Hakata-ku (博多区) is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station.
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Hakata-ku is a ward of Fukuoka City located on its eastern edge. It is 31.47 km2 with a population of 206,629 (current January 1, 2009). Most of the ward is plains where the Mikasa River (御笠川 Mikasagawa) flows. The northwestern end of the ward faces Hakata Bay, which includes the ferry terminal Hakata Harbor (博多港 Hakata kō). The northeast end of the ward is slightly elevated, and is named Higashihirao (東平尾), with nearby Fukuoka Airport. Around Hakata Station is downtown; Nakasu (中洲) is the red-light district in the ward along the Naka River (那珂川 Nakagawa). Hakata-ku also houses the Fukuoka Prefectural office.
Formerly, Hakata was an independent city. Hakata, which was closer to the sea, housed the city's merchants. From Heian period to Azuchi-Momoyama period, Hakata's merchants traded with Chinese, Korean, and other overseas merchants. Taira no Kiyomori is said to have built the artificial harbor Sode-no-minato (袖の湊) to gain an increase in commerce. But Hakata city was burnt down by many wars, and Mongol invasions.
In primary Edo period, Kuroda Nagamasa, appointed the lord of Chikuzen Province, and his samurai vassals dwelt on the opposite shore of Hakata on Naka River in Fukusaki. Kuroda Nagamasa, changed the name of the area to Fukuoka in memory of his home town; Okayama. He ordered Tachibana castle dismantled and Fukuoka Castle to be built using the old stones in the new castle town Fukuoka. During the Meiji period, in 1889, Hakata and Fukuoka cities marged. The Fukuoka Prefectural government decided to name the combined city Fukuoka, though the population of Hakata was 25,677 and Fukuoka was 20,410. At that time, the name of Hakata vanished from the administration. At the same time a new train station was built, and it was named Hakata Station. In 1972, when Fukuoka City was granted designation status by government ordinance, a ward including the Old Hakata Area was given the name of Hakata-ku.
Many Japanese companies have established branch offices in Fukuoka City, particularly in Hakata-ku cause of its easy access to Hakata Station and Fukuoka Airport. Therefore, people on business trips often visit and stay in Hakata-ku. The headquarters of JR Kyūshū,[1] Best Denki, and many other companies are in the ward.[2]
Air Next, a subsidiary of All Nippon Airways, is headquartered on the grounds of Fukuoka Airport in Hakata-ku.[3] Prior to its dissolution, Harlequin Air was headquartered on the grounds of the airport in Hakata-ku.[4][5]
Hakata was the traditional center for the manufacture of Hakata ningyō, which are traditional Japanese dolls that are famous throughout Japan. Today, almost all Hakata ningyō makers (Hakata ningyō shi) have their factories out of the Old Hakata Area, a part of modern Hakata-ku.
Hakata ori is a textile used for obis of kimonos.[6] Recently Hakata ori textile is used for bags and dresses as HAKATA JAPAN brand.
It is also the home of Mentai Rock, named after the popular mentaiko dish served in the region, that spawned numerous J-pop idols during the early 1980s. Neo Mentai Rock is the name given to a recent renewal in activity from local musicians.
Hakata-ben is the local Japanese dialect spoken in Old Hakata Area.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hakata-ku,_Fukuoka Hakata-ku, Fukuoka] at Wikimedia Commons
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