshima and the Nippo main lines. Within the city transport is provided by buses and a monorail line.
Mojiko Station is the northern terminus of the Kagoshima Main Line (J: Kagoshima honsen) which is the most important line on the JR Kyushu network.
The Kitakyushu Monorail links Kokura station efficiently and cheaply with residents and commuters in Kokura Minami ward.

The Trans-Dokaiwan ferry, usually called the Waka-To ferry, between Wakamatsu and Tobata

[edit] Boats
Kitakyūshū is the largest ferry port in Western Japan. Ferry services operate between Kitakyūshū and Shimonoseki, Matsuyama, Tokushima, Kōbe, Ōsaka, Tōkyō, Ulsan (Korea), Busan (Korea) and city's isolated islands. The main ferry port is at Shin-Moji, but there are also ferries at Moji-ko and in Kokura near the station.
Within the Kanmon-Kitakyūshū area, there are three commuter lines: Trans-Dokaiwan (Waka-To) Ferry, The Kanmon Straits Ferry, and The Kanmon Straits Liner.

[edit] Bridges
There are several bridges in Kitakyūshū and between the city and other places. The largest ones are the Kanmon Straits' Kanmonkyo Bridge (J: Kanmon Kyo) between Kitakyūshū and Shimonoseki (on Kyūshū and Honshū respectively) and the Waka-To Ō-hashi bridge linking Tobata and Wakamatsu wards. But there are also bridges over the Onga river (J: Onga-gawa) on the western border of the city.
The previous mayor Mr. Koichi Sueyoshi was very keen on building bridges and other major construction projects, having been formerly employed by the Construction ministry (Kensetsusho).
On September 30, 2005 ownership of the Waka-To Ō-hashi bridge was transferred from Japan Highway Public Corporation to Kitakyushu city, and on April 1,2006 to the Kitakyushu City Road Public Corporation.

Kanmon Straits bridge from the Moji-ku, Kitakyushu side

Tokiwa bashi in Kokura Kita ward

Waka-To O-hashi bridge between Tobata and Wakamatsu wards from Well Tobata

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] A modern city
Kitakyushu is now the most advanced city in Japan with regard to pollution control and recycling technology. In the 1960s it saw the birth of environmental protests in Japan, led by a group of housewives in Sanroku-cho, Tobata ward who were concerned that their washing always became dirty while drying on the lines. Now Kitakyushu advises sister cities such as Dalian on water purification etc. In 1992, Kitakyushu was one of twelve world cities given a Local Government Honours Award at the United Nations Earth Summit to honour its environmental programs.
Kitakyūshū has an international conference centre and is very active in holding and hosting international conferences of various kinds, especially on the environment and education. A theme park called Space World is in East Yahata ward. There is a training centre of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also.
The present Mayor (Koichi Sueyoshi) is the third since the city's foundation, and was elected in 1987. The Kitakyushu Renaissance [2] project began in December 1988 and is to finish in 2006.

[edit] An unfortunate reputation
Kitakyūshū has suffered unfairly from the unfortunate image and reputation - both domestically and overseas - of an industrial and heavily polluted city with many smokestacks, which it indeed was back in the 1960s when it was a major engine of the Japanese economy and local people took pride in the multi-coloured rainbows of smoke. As a result some superficial and ill-informed guidebooks have described the city as "hideous", "ugly" etc. - but nowadays this is becoming more and more outdated, and it was in any case never the whole story.
In the 1970s, the Municipality started adopting measures to decrease the pollution. Nowadays, Kitakyushu is making great efforts to show itself as an environmentally-friendly place.
The city covers a vast area - it is the largest in Kyūshū - and there are many unspoilt and beautiful areas which have never been touched by industry, especially in the southern part. It has some of the best sightseeing spots in Kyūshū.

