Kyūshū

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Kyūshū region of Japan and the current prefectures on Kyūshū island

Kyūshū (九州, Kyūshū^?), literally "Nine Provinces," is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. It is considered the birthplace of the Japanese civilization whereof the warm climate and high forestry and agricultural production. Its alternate ancient names include Kyūkoku (九国, literally "Nine Nations" or "Nine Countries"), Chinzei (鎮西, literally "Pacifying the West"), and Tsukushi-no-shima (筑紫島, "the Island of Tsukushi"). The ancient region Saikaidō consists of Kyūshū and its surrounding islands.

Population: 14,779,000 (2003). Area: 35,640 km².

1 Geography
2 Economy/Climate
3 Education
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Geography

The island is mountainous, and Japan's tallest 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" came from the former nine provinces of Saikaidō on the island, that are Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyūga, Osumi, and Satsuma.

The current 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.

By population, the largest city on the island is Fukuoka and is populated by approximately 1.4 million people - a major business center with a major international airport as well as one of 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 cities are 3rd and 4th widest, populated by more than a half million. Nagasaki has one of the oldest international ports, which was the only gateway to foreign countries during the Edo Period, from mid 16th to mid 18th centuries.

[edit] Economy/Climate

Parts of Kyūshū have a subtropical climate, particularly the Miyazaki and Kagoshima regions. 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 e.g. Arita, Imari, Satsuma and Karatsu. Heavy industry is concentrated in the north around Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, and Oita and includes chemicals and metal processing.

[edit] Education

Major Universities and Colleges in Kyūshū:

National Universities
- Kyūshū University [1] - One of seven former "Imperial Universities"
- Kyūshū Institute of Technology [2]
- Saga University
- Nagasaki University
- Kumamoto University
- Oita University
- Miyazaki University
- Kagoshima University
- National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya
- University of the Ryūkyūs
Universities run by Local Governments
- University of Kitakyushu
- Kyusyu Dental College
- Fukuoka Women's University
- Fukuoka Prefectural University
- Siebold University of Nagasaki
- Nagasaki Prefectural University
- Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Prefectural University of Kumamoto
- Miyazaki Municipal University
- Miyazaki Prefectural Nursing University
- Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
Major Private Universities
- Fukuoka University - University with the biggest number of students in Kyūshū
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University [3]
- Seinan Gakuin University
- Kyūshū Sangyo University - Baseball Team has won the National Championship in 2005
- University of Occupational and Environmental Health
- Kurume University