Kumamoto Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is a prefecture
of Japan
located on Kyushu
Island
. The capital is the city of Kumamoto
.
; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration
. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system
. The current Japanese orthography for Kumamoto literally means "bear root/origin", or "origin of the bear".
Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the center of Kyūshū
, the southernmost of the four major Japanese islands. It is bordered by the Ariake
inland sea and the Amakusa
archipelago
to the west, Fukuoka Prefecture
and Ōita Prefecture
to the north, Miyazaki Prefecture
to the east, and Kagoshima Prefecture
to the south.
Mt. Aso
(1592 m), an extensive active volcano
, is in the east of Kumamoto Prefecture. This volcano is located at the center of the Aso caldera
.
There are nine districts and 45 municipalities.
:
244.76 people per square kilometer.
automobile plant.
In 2007, one of the Honda factories began to produce non-silicon solar cells for homes and businesses, with a projected capacity roughly equivalent to 8,000 households/year.
, filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya
, J-pop artist Kimeru
, as well as J-Pop musician Tomiko Van
, author of One Piece
Eiichiro Oda
and Takarazuka Revue
actress Yu Todoroki
. AV Star Hitomi Tanaka
was also born here.
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
located on 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....
Island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
. The capital is the city of Kumamoto
Kumamoto, Kumamoto
is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Greater Kumamoto has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census...
.
History
Historically the area was called Higo ProvinceHigo Province
Higo Province was an old province of Japan in the area that is today Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. It was sometimes called , with Hizen Province. Higo bordered on Chikugo, Bungo, Hyūga, Ōsumi, and Satsuma Provinces....
; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system
Abolition of the han system
The was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain system and to introduce centralized government authority . This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all daimyo were required to return their authority...
. The current Japanese orthography for Kumamoto literally means "bear root/origin", or "origin of the bear".
Geography
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....
, the southernmost of the four major Japanese islands. It is bordered by the Ariake
Ariake
Ariake is the name of several places in Japan.*Ariake, Kagoshima, a former town in Kagoshima Prefecture*Ariake, Kumamoto, a former town in Kumamoto Prefecture*Ariake, Saga, a former town in Saga Prefecture*Ariake, Tokyo, a district within Kōtō, Tokyo...
inland sea and the Amakusa
Amakusa
Amakusa is a series of islands belonging to Japan, off the west coast of Kyushu . The biggest of the Amakusa islands is Shimoshima Island, 26.5 miles long and 13.5 miles in extreme width...
archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
to the west, Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
and Ōita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
to the north, Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
to the east, and Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.- Geography :Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu and includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest for a few hundred kilometers...
to the south.
Mt. Aso
Mount Aso
is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It stands in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū. Its peak is 1592 m above sea level. Aso has one of the largest caldera in the world...
(1592 m), an extensive active volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
, is in the east of Kumamoto Prefecture. This volcano is located at the center of the Aso caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
.
There are nine districts and 45 municipalities.
Cities
Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:
|
Kikuchi, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.The city was founded on August 1, 1958. On March 22, 2005, the city merged with the municipalities of Kyokushi, Shichijo and Shisui into a new expanded city of Kikuchi. As of December 2006, the city has an estimated population of 52,646 and a density of 190.3... Koshi, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.Formed by the amalgamation of the towns of Kōshi and Nishigōshi on February 27, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 52,500 and a density of 987.39 persons per km². The total area is 53.17 km². It was the 14th "Great Heisei Merger" in... Kumamoto, Kumamoto is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Greater Kumamoto has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census... (capital) Minamata, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. It is on the west coast of Kyūshū. The city was founded on April 1, 1949.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 27,856 and the density of 171 persons per km²... Tamana, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.As of the October 3, 2005 merger but with 2008 population estimates, the city has an estimated population of 70,530 and the density of 462 persons per km²... |
Uki, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on January 15, 2005, as a result of the merger between the towns of Misumi and Shiranuhi, both from Uto District, and the towns of Matsubase, Ogawa and Toyono, all from Shimomashiki District.... Uto, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 38,158 and the density of . The total area is .The city was founded on October 1, 1958.-External links:*... Yamaga, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.On January 15, 2005 Yamaga absorbed the towns of Kahoku, Kamoto, Kaō and Kikuka, all from Kamoto District, into the new expanded city of Yamaga.... Yatsushiro, Kumamoto is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.On August 1, 2005, the city merged with the municipalities of Izumi, Kagami, Sakamoto, Senchō and Tōyō to form the new expanded city of Yashushiro.... |
Towns and villages
Towns and villages in each districtDistricts of Japan
The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
:
|
Kikuyo, Kumamoto is a town located in Kikuchi District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 29,627 and a density of 788.58 persons per km². The total area is 37.57 km².... Ozu, Kumamoto is a town located in Kikuchi District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 28,673 and a density of 289.36 persons per km². The total area is 99.09 km²....