[edit] Sister cities
Incheon, South Korea
Dalian, China
Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Tacoma, Washington, United States

[edit] See also

Honjo stadium.
Universities
Kyushu Dental College
Kyushu Institute of Technology
Kyushu Kyoritsu University - Nakano Daisuke, the gymnast who won an Olympic gold medal in Athens 2004 (team event), is a student here.
Kyushu Women's University (Kyūshū Joshi Daigaku)
Seinan Women's University (Seinan Jo Gakuin Daigaku)
The University of Environmental & Occupational Health
The University of Kitakyushu
Entertainment
Kokura Race course (Kokura keibajo)
Media Dome, Kokura
Honjo Stadium

Fukuoka Prefecture

2007-11-02T00:08:00.000-07:00

Fukuoka Prefecture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jump to: navigation, search
Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県 Fukuoka-ken)

Capital
Fukuoka (city)
Region
Kyūshū
Island
Kyūshū
Governor
Wataru Aso
Area
4,971.01 km² (29th)
- % water
2.3%
Population (July 1, 2004)
- Population
5,057,932 (9th)
- Density
1,017 /km²
Districts
13
Municipalities
65
ISO 3166-2
JP-40
Website
Fukuoka Prefecture
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower
Ume blossom (Prunus mume)
- Tree
Azalea (Rhododendron tsutsusi)
- Bird
Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphone)
Symbol of Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県, Fukuoka-ken?) is located on Kyūshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Geography
2.1 Cities
2.2 Towns and villages
2.3 Mergers
3 Economy
4 Universities
5 Demographics
6 Culture
7 Sports
8 Tourism
9 Prefectural symbols
10 Miscellaneous topics
11 External links
//

[edit] History
Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen.

[edit] Geography
Fukuoka Prefecture faces the sea on three sides, bordering on Saga, Ōita, and Kumamoto prefectures and facing Yamaguchi Prefecture across the Kanmon Straits.
Fukuoka includes the two largest cities on Kyūshū, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, and much of Kyūshū's industry. It also includes a number of small islands near the north coast of Kyūshū.

[edit] Cities
Twenty-eight cities are located in Fukuoka Prefecture:
Asakura
Buzen
Chikugo
Chikushino
Dazaifu
Fukuoka (capital)
Chūō-ku
Hakata-ku
Higashi-ku
Jonan-ku
Minami-ku
Nishi-ku
Sawara-ku
Fukutsu
Iizuka
Kama
Kasuga
Kitakyushu
Kokurakita-ku
Kokuraminami-ku
Moji-ku
Tobata-ku
Wakamatsu-ku
Yahatahigashi-ku
Yahatanishi-ku
Koga
Kurume
Maebaru
Miyama
Miyawaka
Munakata
Nakama
Nōgata
Ogōri
Ōkawa
Ōmuta
Ōnojō
Tagawa
Ukiha
Yame
Yanagawa
Yukuhashi

[edit] Towns and villages

Map of Fukuoka Prefecture.
These are the towns and villages in each district.
Asakura District
Chikuzen
Tōhō
Chikujō District
Chikujō
Kōge
Chikushi District
Nakagawa
Itoshima District
Nijō
Shima
Kaho District
Keisen
Kasuya District
Hisayama
Kasuya
Sasaguri
Shime
Shingū
Sue
Umi
Kurate District
Kotake
Kurate
Mii District
Tachiarai
Miyako District
Kanda
Miyako
Mizuma District
Ōki
Onga District
Ashiya
Mizumaki
Okagaki
Onga
Tagawa District
Aka
Fukuchi
Itoda
Kawara
Kawasaki
Ōtō
Soeda
Yame District
Hirokawa
Hoshino
Kurogi
Tachibana
Yabe

