Kumamoto Prefecture

prefecture of Japan

Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken) is a prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan on the island of Kyushu.[1] The capital city is Kumamoto.[2]

Kumamoto
熊本県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • RomajiKumamoto-ken
Flag of Kumamoto
Official seal of Kumamoto
Location of Kumamoto in Japan
Location of Kumamoto in Japan
Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E / 32.717; 130.667
Country Japan
RegionKyushu (Saikaidō)
IslandKyushu
CapitalKumamoto
Government
 • GovernorTakashi Kimura
Area
 • Total7,404.14 km2 (2,858.75 sq mi)
 • Rank16th
Population
 (May 1, 2011)
 • Total1,812,255
 • Rank23rd
 • Density240/km2 (630/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-43
Prefectural flowerGentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
Prefectural treeCamphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
Prefectural birdEurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Number of districts9
Number of municipalities45
Websitewww.pref.kumamoto.jp/
english/list.html

History

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The area of Higo Province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration.[3]

Timeline

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Geography

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Kumamoto Prefecture is in the middle of Kyūshū The western border of Kumamoto is the Ariake Sea and the Amakusa Islands. Fukuoka Prefecture and Ōita Prefecture are in the north. Miyazaki Prefecture is in the east. Kagoshima Prefecture is in the south.

Mount Aso (1592 m) is an active volcano in the eastern part of the prefecture.[7]

Cities

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National Parks

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National Parks are established in about 21% of the total land area of the prefecture,[8] including

Shrines and Temples

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Aso-jinja is the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture. [9]

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References

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  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002)."Kumamoto prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 572; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Kumamoto Prefecture, Regional Information. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
  2. Nussbaum, "Kumamoto" at p. 572.
  3. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
  4. Trends in Japan, "Kumamoto, Famed for Its Castle and Caldera". Retrieved 2012-2-7.
  5. Nussbaum, "Shimabara no Ran" at pp. 857-858; Visit Kumamoto, Kumamoto history. Retrieved 2012-2-7.
  6. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Geophysical Data Center, Significant Earthquake. Retrieved 2012-2-7
  7. Nussbaum, "Aso-san" at p. 58.
  8. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Retrieved 2012-3-13.
  9. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-2-7.

Other websites

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  Media related to Kumamoto prefecture at Wikimedia Commons