Kumamoto, Kumamoto
Encyclopedia
is the capital city
of Kumamoto Prefecture
on the island of Kyushu
, Japan. Greater Kumamoto (熊本都市圏) has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census. It is not considered part of the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu
metropolitan area, despite their shared border.
, 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 design
s, 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 Iemitsu
in 1632, 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 parents emigrated from Kumamoto to Peru early in the 20th century.
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. His tomb and the cave where he resided during his final years (known as Reigando, or "spirit rock cave") is situated close by. He penned the famous Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings
) whilst living here.
Kumamoto is also home to Suizen-ji Jōju-en, 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
.
Suizenji Park is also home to the Suizenji Municipal Stadium, where the city's football
team, Roasso Kumamoto
used to play regularly, but nowadays they use the larger KKWing Stadium
, northeast of the city.
The downtown area has a vibrant commercial district centred around two shopping arcades, the Shimotori and Kamitori, which extend for several city blocks. The main department stores are located here along with a vast number of smaller retailers, restaurants and bars. Many local festivals are held in or near the arcades.
operates a sales office on the fourth floor of the Asahi Shibun Daiichi Seimei Building in Kumamoto.
.
Trams run to a few suburbs near the downtown area. A large bus terminus, called the Kotsu Centre
, provides access to both local and intercity destinations.
JR Kumamoto station
provides rail links to Japan's extensive rail network. On March 12, 2011, work on the shinkansen
(high-speed bullet train) network was completed, establishing a direct high-speed rail link to Tokyo
via Fukuoka
's Hakata
terminus.
Several local taxi companies serve the Kumamoto metropolitan area and are the only 24-hour public transport in the city.
Kumamoto Airport
is located in nearby Mashiki
.
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, South Korea (since 2010)
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
of Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
on the island of Kyushu
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Japan. Greater Kumamoto (熊本都市圏) has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census. It is not considered part of the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu
Fukuoka-Kitakyushu
Greater Metropolitan Region is the most common name given to the region comprising the metropolitan areas of the cities of Fukuoka and Kitakyūshū in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan and in between...
metropolitan area, despite their shared border.
History
Kato KiyomasaKato Kiyomasa
was a Japanese daimyō of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo period.-Origins and early career:Kiyomasa was born in Owari Province to Katō Kiyotada. Kiyotada's wife, Ito, was a cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mother. Kiyotada died while his son was still young...
, a contemporary of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
, was made daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of half of the (old) administrative region of Higo in 1588. After that, Kiyomasa built Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle
is a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
. Due to its many innovative defensive design
Defensive design
Defensive design is the practice of planning for contingencies in the design stage of a project or undertaking. Essentially, it is the practice of anticipating all possible ways that an end-user could misuse a device, and designing the device so as to make such misuse impossible, or to minimise the...
s, 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 Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
in 1632, replacing him with the Hosokawa clan
Hosokawa clan
The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
. Former Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Hosokawa Morihiro is a direct descendant of the Hosokawa clan of Kumamoto. Another famous politician, former president of Peru Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori served as President of Peru from 28 July 1990 to 17 November 2000. A controversial figure, Fujimori has been credited with the creation of Fujimorism, uprooting terrorism in Peru and restoring its macroeconomic stability, though his methods have drawn charges of...
, also has roots in Kumamoto; Fujimori's parents emigrated from Kumamoto to Peru early in the 20th century.
Mergers
- On February 1, 1991 the towns of AkitaAkita, Kumamotowas a town located in Hōtaku District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 1, 1991 Akita, along with the towns of Kawachi, Tenmei and Hokubu, all from Hōtaku District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, KawachiKawachi, Kumamotowas a town located in Hōtaku District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 1, 1991 Kawachi, along with the towns of Akita, Tenmei and Hokubu, all from Hōtaku District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, TenmeiTenmei, Kumamotowas a town located in Hōtaku District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 1, 1991 Tenmei, along with the towns of Akita, Kawachi and Hokubu, all from Hōtaku District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
and HokubuHokubu, Kumamotowas a town located in Hōtaku District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 1, 1991 Hokubu, along with the towns of Akita, Kawachi and Tenmei, all from Hōtaku District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, all from Hōtaku DistrictHōtaku District, Kumamotowas a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.-Former towns and villages:* Akita* Kawachi* Tenmei* Hokubu-Merger:*On February 1, 1991, all towns within the district merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto. Hōtaku District was dissolved as a result of this merger....
, were merged into Kumamoto. - On October 6, 2008 the town of TomiaiTomiai, Kumamotowas a town located in Shimomashiki District, Kumamoto, Japan.On October 6, 2008 Tomiai was merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, from Shimomashiki DistrictShimomashiki District, Kumamotois a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.Following the March 23, 2010 Kumamoto merger the district consists of the single town of Misato. After the merger, the district has an estimated population of 11,164 and a density of 77.5 persons per square kilometer...
, was merged into Kumamoto. - On March 23, 2010 the town of JōnanJonan, Kumamotowas a town located in Shimomashiki District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 23, 2010 Jōnan, along with the town of Ueki, from Kamoto District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, also from Shimomashiki DistrictShimomashiki District, Kumamotois a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.Following the March 23, 2010 Kumamoto merger the district consists of the single town of Misato. After the merger, the district has an estimated population of 11,164 and a density of 77.5 persons per square kilometer...
; and the town of UekiUeki, Kumamotowas a town located in Kamoto District, Kumamoto, Japan.On March 23, 2010 Ueki, along with the town of Jōnan, from Shimomashiki District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumamoto and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, from Kamoto DistrictKamoto District, Kumamotowas a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 31,088 and the density of 472.39 persons per square kilometer...
, were merged into Kumamoto.