[edit] Mergers
(as of October 1, 2006)
Main article: Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
On April 1, 2003, the town of Genkai from Munakata District and the old city of Munakata merged to create the new city of Munakata.
On January 24, 2005, the former towns of Fukuma and Tsuyazaki (from Munakata District) merged, forming the city of Fukutsu.
On February 5, 2005, the towns of Kitano (from Mii District), Jōjima and Mizuma (from Mizuma District), and Tanushimaru (from Ukiha District) merged into the city of Kurume.
On March 20, 2005, the towns of Ukiha and Yoshii from Ukiha District merged to form the new city of Ukiha. Ukiha District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
On March 21, 2005, the towns of Yamato and Mitsuhashi from Yamato District and the old city of Yanagawa merged to form the new city of Yanagawa.
On March 22, 2005, the towns of Miwa and Yasu from Asakura District merged to form the new town of Chikuzen.
OnMarch 28, 2005, the villages of Koishiwara and Hoshuyama from Asakura District merged to form the new village of Tōhō.
On March 28, 2005, the village of Ōshima merged into the city of Munakata. Munakata District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
On October 11, 2005, the villages of Taihei and Yoshitomi from Chikujō District merged to form the new town of Kōge.
On January 10, 2006, the towns of Tsuiki and Shiida from Chikujō District merged to form the new town of Chikujō.
On February 11, 2006, the towns of Miyata and Wakamiya from Kurate District merged to form the new town of Miyawaka.
On March 6, 2006, the towns of Akaike, Hōjō and Kanada from Tagawa District merged to form the new town of Fukuchi.
On March 20, 2006, the municipalities of Asakura and Haki from Asakura District merged with the city of Amagi to form the new city of Asakura.
On March 20, 2006, the towns of Katsuyama, Saigawa and Toyotsu from Miyako District merged to form the new town of Miyako.
On March 26, 2006, the municipalities of Chikuho, Honami, Kaita, and Shonai (all from Kaho District) merged with the city of Iizuka to form the new city, also called Iizuka.
On March 27, 2006, the municipalities of Inatsuki, Kaho, and Usui (all from Kaho District) merged with the city of Yamada to form the new city of Kama.
On October 1, 2006, the town of Jōyō from Yame District merged into the city of Yame.
On January 29, 2007, Yamato District and Miike District merged to form the new city of Miyama. Both districts were dissolved following the merger.

[edit] Economy
Fukuoka prefecture's main cities form one of Japan's main industrial centers, accounting for nearly 40% of the economy of Kyūshū. Major industries include automobiles, semiconductors, and steel.

[edit] Universities
Institution
Location
Fukuoka University
Fukuoka
Kurume University
Kurume
Kyushu Institute of Technology
Kitakyushu and Iizuka
Kyushu University
Fukuoka
Seinan Gakuin University
Fukuoka
Kyūshū Institute of Information Sciences
Dazaifu
Kyūshū Sangyo University
Fukuoka

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Culture
Fukuoka Art Museum - In Ohori Park; contains a wide selection of contemporary and other art from around the world.
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum - contains art from various countries of Asia.
Fukuoka City Museum - displays a broad range of items from the region's history, including a spectacular gold seal.
Genko Historical Museum (Museum of the Mongol Invasion) - In Higashi Koen (East Park); displays Japanese and Mongolian arms and armor from the 13th century as well as paintings on historical subjects.
Hakata Machiya Folk Museum - Dedicated to displaying the traditional ways of life, speech, and culture of the Fukuoka region.

[edit] Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Fukuoka.
Football (soccer)
Avispa Fukuoka (Fukuoka city)
Baseball
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Fukuoka city)
Rugby
Coca Cola West Red Sparks (Fukuoka city)
Fukuoka Sanix Blues (Munakata)
Kyuden Voltex
Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament

[edit] Tourism
Fukuoka is not well-known as a tourist center. The most popular place for tourists is Fukuoka City, although Kitakyushu has also tried to attract tourists.
See also: Kyushu National Museum