Asagiri, Kumamoto is a town located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of September 2011 the town has an estimated population of 16,980. The total area is 159.49 km².Asagiri was created by the merger of 5 smaller towns and villages on April 1, 2003... Itsuki, Kumamoto is a village located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.In 2006 the village had an estimated population of 1,388 and a density of 5.66 persons per km². The total area is 252.94 km².... Kuma, Kumamoto is a village located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of April 1, 2008 the village had an estimated population of 4,491 and a population density of 21.6 persons per km². The total area is 207.73 km².... Mizukami, Kumamoto is a village located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003 the village has an estimated population of 2,612 and a population density of 13.6 persons per km². The total area is 192.11 km².-External links:*... Nishiki, Kumamoto is a town located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.In 2003 the town had an estimated population of 11,904 and a density of 140.26 persons per km². The total area is 84.87 km².-External links:*... Sagara, Kumamoto is a village located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003 the village has an estimated population of 5,448 and a population density of 57.63 persons per km². The total area is 94.54 km².-External links:*... Taragi, Kumamoto is a town located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003 the town has an estimated population of 11,759 and a density of 70.89 persons per km². The total area is 165.87 km².-External links:*... Yamae, Kumamoto is a village located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.In 2003 the village had an estimated population of 3,996 and a population density of 32.97 persons per km². The total area is 121.2 km².-External links:*... Yunomae, Kumamoto is a town located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003 the town has an estimated population of 4,837 and a density of 99.92 persons per km². The total area is 48.41 km².-External links:*... |
Misato, Kumamoto is a town located in Shimomashiki District, Kumamoto, Japan. From Kumamoto, Misato is about 30 minutes by car or an hour and a half by bus. While it is easily accessible by car or bus, there is currently no train service to the town....
Gyokuto, Kumamoto is a town located in Tamana District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,601 and the density of 229.55 persons per km². The total area is 24.40 km².-External links:*... Nagasu, Kumamoto is a town located in Tamana District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 17,683 and the density of 910.09 persons per km². The total area is 19.43 km².-External links :*... Nagomi, Kumamoto is a town located in Tamana District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.The town was formed on March 1, 2006 from the merger of the towns of Kikusui and Mikawa, both from Tamana District.... Nankan, Kumamoto is a town in Tamana District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 11,553 and a density of 167.53 persons per km². The total area is 68.96 km².A main crops are rice and bamboo.-External links:*...
Hikawa, Kumamoto is a town located in Yatsushiro District, Kumamoto, Japan. The town was formed on October 1, 2005 from the merger of the towns of Miyahara and Ryūhoku.... |
Demographics
The population is 1,812,255. The prefecture ranks 23rd in Japan. The population density is244.76 people per square kilometer.
Economy
There is a HondaHonda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
automobile plant.
In 2007, one of the Honda factories began to produce non-silicon solar cells for homes and businesses, with a projected capacity roughly equivalent to 8,000 households/year.
