Kumamoto Prefecture
| Kumamoto Prefecture 熊本県 |
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| Prefecture | ||
| Japanese transcription(s) | ||
| • Japanese | 熊本県 | |
| • Rōmaji | Kumamoto-ken | |
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| Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°ECoordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E | ||
| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Kyushu | |
| Island | Kyushu | |
| Capital | Kumamoto | |
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Ikuo Kabashima | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7,404.14 km2 (2,858.75 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 16th | |
| Population (May 1, 2011) | ||
| • Total | 1,812,255 | |
| • Rank | 23rd | |
| • Density | 244.76/km2 (633.9/sq mi) | |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-43 | |
| Districts | 9 | |
| Municipalities | 45 | |
| Flower | Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri) | |
| Tree | Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) | |
| Bird | Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis) | |
| Website | www |
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Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県 Kumamoto-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu.[1] The capital is the city of Kumamoto.[2]
Contents
History[edit]
Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration.[3] 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".[citation needed]
Geography[edit]
Kumamoto Prefecture is 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 centre of the Aso caldera.
As of March 31, 2008, 21% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as natural parks: the Aso Kujū and Unzen-Amakusa National Parks; Kyūshū Chūō Sanchi and Yaba-Hita-Hikosan Quasi-National Parks; and Ashikita Kaigan, Itsuki Gokanoshō, Kinpōzan, Misumi-Ōyano Umibe, Okukuma, Shōtaisan, and Yabe Shūhen Prefectural Natural Parks.[4]
Cities[edit]
Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:
Towns and villages[edit]
These are the towns and villages in each district:
Mergers[edit]
Demographics[edit]
The population is 1,812,255. The prefecture ranks 23rd in Japan. The population density is 244.76 people per square kilometer.
Economy[edit]
There is a Honda automobile plant.
Tourism[edit]
- Mt. Aso is one of the world's largest active volcanoes.
- Kumamoto Castle
- Suizenji Park
- Tsūjun Bridge, the largest stone aqueduct in Japan is in Yamato
Education[edit]
University[edit]
- Kumamoto University
- Kumamoto Prefectural University
- Kumamoto Gakuen University
- Kumamoto Health Science
- Kyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfare
- Kyushu Lutheran College
- Kumamoto Health Science
- Shokei Gakuin University
- Sojo University
- Heisei College of Music
- Tokai University of Kumamoto
Transportation[edit]
Rail[edit]
- JR Kyushu
- Kumamoto Electric Railway
- Kumagawa Railroad
- South Aso Railway
- Hisatsu Orange Railway
Tramway[edit]
Road[edit]
Expressways and toll roads[edit]
- Kyushu Expressway
- South Kyushu Expressway
- Kumamoto Amakusa Road
National highways[edit]
- Route 3
- Route 57
- Route 208 (Kumamoto-Tamana-Arao-Ōmuta)
- Route 212
- Route 218 (Kumamoto-Takachiho-Nobeoka)
- Route 219
- Route 265
- Route 266
- Route 267 (Hitoyoshi-Isa-Satsuma-Satsumasendai)
- Route 268
- Route 324
- Route 325 (Yamaga-Minamiaso-Takamori-Takachiho)
- Route 387
- Route 388 (Saiki-Nobeoka-Unomae)
- Route 389
- Route 442
- Route 443
- Route 445
- Route 501 (Ōmuta-Arao-Udo)
- Route 503
Ports[edit]
Ferry routes[edit]
Airport[edit]
Sports[edit]
These sports teams are based in the prefecture:
- Professional:
- Roasso Kumamoto - Men's football and J League Second Division
- Blaze Kumamoto - Men's association football
- Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto - Women's association football
- Amateur:
- Kumamoto Golden Larks - regional baseball
Sister cities[edit]
Kumamoto Prefecture is the 'sister state/prefecture' of Montana in the United States.
Notable people[edit]
 |
This section does not cite any references (sources). (October 2011) |
Kumamoto is the birthplace of Hollywood actor Tetsu Komai, filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya, J-pop artist Kimeru, Japanese idol group ANGERME member Moe Kamikokuryou, J-pop singer Yuri Masuda, as well as J-Pop musician Tomiko Van, author of One Piece Eiichiro Oda, Takarazuka Revue actress Yu Todoroki, and contemporary artist Tetsuya Noda.
Notes[edit]
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kumamoto prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 572, p. 572, at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Kumamoto" in p. 572, p. 572, at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
- ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
References[edit]
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kumamoto prefecture. |
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kumamoto_prefecture. |
- Official website
- National Archives of Japan ... Kumamoto map (1891)
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