Kumamoto Prefecture

Kumamoto Prefecture
熊本県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 熊本県
 • Rōmaji Kumamoto-ken

Flag
Symbol
Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E / 32.717; 130.667Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E / 32.717; 130.667
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.pref.kumamoto.jp

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]

History

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".

Geography

Map of Kumamoto Prefecture showing municipal boundaries

Kumamoto Prefecture is in the center of Kyushu, 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.

Mount 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

Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:

Kumamoto City
Hitoyoshi
Aso City

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Itsuki Village

Mergers

Demographics

The population is 1,812,255. The prefecture ranks 23rd in Japan. The population density is 244.76 people per square kilometer.

Economy

Tsūjun Bridge in Yamato, Kamimashiki
Kumamoto Castle

There is a Honda automobile plant.

Tourism

Education

Universities

National

Public

Private

Transportation

Rail

Tramway

Road

Expressways and toll roads

National highways

Ports

Ferry routes

Airport

Sports

Roasso Kumamoto franchise stadium in KKWing of Kumamoto

These sports teams are based in the prefecture:

Sister cities

Kumamoto Prefecture is the 'sister state/prefecture' of Montana in the United States.

Kumamoto has a sister city located in Texas named San Antonio, which holds an annual fall festival 'akimatsuri' for its Japanese citizens. In 2015 the mascot, 'Kumamon' visited as an honorary ambassador during the festival located at the Japanese Tea Gardens.

Notable people

Notes

  1. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kumamoto prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 572, p. 572, at Google Books.
  2. ↑ Nussbaum, "Kumamoto" in p. 572, p. 572, at Google Books.
  3. ↑ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  4. ↑ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 8 February 2012.

References

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