[edit] Prefectural symbols

[edit] Miscellaneous topics
Kokura prefectural office
New Kitakyushu airport

Fukuoka city , Japan

2007-11-02T00:06:00.002-07:00

Fukuoka, Fukuoka
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Fukuoka福岡市
Fukuoka's location in Fukuoka, Japan.
Location
Country
Japan
Region
Kyūshū
Prefecture
Fukuoka
Physical characteristics
Area
340.03 km² (131.3 sq mi)
Population (as of 2007)
Total
1,422,836
Density
4,061/km² (10,517.9/sq mi)
Location
33°35′N, 130°24′E
Symbols
Tree
Camphor laurel
Flower
Camellia
Bird
Black-headed Gull
Symbol of Fukuoka
Fukuoka Government Office
Mayor
Hiroshi Yoshida
Address
〒810-86201-8-1 Tenjin, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken
Phone number
092-711-4111
Official website: Fukuoka City
This article is about a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. For other uses, see Fukuoka (disambiguation).
Fukuoka (福岡市, Fukuoka-shi?) is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyūshū in Japan, across the Tsushima Strait from South Korea's Busan.
It is the most populous city in Kyūshū, followed by Kitakyushu. It is the largest city and metropolitan area west of Osaka. The city was designated on April 1, 1972 by government ordinance. Greater Fukuoka with 2.5 million people (2005 Census), is part of the heavily industrialized North Kyushu zone.

View of downtown Fukuoka as seen from an observation deck in Minami-ku, facing north.
Fukuoka is served by Fukuoka Airport, the Sanyō Shinkansen high speed rail line at Hakata Station and by ferry. JR Kyushu operates a hydrofoil between Hakata and Busan, South Korea. The subway opened a new line, the Nanakuma line, on February 2, 2005.
Fukuoka has produced a higher number of successful music artists than any other city in Japan. Big names in J-pop include Ayumi Hamasaki (allegedly Japan's richest woman), hugely popular singer/songwriter duo Chage & Aska, Misia and Yui. During the 1970s, local musicians prided themselves on their origins and dubbed their sound, Mentai Rock. In recent years, the music scene has been rejuvenated by the willingness of local players to perform with foreign musicians located in the area. These hybrid bands include the likes of Fever, Cut Flowers, Dr. Funkinstein, F8 & The Routes.
Contents[hide]
1 History
1.1 Mongol invasions (1274–1281)
1.2 Formation of the modern city (1889)
1.3 Fukuoka in the 20th century
1.4 Fukuoka in the 21st century
2 Geography
2.1 Climate
2.2 Earthquakes
3 Wards
4 Demographics
5 Attractions
6 Culture
7 Festivals
7.1 Yamakasa
7.2 Hakata Dontaku
8 Sports and Olympic ambitions
8.1 Sports teams and facilities
9 Education
9.1 Universities
10 Sister cities
11 Notable people from Fukuoka
12 Fukuoka in Fiction
13 External links
14 References
//

[edit] History
Fukuoka (the area of Kashii, Hakata, Sawara and Imazu) is said to be the oldest city in Japan, because it is the nearest city to China and Korea. The area around Fukuoka is among the oldest non-Jōmon settlements in Japan. Dazaifu was an administrative capital in 663 A.D., but some say a prehistoric capital was in the area. Ancient texts such as the Kojiki and archaeology confirm this was a very critical place in the founding of Japan. Some scholars [1] even go as far as to claim it was the first place outsiders and the Imperial Family set foot, but like many early Japan origin theories, it remains contested. See History of Japan. Fukuoka is sometimes still referred to as Hakata, the central ward of the city.

[edit] Mongol invasions (1274–1281)

