Munakata, Fukuoka
Encyclopedia
is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture
, in the north Chikuzen
region of the prefecture.
As of April 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population
of 94,660 and the density
of 791 persons per km 2. The total area is 119.66 km².
The city was founded on April 1, 1981.
Efforts have been made to inculcate Japan
-South Korea
friendship, and also friendship with New Zealand
in recent years.
.
The area has prospered from trade with China and Korea from ancient times. It has a world heritage candidate (Okinoshima
) at Munakata Shrine. Munakata Shrine specifies itself as the territory of the god of Kyūshū
during the Asuka period
— ranging from Onga
in the east, south to Wakamiya
and Miyata
, and Shingū
in the west.
During the age of civil wars a daimyo
with leading Shinto
priest and Munakata Ujisada of Munakata Shrine established Tsutagadake castle (Mount Jo). Through this, Munakata, Onga and Kurate
were protected from invasion by other daimyos such as Tachibana Dōsetsu
and the Ōtomo clan
. There are also ghost stories
connected with the area since the Yamada incident arose.
Munakata absorbed the town of Genkai, from Munakata District
, on April 1, 2003 to create the expanded municipality of Munakata.
The village of Ōshima
, also from Munakata District, was absorbed on March 28, 2005.
In the earthquake
on March 20, 2005, damage was done in various parts of the city. The quake registered just under five on the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale
.
The main JR Kyūshū train station in Munakata is called Akama
, and is a part of the Kagoshima Main Line
. The city is also served by the Kyōikudaimae
and Tōgō
JR stations.
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....
, in the north Chikuzen
Chikuzen
Chikuzen may refer to:*Chikuzen Province, an old province of Japan*Chikuzen, Fukuoka, a present town in Japan...
region of the prefecture.
As of April 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 94,660 and the density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 791 persons per km 2. The total area is 119.66 km².
The city was founded on April 1, 1981.
Efforts have been made to inculcate 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...
-South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
friendship, and also friendship with New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in recent years.
History
The origin of the name Munakata is said to be from "Minokatachi" or "Minokata" from the enshrinement of three Munakata goddesses, descended from Susano-O and mentioned in the KojikiKojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
.
The area has prospered from trade with China and Korea from ancient times. It has a world heritage candidate (Okinoshima
Okinoshima, Munakata
is an island, part of the city of Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan. It is considered sacred land by the local Munakata Taisha. The island's population consists of a single employee of the shrine. The entire island is considered a shinto kami, and the island is off limits to women. A movement exists to get...
) at Munakata Shrine. Munakata Shrine specifies itself as the territory of the god of Kyūshū
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....
during the Asuka period
Asuka period
The , was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 , although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period...
— ranging from Onga
Onga, Fukuoka
is a town located in Onga District, Fukuoka, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 19,273 and a density of 870.51 persons per km². The total area is 22.14 km²....
in the east, south to Wakamiya
Wakamiya, Fukuoka
Wakamiya was a town located in Kurate District, Fukuoka, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 9,889 and a density of 113.02 persons per km². The total area was 87.50 km²....
and Miyata
Miyata, Fukuoka
Miyata was a town located in Kurate District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 20,984 and a density of 399.77 persons per km². The total area was 52.49 km²....
, and Shingū
Shingu, Fukuoka
is a town located in Kasuya District, Fukuoka, Japan, between Koga and Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 22,914 and a density of 1,211.74 persons per km². The total area is 18.91 km². A JR station opened in March 2010....
in the west.
During the age of civil wars a 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...
with leading Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
priest and Munakata Ujisada of Munakata Shrine established Tsutagadake castle (Mount Jo). Through this, Munakata, Onga and Kurate
Kurate, Fukuoka
is a town located in Kurate District, Fukuoka, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 18,641 and a density of 523.92 persons per km². The total area is 35.58 km².-External links:*...
were protected from invasion by other daimyos such as Tachibana Dōsetsu
Tachibana Dosetsu
, born Hetsugi Akitsura, was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period who served the Ōtomo clan. He was the father of Tachibana Ginchiyo and adopted father of Tachibana Muneshige.-Biography:...
and the Ōtomo clan
Otomo clan
The Ōtomo clan was a Japanese clan whose power stretched from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, spanning over 400 years. The clan's hereditary lands lay in Kyūshū....
. There are also ghost stories
Kaidan
Kaidan is a Japanese word consisting of two kanji: 怪 meaning “strange, mysterious, rare or bewitching apparition" and 談 meaning “talk” or “recited narrative.”-Overall meaning and usage:...
connected with the area since the Yamada incident arose.
Munakata absorbed the town of Genkai, from Munakata District
Munakata District, Fukuoka
Munakata was a district located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.The district was dissolved on March 28, 2005, when the village of Ōshima merged into the city of Munakata.-Description:The cities once part of the district* Munakata* Fukutsu...
, on April 1, 2003 to create the expanded municipality of Munakata.
The village of Ōshima
Oshima, Fukuoka
was a village located in Munakata District, Fukuoka, Japan. The village consisted of the island of Okinoshima and an island also named .On March 28, 2005 the village merged into the city of Munakata....
, also from Munakata District, was absorbed on March 28, 2005.
In the earthquake
2005 Fukuoka earthquake
The Fukuoka earthquake struck Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan at 10:53 am JST on March 20, 2005, and lasted for approximately 1 minute. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured it as peaking at a magnitude of 7.0 and named it and its subsequent aftershocks the...
on March 20, 2005, damage was done in various parts of the city. The quake registered just under five on the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale
Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale
The Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale is a seismic scale used in Japan and Taiwan to measure the intensity of earthquakes. It is measured in units of...
.
Akama
Akama (赤間) is a historical district and city center of Munakata. It contains rows of old houses belonging, along with the original Akama hotel and two now-ruined castles: Hakusan Castle and Tsutagadake Castle. The Shinto priest and founder of Munakata Shrine was a local military leader in medieval times. It is also connected to the period in history when Takamori Saigō and Shinsaku Takasugi were in conflict with the national government.The main JR Kyūshū train station in Munakata is called Akama
Akama Station
is a train station on the Kagoshima Main Line operated by JR Kyushu in Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan...
, and is a part of the Kagoshima Main Line
Kagoshima Main Line
The is a major railway line operated by the Kyushu Railway Company between Mojikō in Kitakyūshū, and Kagoshima Station in Kagoshima City, at the southern end of Kyushu...
. The city is also served by the Kyōikudaimae
Kyoikudaimae Station
is a train station of the Kyushu Railway Company Kagoshima Main Line, located in Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan....
and Tōgō
Togo Station
is a train station of the Kyushu Railway Company Kagoshima Main Line, located in Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan....
JR stations.
Sports facilities
- Global ArenaGlobal ArenaGlobal Arena is a sports facility in Munakata city, Fukuoka, Kyūshū, Japan. It was set up by the President of the Sanix company Mr. Munemasa and includes various sports grounds for rugby union, soccer, tennis etc. Also there are indoor facilities for sports such as kendo, judo and tennis...
, which has hosted the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament since 2000 - Genkai Ground, which hosts the Fukuoka Sanix BluesFukuoka Sanix Blues, formerly Fukuoka Sanix Bombs, is a Japanese rugby union team based in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Founded in April 1994 , the team rose rapidly through the Kyūshū leagues and was in the Top League for the first season as Kyūshū's sole representative, but lost a relegation battle with...
rugby team
External links
- Munakata official website in English