Kumamoto Prefecture
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) | |
• Romaji | Kumamoto-ken |
Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Kyushu (Saikaidō) |
Island | Kyushu |
Capital | Kumamoto |
Government | |
• Governor | Takashi Kimura |
Area | |
• Total | 7,404.14 km2 (2,858.75 sq mi) |
• Rank | 16th |
Population (May 1, 2011) | |
• Total | 1,812,255 |
• Rank | 23rd |
• Density | 240/km2 (630/sq mi) |
ISO 3166 code | JP-43 |
Prefectural flower | Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri) |
Prefectural tree | Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) |
Prefectural bird | Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) |
Number of districts | 9 |
Number of municipalities | 45 |
Website | www.pref.kumamoto.jp/ english/list.html |
History
changeThe area of Higo Province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration.[3]
Timeline
change- 1607-1614 (Keichō 12-19): Kumamoto Castle, construction lasted 7 years[4]
- December 1637 (Kan'ei 14): Shimabara Rebellion[5]
- May 21, 1792 (Kansei 4, 1st day of the 4th month): Earthquake centered at Mount Unzen caused tsunami which hit Higo[6]
Geography
changeKumamoto 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
changeNational Parks
changeNational Parks are established in about 21% of the total land area of the prefecture,[8] including
Shrines and Temples
changeAso-jinja is the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture. [9]
Related pages
changeReferences
change- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002)."Kumamoto prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 572; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Kumamoto Prefecture, Regional Information. Retrieved 2012-4-6.
- ↑ Nussbaum, "Kumamoto" at p. 572.
- ↑ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
- ↑ Trends in Japan, "Kumamoto, Famed for Its Castle and Caldera". Retrieved 2012-2-7.
- ↑ Nussbaum, "Shimabara no Ran" at pp. 857-858; Visit Kumamoto, Kumamoto history. Retrieved 2012-2-7.
- ↑ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Geophysical Data Center, Significant Earthquake. Retrieved 2012-2-7
- ↑ Nussbaum, "Aso-san" at p. 58.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Retrieved 2012-3-13.
- ↑ "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-2-7.
Other websites
changeMedia related to Kumamoto prefecture at Wikimedia Commons
- http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/english/list.html Archived 2011-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, (in Japanese)