Tourism
- Mt. Aso is one of the worlds largest active volcanoes.
- Kumamoto castleKumamoto Castleis 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...
- SuizenjiSuizenjiis a tsukiyama Japanese garden located within is a tsukiyama Japanese garden located within is a tsukiyama Japanese garden located within is a tsukiyama Japanese garden located within is a tsukiyama Japanese garden located within is a tsukiyama Japanese garden located within is a tsukiyama...
park. - Tsūjun BridgeTsujun BridgeTsūjun Bridge is an aqueduct in Yamato, Kumamoto, Japan. It is an arch bridge completed in 1854 and is 84.0m long. The arch spans 27.3m...
, the largest stone aqueduct in Japan is in Yamato.
University
- 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 Prefectural University
- 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...
- Kumamoto Health Science
- Kyushu University of Nursing and Social WelfareKyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfareis a private university in Tamana, Kumamoto, Japan, established in 1998.-External links:*...
- 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...
- Kumamoto Health Science
- Shokei Gakuen University
- 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:*...
- Heisei College of MusicHeisei College of Musicis a private university in Mifune, Kumamoto, Japan. The school was first established in 1972 as a junior college and became a four-year college in 2001.-External links:*...
- Tokai University of KumamotoTokai Universityis a private university in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1943 by Shigeyoshi Matsumae, who had formerly been the engineering president of the Ministry of Communications...
Railroad
- JR KyushuKyushu Railway CompanyThe , also referred to as , is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group . It operates intercity rail services in Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strait between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea.When Japan Railways was divided in...
- Kyushu ShinkansenKyushu ShinkansenThe ' 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...
- Kagoshima Line
- Hohi Line
- Hisatsu Line
- Misumi LineMisumi Lineis a railway line in Japan, operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . It runs from Uto Station in Uto, Kumamoto Prefecture to Misumi Station in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture.From 1 September 2011, the line will be known as the .-Station list:...
- Kyushu Shinkansen
- Kumamoto Electric RailwayKumamoto Electric RailwayThe is the public transport company in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is abbreviated as or . The company was founded in 1909. The company operates railway and bus lines...
- Kumagawa Railroad
- South Aso Railway
- Hisatsu Orange Railway
Expressway and Toll Road
- Kyushu ExpresswayKyushu Expressway' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Kitakyūshū to west of Kagoshima linking with the Higashi Kyushu Expressway and the Ibusuki Skyline. It runs through the prefectures of Fukuoka, the eastern half of the Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and the Kagoshima prefectures. The freeway runs entirely on...
- South Kyushu ExpresswayMinami-Kyūshū ExpresswayThe starts from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, and it is a highway of about 140km planned extension to reach Kagoshima, Kagoshima via Minamata, Izumi, Akune, Satsumasendai of the high standard highway...
- Kumamoto Amakusa Road
National Highway
- Route 3
- Route 57Japan National Route 57National Route 57 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ōita, Ōita and Nagasaki, Nagasaki in Japan.-Route Data:*Length: 326.7 km *Origin: Oita, Oita...
- Route 208 (Kumamoto-Tamana-Arao-ŌmutaOmuta, Fukuokais a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 127,126 and the density of 1,558.87 persons per km²...
) - Route 212
- Route 218 (Kumamoto-Takachiho-Nobeoka)
- Route 219
- Route 265
- Route 266
- Route 267 (Hitoyoshi-IsaISAIsa is the name by which Jesus is known in the Muslim world.Isa may also refer to:* Isha Upanishad, Hindu religious text* Isa , 2004 album by Enslaved* Isa , common Arabic and Turkish male name...
-SatsumaSatsumaSatsuma may refer to:* Satsuma , a citrus fruit* Satsuma , a genus of land snails-In Japan:* Satsuma, Kagoshima, a Japanese town* Satsuma District, Kagoshima, a district in Kagoshima Prefecture...