Stone barrier in Fukuoka
Main article: Mongol invasions of Japan
Fukuoka's Hakata Bay is Japan's gateway to Korea and China. Gateways, of course, attract interest; after having conquered and terrorised Asia, the great Mongol Kublai Khan of the Mongol Empire turned his attention to Japan starting in 1268, exerting a new external pressure on Japan with which it had no experience. Kublai Khan first sent an envoy to Japan to make the Shogunate acknowledge Khan's suzerainty. The Kamakura Shogunate refused. Mongolia repeatedly sent envoys thereafter, each time urging the Shogunate to accept their proposal, but to no avail.
In 1274 Kublai Khan mounted an invasion of the northern part of Kyūshū with a fleet of 900 ships 33,000 troops, which included troops from Goryeo in Korean peninsula. This first invasion was compromised by a combination of incompetence and storms.
After the first invasion of 1274, the Japanese samurai built a stone barrier 20 kilometers in length bordering the coast of Hakata Bay in what is now Fukuoka city. The wall, between 2–3 metres in height and having a base width of 3 metres, was constructed between 1276 and 1277 and was excavated again in the 1930s.
Kublai sent another envoy to Japan in 1279. At that time, Hōjō Tokimune of the Hōjō clan (1251–1284) was the Eighth Regent. Not only did he decline the offer, but he beheaded the five Mongolian emissaries after summoning them to Kamakura. Infuriated, Kublai made another attack on Fukuoka Prefecture in 1281, mobilizing 140,000 soldiers and 4,000 ships. The Japanese defenders, numbering around 40,000, were no match for the Mongols and the invasion force made it as far as Dazaifu, 15 kilometers south of the city of Fukuoka. By sheer luck, the Japanese were aided by another typhoon which struck a crushing blow to the Mongolian troops, however, and the invasion was thwarted.
It was this typhoon that came to be called the Kamikaze (Divine Wind).

[edit] Formation of the modern city (1889)

The Tenjin area which is the center of Fukuoka City.
Fukuoka was formerly the residence of the powerful daimyo of Chikuzen, and played an important part in the medieval history of Japan; the renowned temple of Ieyasu in the district was destroyed by fire during the Boshin war of 1868. (Adapted from 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.)
The modern city was formed on April 1, 1889 with the merger of the former cities of Hakata and Fukuoka. Historically, Hakata was the port and merchant district, and was more associated with the area's culture: it remains the main commercial area. On the other hand, the Fukuoka area was home to many samurai, and its name has been used since Kuroda Nagamasa, the first daimyo of Chikuzen, named it after his birthplace in Okayama Prefecture and now , the “old Fukuoka” is the main shopping area, called Tenjin.
When Hakata and Fukuoka decided to merge, a meeting was held to decide the name for the new city. Hakata was initially chosen, but a group of samurai crashed the meeting and forced those present to choose Fukuoka as the name for the merged cities. However, Hakata is still used to refer to the Hakata area of the city, and most famously to refer to the city's train station, Hakata Station, and its dialect, Hakata-ben.

[edit] Fukuoka in the 20th century

ACROS International Hall, Fukuoka.

An intersection in downtown Fukuoka.
1903: Fukuoka Medical College, a campus associated with Kyoto Imperial University, is founded. In 1911 the college is renamed to Kyūshū Imperial University and established as a separate entity.
1910: Fukuoka streetcar service begins. (The service ran until 1979.)
1929: Flights commence along the Fukuoka-Osaka-Tokyo route.
1945: Saturation bombing of Japanese cities commences on Honshū with Fukuoka one of the targets. Vivisections of American POWs are performed at Kyūshū Imperial University Hospital.
1947: First Fukuoka Marathon.
1951: Fukuoka airport opens.
1953: Fukuoka Zoo opens.
1981: Subway commences service.
1988: Osaka's pro baseball team, the Nankai Hawks, are moved to Fukuoka and renamed the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. (Then bought out in 2004, and renamed Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks).
1995: ACROS (Asian CrossRoads Over the Sea), a multipurpose convention and cultural center, is founded to encourage increased relations with other Asian countries. It is located downtown in Tenjin, and features a large park, terraced gardens, a library and other facilities for encouraging peaceful relations with other Asian cultures.[1]

[edit] Fukuoka in the 21st century
2005: Fukuoka city subway Nanakuma Line started operation.
Hit by the earthquake, one person was killed, 70 people were severely injured and 1017 received attention for minor injuries.

[edit] Geography

Fukuoka as viewed from space.

The view downstream along Nakagawa (Naka River) from Canal City in Hakata-ku. Nishi-Nakasu and Tenjin are situated to the left of the river, and Nakasu is on the right.
Fukuoka is bordered on three sides by mountains and opens, on the north, to the Sea of Genkai. Much of the city is now built on reclaimed land, with ongoing developments in Higashi-ku building more artificial islands.
Located 1,100 km from Tokyo, 540 km from Seoul and 870 km from Shanghai, 1300 km from Taipei, Fukuoka's proximity to Korea, China and Taiwan has led it to seek closer ties with those countries while acting as a hub for Asian cultural and economic exchange.

