Kumamoto Prefecture
{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}}
{{For|the city|Kumamoto}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kumamoto Prefecture
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|熊本県}}}}
| settlement_type = Prefecture
| translit_lang1 = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type = Japanese
| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|熊本県}}
| translit_lang1_type1 = Rōmaji
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Kumamoto-ken}}
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 290
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow = 1/2/2
| image1 = 阿蘇の朝 - panoramio.jpg
| caption1 = Mount Aso and Aso Caldera
| image2 = Kumamoto Castle 02n3200.jpg
| caption2 = Kumamoto Castle
| image3 = Tsujyunkyo.jpg
| caption3 = Tsūjun Aqueduct
| image4 = 裏から見る鍋ヶ滝.jpg
| caption4 = Nabegataki Falls
| image5 = Kumamoto Suizenji-jojuen01n4272.jpg
| caption5 = Suizen-ji Jōju-en
}}
| image_flag = Flag of Kumamoto Prefecture.svg
| flag_size = 100px
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Kumamoto Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size = 80px
| blank_emblem_type = Symbol
| image_map = Map of Japan with highlight on 43 Kumamoto prefecture.svg
| coordinates = {{coord|32|43|N|130|40|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Japan}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Kyushu
| subdivision_type2 = Island
| subdivision_name2 = Kyushu
| seat_type = Capital
| seat = Kumamoto
| parts_type = Subdivisions
| parts_style = para
| p1 = Districts: 9
| p2 = Municipalities: 45
| leader_title = Governor
| leader_name = Takashi Kimura
| area_total_km2 = 7409.48
| area_water_percent = 0.2
| area_rank = 15th
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 1748134
| population_as_of = 1 June 2019
| population_rank = 23rd
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = {{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = JP¥ 6,363 billion
US$ 58.4 billion (2019)
| iso_code = JP-43
| website = {{URL|http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp}}
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| country = Japan
| bird = Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)
| fish =
| flower = Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
| tree = Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
}}
| anthem = {{ill|Kumamoto kenmin no uta|ja|熊本県民の歌}}
}}
{{nihongo|Kumamoto Prefecture|熊本県|Kumamoto-ken|{{IPA|ja|kɯ.ma.mo.to, -toꜜ.keɴ}}{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}}} is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kumamoto prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|Japan Encyclopedia, p. 572|page=572}}. Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 ({{as of|2019|06|01|lc=y}}) and has a geographic area of {{convert|7409|km2}}. Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to the northeast, Miyazaki Prefecture to the southeast, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the south.
Kumamoto is the capital and largest city of Kumamoto Prefecture, with other major cities including Yatsushiro, Amakusa, and Tamana.Nussbaum, "Kumamoto" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 572|page=572}}. Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the center of Kyūshū on the coast of the Ariake Sea, across from Nagasaki Prefecture, with the mainland separated from the East China Sea by the Amakusa Archipelago. Kumamoto Prefecture is home to Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan and among the largest in the world, with its peak {{convert|1592|m|ft}} above sea level.
History
{{main|History of Kumamoto Prefecture}} {{see also|Historic Sites of Kumamoto Prefecture}}
Historically, the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration.Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}. 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." However, Man'yōgana-like phonetic transcriptions based on the kanji for "a ball, a sphere" (球 /ku/ ~ /kjū/) and "to polish, to grind, to brush (one's teeth)" (磨 /ma/) are used for the names of the Kuma River (球磨川) and Kuma District (球磨郡). The Kuma element also appears in the ancient Kumaso.
Geography
File:Map of Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
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 ({{cvt|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 31 March 2019, 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/park/doc/data/natural/naturalpark_4.pdf |script-title=ja:自然公園都道府県別面積総括 |trans-title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |language=ja |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=31 March 2019 |access-date=3 August 2019}}
=Cities=
{{See also|List of cities in Kumamoto Prefecture by population}}
Image:Hitoyoshi City viewed from Hitoyoshi Castle.jpg
File:View from Kumamoto Castle.jpg
File:Toji Itsuki Village Kumamoto Japan 2009.JPG
Image:Uchinomaki AsoCity 2012.JPG
File:Minamata City Central from Nakaoyama 2020.JPG
Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:
=Towns and villages=
These are the towns and villages in each district:
=Mergers=
{{main|List of mergers in Kumamoto Prefecture}}
Demographics
{{as of|2019|06|01|post=,}} the population was 1,748,134 inhabitants with a population density of {{convert|236|PD/km2}}. The prefecture ranks 23rd in Japan.
Economy
File:Tsujyunkyo-housui.jpg in Yamato, Kamimashiki]]
File:Kumamoto Castle 02n3200.jpg]]
The largest motorcycle production facility in the world is located in Kumamoto.{{Cite web |title=Honda greens up its Kumamoto motorcycle manufacturing facility |url=https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/news/honda-greens-its-kumamoto-motorcycle-manufacturing-facility/ |date=2009-10-22 |first=Aaron |last=Frank |website=Motorcyclist |language=en}}
In 2023, Mitsubishi Electric announced plans to spend 100 billion yen on a new semiconductor factory in Kumamoto, with a target start date of April 2026 to begin production.{{Cite news |date=2023-03-15 |title=Mitsubishi Electric to build 100 bil. yen chip factory in Kumamoto Pref. |language=en |work=Mainichi Daily News |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230315/p2g/00m/0bu/002000c }}
= Tourism =
- Kumamoto Castle
- Mount Aso is one of the world's largest active volcanoes.