-Satsumasendai) - Route 268
- Route 324
- Route 325 (Yamaga-Minamiaso-Takamori-Takachiho)
- Route 387
- Route 388 (SaekiSaekiThe Saeki were a people of ancient Japan, believed to have lived on Honshū in the area between the modern regions of Kantō and Hokuriku.They are believed to have spoken a Tungusic language....
-Nobeoka-Unomae) - Route 389
- Route 442
- Route 443
- Route 445
- Route 501Japan National Route 501National Route 501 is a national highway of Japan connecting between Omuta, Fukuoka and Uto, Kumamoto in Japan, with total length has 47.1 km ....
(Ōmuta-Arao-Udo) - Route 503
Ferry Route
- Kumamoto-ShimabaraShimabaraShimabara can refer to any of the following:* Shimabara, Nagasaki, a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan* Shimabara Peninsula, the geographic feature that hosts Shimabara, Nagasaki* Shimabara Castle, in Shimabara, Nagasaki...
- Nagasu-Unzen
- Ushibuka-Kuranomoto
- Yatsushiro-Kamiamakusa
- Reihoku-NagasakiNagasakiis the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
Sports
These sports teams are based in the prefecture:- Professional:
- Roasso KumamotoRoasso Kumamotois 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...
- Men's football and J League Second Division - Blaze Kumamoto - Men's association football
- Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto - Women's association football
- Roasso Kumamoto
- Amateur:
- Kumamoto Golden Larks - regional baseball
Sister cities
- Kumamoto Prefecture is the 'sister state/prefecture' of MontanaMontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Notable people
Kumamoto is the birthplace of Hollywood actor Tetsu KomaiTetsu Komai
Tetsu Komai was a minor Hollywood actor born in Kumamoto, Japan who died in Gardena, California of congestive heart failure. Tetsu had small parts in over 50 films from the 1920s until the mid 1960s. In his early films, Tetsu was often described with derogatory terms such as Chinaman, although he...
, filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya
Kazuaki Kiriya
, born April 20, 1968 in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese photographer and director of films and music videos. His birth name is .He made his feature film debut writing and directing the live action film adaptation of Casshern in 2004. In 2009, he wrote and directed his second film,...
, J-pop artist Kimeru
Kimeru
Kimeru Kimeru Kimeru (most often written either in Romaji (Kimeru) or with Katakana (キメル), but has been written as きめる (Hiragana) and (決める) (Kanji), (June 17, 1980) is a Japanese pop musician, singer, and stage actor. He is most famous for his work with The Prince of Tennis...
, as well as J-Pop musician Tomiko Van
Tomiko Van
, is a Japanese J-pop singer and occasional actress, as well as a member of the band Do As Infinity , along with Ryo Owatari and Dai Nagao, that has resumed activities after their 2005 split.- Beginnings as solo artist :...
, author of One Piece
One Piece
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
Eiichiro Oda
Eiichiro Oda
is a Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator of One Piece.-Early life:As a child, Oda was inspired by Akira Toriyama's works and aspired to become a manga artist. He recalls that his interest in pirates was probably sparked by the popular TV animation series titled Vicky the Viking...
and Takarazuka Revue
Takarazuka Revue
The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals, and sometimes stories adapted from shōjo manga and Japanese folktales. The troupe takes its name...
actress Yu Todoroki
Yu Todoroki
Yu Todoroki is a current member of Takarazuka Revue, where she plays an otokoyaku. She joined the Revue in 1985, became the top star of Snow Troupe in 1997, transferred to Superior Members in 2002 and became the youngest member to serve on the company's board of directors in 2003...
. AV Star Hitomi Tanaka
Hitomi Tanaka
also known as Hitomi is a Japanese AV idol and gravure idol. She is well known for her large breasts, Japanese size 97J -Life and career:...
was also born here.
External links
- Official Kumamoto Prefecture homepage
- Kumamoto Links
- Wikitravel guide to Kumamoto Prefecture
- National Archives of Japan ... Kumamoto map (1891)