[edit] Climate
Along with much of the prefecture, Fukuoka City has a moderate climate with an annual average temperature of 16.3 °C, average humidity of 70%, 1,811 annual daylight hours and 205 cm of precipitation. Roughly 40% of the year is cloudy.
Winter temperatures rarely drop below 0 °C and it is generally rainy with occasional, brief snowfalls. Spring is warm and more sunny, with cherry blossoms appearing in late March or early April. The rainy season (tsuyu) lasts for approximately six weeks through June and July, during which time the humidity is very high and temperatures hover between 25 °C and 30 °C. Summers are humid and hot, with temperatures peaking around 37 °C. Fall, often considered to be Fukuoka's best season, is mild and dry, though the typhoon season runs between August and September. Overall, Spring and Fall it rains more calmly.

[edit] Earthquakes
Main article: 2005 Fukuoka earthquake
Fukuoka is not as seismically active as many other parts of Japan, but does experience occasional earthquakes. The most powerful recent earthquake registered a lower 6 of maximum 7 of the Japanese intensity scale and hit at 10:53 am local time on March 20, Easter Sunday 2005, killing one person and injuring more than 400. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Sea of Genkai, along a yet-undiscovered extension of the Kego fault that runs through the centre of Fukuoka. Genkai-jima (Genkai island), a part of Nishi-ku, was the most severely damaged by the earthquake and almost all island residents were forced to evacuate. Aftershocks continued intermittently throughout the following weeks as construction crews worked to rebuild damaged buildings throughout the city. Traditional Japanese houses, particularly in the areas of Daimyo and Imaizumi, were the most heavily damaged and many were marked for demolition, along with several apartment buildings. Insurance payments for damages were estimated at approximately 15.8 billion yen.
Fukuoka's most famous major fault, the Kego fault, runs northwest to southeast, roughly parallel to Nishitetsu's Omuta train line, and was previously thought to be 22 km long. It is estimated to produce earthquakes as strong as magnitude 7 at the focus approximately once every 15,000 years. If the focus were located at a depth of 10 km, this would translate to an earthquake of a lower-6 magnitude (similar to the March 20, 2005 earthquake) in downtown Fukuoka if it were the epicenter. The probability of an earthquake along the known length of the Kego fault occurring within 30 years was estimated at 0.4% prior to the March 20, 2005 earthquake, but this probability has been revised upwards since. Including the new extension out into the Sea of Genkai, Kego fault is now thought to be 40 km long.
Following reports that the city has only prepared for earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6.5, several strong aftershock renewed fears that the quakes might cause the portion of the Kego faultline that lies under the city to become active again, leading to an earthquake as big as, or bigger than, the March 20 quake.

[edit] Wards
Fukuoka has 7 wards (ku):
Ward
Population
Land area
Pop. density

as of 2004
km²
per km²
Higashi-ku
275 652
66.68
4 134
Hakata-ku
190 178
31.47
6 043
Chūō-ku
163 975
15.16
10 816
Minami-ku
247 913
30.98
8 002
Jonan-ku
127 952
16.02
7 987
Sawara-ku
207 851
95.88
2 168
Nishi-ku
177 625
83.81
2 119

[edit] Demographics

Fukuoka Tower
As of May 2007, the city had an estimated population of 1,422,836 and a density of 4,184.07 persons per km². The total area is 340.60 km². With an average age of 38.6 years, Fukuoka is Japan's second youngest major city and with a growth rate of 4.4%, is also Japan's second-fastest growing city (based on 2000 census data).