Landmarks
Kumamoto Castle
is a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
, 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
Satsuma Rebellion
The was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
and sacked and burned after a 53-day siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
. 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
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
. This traditional wooden mansion has a fine Japanese garden
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
located on its grounds.
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...
lived the last part of his life in Kumamoto. His tomb and the cave where he resided during his final years (known as Reigando, or "spirit rock cave") is situated close by. He penned the famous Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings
The Book of Five Rings
is a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645. There have been various translations made over the years, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its...
) whilst living here.
Kumamoto is also home to Suizen-ji Jōju-en, 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
Kenroku-en
Kenroku-en , located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is an old private garden. Along with Kairaku-en and Koraku-en, Kenroku-en is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan....
in the city of Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
, Ishikawa Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
, Kairaku-en
Kairaku-en
is a Japanese garden located in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built relatively recently in the year 1841 by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki...
in Ibaraki Prefecture
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
and Koraku-en
Koraku-en
, is a Japanese garden located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden's form almost had turned into the modern form in 1863.- History :In 1687,...
in Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
.
Suizenji Park is also home to the Suizenji Municipal Stadium, where the city's football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, Roasso Kumamoto
Roasso Kumamoto
is a Japanese football club based in Kumamoto, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. Roasso Kumamoto was promoted to J. League Division 2 for the first time at the end of the 2007 season, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 12th...
used to play regularly, but nowadays they use the larger KKWing Stadium
KKWing Stadium
Kumamoto Athletics Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kumamoto, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and sometimes for Top League rugby games. The stadium holds 32,000 people....
, northeast of the city.
The downtown area has a vibrant commercial district centred around two shopping arcades, the Shimotori and Kamitori, which extend for several city blocks. The main department stores are located here along with a vast number of smaller retailers, restaurants and bars. Many local festivals are held in or near the arcades.
Economy
Asiana AirlinesAsiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines Inc. is one of South Korea's two major airlines, along with Korean Air. Asiana has its headquarters in Asiana Town in Osoe-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul...
operates a sales office on the fourth floor of the Asahi Shibun Daiichi Seimei Building in Kumamoto.
Administration
The current administrative body of the "City of Kumamoto" was founded on April 1, 1889.Transport
Local public transport is provided by the Kumamoto City Transportation BureauKumamoto City Transportation Bureau
The is a public transportation authority of Kumamoto City, Japan. The bureau operates trams and bus lines.The city government has operated tram lines since 1924 and bus lines since 1927, but the current transportation bureau was formed in 1944....
.
Trams run to a few suburbs near the downtown area. A large bus terminus, called the Kotsu Centre
Kumamoto Bus Terminal
is the key bus terminal located in central Kumamoto, Kumamoto.-History:Kumamoto Bus terminal had been opened on March 5, 1969, gathering bus stops around Sakura-cho, Kumamoto.- Local bus:*Kyushu Sanko Bus*Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau...
, provides access to both local and intercity destinations.
JR Kumamoto station
Kumamoto Station
is the central railway station in the city of Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Kyushu Railway Company .In front of the station is a tram stop of the tram operated by Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau named Kumamoto-Ekimae Station.- Lines :Kumamoto is an intermediate station...
provides rail links to Japan's extensive rail network. On March 12, 2011, work on the shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
(high-speed bullet train) network was completed, establishing a direct high-speed rail link to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
via Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
's Hakata
Hakata Station
Hakata Station , located in Hakata-ku, is the main railway terminal of the city of Fukuoka, Japan. It is the largest and busiest station on Kyūshū, and is a gateway to other cities in Kyūshū for travellers from Honshū. The Sanyō Shinkansen from Osaka ends at this station...
terminus.
Several local taxi companies serve the Kumamoto metropolitan area and are the only 24-hour public transport in the city.
Kumamoto Airport
Kumamoto Airport
, also known as , is an airport in Mashiki, Kumamoto, Japan.A planned merger of municipalities will be implemented around March 31, 2010; the City of Kumamoto will be merged with the Shimomashiki District town of Jonan and Mashiki. When the merger is completed the airport will be within the City of...
is located in nearby Mashiki
Mashiki, Kumamoto
is a town located in Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 32,600 and a density of 496.42 persons per km². The total area is 65.67 km².Kumamoto Airport is located in Mashiki.-External links:*...
.
Education
- Kumamoto UniversityKumamoto Universityis a university located in Kumamoto, Japan. It was established on May 31, 1949, at which time the following institutions were subsumed into it; Kumamoto Teachers College , Kumamoto Pharmaceutical College , The Fifth High School , Kumamoto Medical College , and Kumamoto Technical College ....
- Kumamoto Gakuen UniversityKumamoto Gakuen UniversityCalled Gakuendai or Shōdai , it is a private Japanese university in Kumamoto, Japan. It was established in 1942, at which time Eastern Language Vocational College was subsumed into it...
- Kyushu Lutheran CollegeKyushu Lutheran College' has its roots in Kyushu Jo-Gakuin , originally established as a girl's high school in 1926. A women's junior college opened in 1975 and the current four-year college opened its doors to women and men in 1997. The Rev. Dr. Yoshiro Ishida was the college's first president. The Rev...
- Sojo UniversitySojo Universityis a private university in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1949, and it was chartered as a junior college in 1965. After becoming a four-year college in 1967, it adopted the present name in 2000.-External links:*...
- Prefectural University of KumamotoPrefectural University of Kumamotois a public university in the city of Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1947. The school population is approximately 2,200 students and 100 faculty members.-External links:*...
Sister cities
Kumamoto City is twinned with the following cities. HeidelbergHeidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Germany (since 1992) Guilin
Guilin
Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city...
, China San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, USA (since 1987) Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, USA Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
, USA Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, United Kingdom Ulsan
Ulsan
Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
, South Korea (since 2010)