- Suizenji Park
- Tsūjun Bridge, the largest stone aqueduct in Japan is in Yamato
The prefecture has a mascot named "Kumamon", a black bear with red cheeks, who was created to attract tourists to the region after the Kyushu Shinkansen line opened.[http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-130337/ The Life and Times of Japan's Mascots]{{cite web|url=http://findingfukuoka.com/2012/01/13/top-ten-japanese-character-mascots/ |title=Top Ten Japanese Character Mascots |publisher=Finding Fukuoka |date=2012-01-13 |access-date=2013-02-16}}
Education
= Universities =
== National ==
== Public ==
== Private ==
Transportation
= Rail =
= Tramway =
= Road =
== Expressways and toll roads ==
== National highways ==
- Route 3
- Route 57
- Route 208 (Kumamoto-Tamana-Arao-Ōmuta)
- Route 212
- Route 218 (Kumamoto-Takachiho-Nobeoka)
- Route 219
- Route 265
- Route 266
- Route 267 (Hitoyoshi-Isa-Satsuma-Satsumasendai)
- Route 268
- Route 324
- Route 325 (Yamaga-Minamiaso-Takamori-Takachiho)
- Route 387
- Route 388 (Saiki-Nobeoka-Unomae)
- Route 389
- Route 442
- Route 443
- Route 445
- Route 501 (Ōmuta-Arao-Udo)
- Route 503
= Ports =
== Ferry routes ==
= Airport =
Sports
These sports teams are based in the prefecture:
- Professional:
- Blaze Kumamoto - Men's association football
- Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto - Women's association football
- Roasso Kumamoto - Men's football and J League Second Division
- Amateur:
- Kumamoto Golden Larks - regional baseball
The Kumamoto Prefecture hosted the 2019 World Women's Handball Championship, having previously hosted the 1997 World Men's Handball Championship.
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
{{more citations needed|section|date=September 2020}}
- Aki Yashiro, a popular Japanese singer{{Cite news|title=Aki Yashiro, Enka Singer and Painter, Dies at Age 73; Known for Hit Songs "Funauta" and "Ame no Bojo" |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/obituaries/20240109-160954/ |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=9 January 2024 |newspaper=The Japan News}}
- Jun Kunimura, a popular Japanese actor
- Tetsu Komai, a Hollywood actor
- Kazuaki Kiriya, a filmmaker
- Kimeru, a pop artist
- Miku Kobato, founder and vocalist of Band-Maid{{Cite web|url=http://www.jpopasia.com/mikubandmaid/|title=Miku (BAND-MAID) {{!}} JpopAsia|last=JpopAsia|website=JpopAsia|language=en|access-date=2018-03-11}}
- Kunio Nakagawa, Japanese Army general
- Yuri Masuda, singer
- Munetaka Murakami, Japanese baseball player
- Shodai Naoya, Sumo wrestler
- Tomiko Van, singer, vocalist of Do As Infinity
- Eiichiro Oda, manga author, creator of One Piece{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-04-21/eiichiro-oda-hajime-isayama-show-their-support-after-kumamoto-earthquakes/.101319|title=Eiichiro Oda, Hajime Isayama Show Their Support After Kumamoto Earthquakes|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-03-11|language=en}}
- Yuki Midorikawa, manga author, creator of Natsume's Book of Friends and Hotarubi no Mori e{{Cite news|url=https://sojapan.jp/2018/10/real-life-locations-of-natsumes-book-of-friends-in-kumamotos-countrysides-part-1/|title=Real-life Locations of "Natsume's Book of Friends" in Kumamoto's Countrysides (Part 1)|work=So Japan|access-date=2022-11-29|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://twistedsifter.com/2014/10/kamishikimikumano-forest-shrine-takamori-machi-japan/#:~:text=In%20the%20town%20of%20Takamori-machi%2C%20in%20the%20Kumamoto,Mori%20e%20%28Into%20the%20Forest%20of%20Fireflies%E2%80%99%20Light%29.|title=A Forest Shrine in Japan|work=Twisted Sifter|date=17 October 2014 |access-date=2022-11-29|language=en}}
- Tetsuya Noda, contemporary artist
- Katsuhiro Ueo, drifting driver
- Ichiki Tatsuo, journalist and defector in the Indonesian National Revolution
- Madoka Hisagae, female Japanese fencer
- Hitomi Tanaka, pornographic actress{{cite web|url=http://xcity.jp/idol/detail/?id=805&style=simple|title=Hitomi at AV Idol Directory}} in Japanese
- Kenta Matsumoto, vocalist and bassist of WANIMA
- Koushin Nishida, guitarist of WANIMA
- Kouki Fujiwara, drummer of WANIMA
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
{{Portal|Japan|Geography}}
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC Japan encyclopedia.] Cambridge: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition OCLC 58053128]
External links
{{Commons category|Kumamoto prefecture}}
{{Wikivoyage|Kumamoto_prefecture}}
- {{Official website|http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/english/list.html}}
- National Archives of Japan [https://web.archive.org/web/20111004065808/http://www.digital.archives.go.jp/DAS/meta/DGDetail_en_0000000439 ... Kumamoto map (1891)]
- {{OSM relation|1842185}}
{{Kumamoto}}
{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}