[edit] Attractions
Sky Dream Fukuoka, located in Fukuoka City's western ward, is one of the world's largest ferris wheels at a height of 120 meters. Fukuoka Castle located adjacent to Ohori Park features the remaining stone walls and ramparts left after a devastating fire during the upheaval of the Meiji Restoration. It has now been preserved along with some reconstructed prefabricate concrete towers constructed during the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a trend across Japan to rebuild damaged castles as tourist attractions. Ohori Park is also the location of one of Fukuoka City's four major art galleries. There is a newly opened Kyushu National Museum in nearby Dazaifu.
The Marine Park Uminonakamichi is located on a narrow cape on the northern side of the Bay of Hakata. The park has an amusement park, petting zoo, gardens, beaches, a hotel, and a large marine aquarium.
Fukuoka was selected as one of Newsweek's 10 "Most Dynamic Cities" in the July 3, 2006 publication. It was chosen for its central Asian location, increasing tourism and trade, and a large increase in volume at its sea and airport.
For tourists from other parts of Japan, local foods such as mentaiko, Hakata ramen and motsunabe are associated with Fukuoka. Yatai (street stalls) serving ramen can be found in Tenjin and Nakasu most evenings.

[edit] Culture
Fukuoka Art Museum - In Ohori Park; contains a wide selection of contemporary and other art from around the world.
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum - contains art from various countries of Asia.
Fukuoka City Museum - displays a broad range of items from the region's history, including a spectacular gold seal.
Genko Historical Museum (Museum of the Mongol Invasion) - In Higashi Koen (East Park); displays Japanese and Mongolian arms and armor from the 13th century as well as paintings on historical subjects.
Hakata Machiya Folk Museum - Dedicated to displaying the traditional ways of life, speech, and culture of the Fukuoka region.

[edit] Festivals

Winter View of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower
Fukuoka is home to many festivals that are held throughout the year. Of these, the most famous are Hakata Dontaku and Hakata Gion Yamakasa.

[edit] Yamakasa
Yamakasa (山笠), held for two weeks each July, is Fukuoka's oldest festival with a history of over 700 years.[2][3] Teams of men (no women, except small girls, are allowed), representing different districts in the city, race against the clock around a set course carrying on their shoulders floats weighing several thousand pounds. Participants all wear shimekomi (called fundoshi in other parts of Japan), which are traditional loincloths. Each day of the two-week festival period is marked by special events and practice runs, culminating in the official race that takes place the last morning before dawn. Tens of thousands line the streets to cheer on the teams. During the festival period, men can be seen walking around many parts Fukuoka in long happi coats bearing the distinctive mark of their team affiliation and traditional geta sandals. The costumes are worn with pride and are considered appropriate wear for even formal occasions, such as weddings and cocktail parties, during the festival period.

The uniform used during the ceremonies and preparation.

The uniform used during the competition.

[edit] Hakata Dontaku
Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく) is held in Fukuoka City on May 3 and 4. Boasting over 800 years of history, Dontaku is attended by more than 2 million people, making it the Japanese festival with the highest attendance during Japan's Golden Week holidays. During the festival, stages are erected throughout downtown for traditional performances and a parade of floats is held. The full name is Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri (博多どんたく港祭).
The festival was stopped for seven years during the Meiji era, and since it was restarted in the 12th year of the Meiji era it has been known as Hakata Dontaku.

[edit] Sports and Olympic ambitions
Fukuoka is the home of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, one of Japan's top professional baseball teams. Threatened with bankruptcy and forced by its creditors to restructure, in 2004 former owner Daiei sold the Hawks to Masayoshi Son of Softbank Capital. The team name was changed to Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks from the 2005 season.
Fukuoka is also home to a professional soccer team, Avispa Fukuoka, which, until last year were playing in the top division of Japan's J. League - J1. They were recently relegated to the second rung of Japanese Football - Japan's J League Division 2 (J2).
In 2006, The Mayor of Fukuoka, Hirotaro Yamasaki, had attempted to bring the Olympic Games to Fukuoka and Kyūshū in 2020, calling them the "Fukuoka-Kyūshū Olympics", but in vain.
Annual sporting events include:
Fukuoka International Women’s Judo Championships
Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championships
Prince Takamatsu Cup Nishinippon Round-Kyūshū Ekiden, beginning in Nagasaki and ending in Fukuoka, the world's longest relay race.
The 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in Fukuoka.

[edit] Sports teams and facilities
Club
Sports
League
Venue
Established
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
Baseball
Pacific League
Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome
1993
Avispa Fukuoka
Football
J. League Division 2
Hakata no Mori Stadium
1982
Top League Rugby teams: Coca Cola West Red Sparks, Fukuoka Sanix Blues, Kyuden Voltex

[edit] Education
Fukuoka City operates all public elementary and junior high schools, while the prefecture operates the high schools.
Hakata Seisho High School [2] is located in Fukuoka.

[edit] Universities
Fukuoka Institute of Technology (Fukuoka kôgyô Daigaku)
Fukuoka University
Kyūshū Institute of Design
Kyūshū Sangyo University
Kyūshū University
Seinan Gakuin University
Towa University

[edit] Sister cities
Fukuoka has several sister cities:
Oakland, California, United States
Guangzhou, China (1979)
Bordeaux, France (1982)
Auckland, New Zealand
Ipoh, Malaysia
Pusan, South Korea
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Cali, Colombia
Fukuoka City established the Asian Pacific City Summit in 1994. It consists of 26 Asian-Pacific Cities.

Kyushu , Japan

2007-11-02T00:06:00.001-07:00

Kyūshū
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Kyūshū
Kyūshū region of Japan and the current prefectures on the island of Kyūshū
Geography
Location
East Asia
Archipelago
Japanese Archipelago
Area
35,640 km²
Highest point
Mount Aso 1,591 m
Administration
Japan
Prefectures
Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Ōita, Saga
Largest city
Fukuoka (1,400,000)
Demographics
Population
14,779,000 (as of 2003)
Indigenous people
Japanese
Kyūshū (九州 Kyūshū: “nine provinces”) is the third-largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include Kyūkoku (九国: “nine states”), Chinzei (鎮西: “west of the pacified area”), and Tsukushi-no-shima (筑紫島: “island of tsukushi”). The historical regional name Saikaidō (西海道: “west sea circuit”) referred to Kyūshū and its surrounding islands.
Kyūshū has a population of 14,779,000 (2003) and covers 35,640 km².
Contents[hide]
1 Geography
2 Economy and climate
3 Education
4 See also
//

[edit] Geography
The island is mountainous, and Japan's most active volcano, Mt Aso at 1,591 m, is on Kyūshū. There are many other signs of tectonic activity, including numerous areas of hot springs. The most famous of these are in Beppu, on the east shore, and around Mt. Aso, in central Kyūshū.
The name Kyūshū comes from the nine ancient provinces of Saikaidō situated on the island: Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyūga, Osumi, and Satsuma.
Today’s Kyūshū Region (九州地方 kyūshū-chihō) is a politically defined region that consists of seven prefectures on Kyūshū and Okinawa Prefecture to the south:
Fukuoka Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture
Ōita Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
The world’s 37th largest island by area, Kyūshū is smaller than Spitsbergen but larger than New Britain and Taiwan. By population, it ranks 13th, having fewer inhabitants than Borneo or Sulawesi, but more than Salsette or Cuba.
By population, the largest city on the island is Fukuoka with its 1.4 million inhabitants; Fukuoka is a major business center with a large international airport as well as one of the five stock exchanges in Japan. Kitakyushu is a designated city and major center for heavy industries, populated by slightly less than a million. Kumamoto and Kagoshima are the island’s third and fourth largest cities with over half a million people each. Nagasaki has one of Japan’s oldest international ports, which was the only gateway to the outside world during the Edo period, from the mid 16th to the mid 18th centuries.

[edit] Economy and climate

Map of Kyūshū region with prefectures
Parts of Kyūshū have a subtropical climate, particularly Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures. Major agricultural products are rice, tea, tobacco, sweet potatoes, and soy; silk is also widely produced. The island is noted for various types of porcelain, including Arita, Imari, Satsuma, and Karatsu. Heavy industry is concentrated in the north around Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, and Oita and includes chemicals and metal processing.