Kagoshima prefecture

Encyclopedia : K : KA : KAG : Kagoshima prefecture

is located on Kyushu island, Japan. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.

Contents

1 History
2 Geography

2.1 Cities
2.2 Towns and villages
2.3 Mergers
2.4 Future mergers

3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Culture
6 Tourism
7 Famous people
8 Prefectural symbols
9 Miscellaneous topics
10 External links

History

Kagoshima Prefecture corresponds to the ancient Japanese provinces Osumi and Satsuma. This region played a key role in the Meiji restoration, and the city of Kagoshima was an important naval base during Japan's 20th Century wars and the home of admiral Togo Heihachiro.

Geography

Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, Kumamoto Prefecture to the north, and Miyazaki Prefecture to the east, it has 2,632km of coastline (including the 28 islands). It has a bay called Kagoshima Bay (Kinkowan), which is sandwiched by two peninsulas, Satsuma and Osumi. Its position made it a 'gateway' to Japan at various times in history.

The prefecture boasts active and dormant volcanoes, including the great Sakurajima, which towers out of the Kagoshima bay opposite Kagoshima city. A steady trickle of smoke and ash emerges from the caldera, punctuated by louder mini-eruptions on an almost daily basis. On some days in Kagoshima city an umbrella is advisable to ward off the ash. Sakurajima is one of Japan's most active volcanoes. Major eruptions occurred in 1914, when the island mountain spilled enough material to become permanently connected to the mainland, and a lesser eruption in 1960. Volcanic materials in the soil make Sakurajima a source for world record 'Daikon' radishes, roughly the size of a basketball. Many beaches around the Kagoshima Bay are littered with well-worn pumice stones. A crater lake in the southwestern tip of the prefecture, near the spa town of Ibusuki, is home to a rare species of giant eel.

Cities

17 cities are located on Kagoshima Prefecture.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

ǂScheduled to dissolve after the mergers

Mergers

On October 12, 2004, the city of Sendai, the towns of Hiwaki, Iriki, Kedoin and Togo and the villages of Sato, Kamikoshiki, Shimokoshiki and Kashima merged to form the city of Satsumasendai. [(Merger Information Page)]

On November 1, 2004, the towns of Kooriyama, Matsumoto, Kiire ,Sakurajima and Yoshida were absorbed into the city of Kagoshima.

On March 22, 2005, the towns of Miyanojo, Tsuruda and Satsuma from Satsuma District merged to form the town of Satsuma. [(Merger Information Page)]

On March 22, 2005, the towns of Kurino and Yoshimatsu merged to form the town of Yusui.

On March 22, 2005, the towns of Onejime and Tashiro from Kimotsuki District merged to form the town of Kinko.

On March 31, 2005, the towns of Nejime and Sata from Kimotsuki District merged to form the town of Minamiosumi.

On May 1, 2005, the towns of Fukiage, Higashiichiki, Hiyoshi and Ijuuin from Hioki District merged to form the city of Hioki.

On July 1, 2005, the towns of Uchinoura and Koyama from Kimotsuki District merged to form the town of Kimotsuki.

On July 1, 2005, the towns of Osumi, Sueyoshi and Takarabe from Soo District merged to form the city of Soo.

On October 11, 2005, the town of Ichiki from Hioki District merged with the city of Kushikino to form the city of Ichikikushikino.

On November 7, 2005, the city of Kokubu merged with the towns of Fukuyama, Hayato, Kirishima, Makizono, Mizobe, and Yokogawa (all from Aira District) to form the new city of Kirishima.

On November 7, 2005, the city of Kaseda merged with the town of Kinpou from Hioki District and the towns of Bonotsu, Kasasa, and Oura from Kawanabe District forming the new city of Minamisatsuma. Hioki District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On January 1, 2006, the towns of Ariake, Matsuyama and Shibushi from Soo District merged to form the new city of Shibushi.

On January 1, 2006, the city of Ibusuki merged with the towns of Kaimon and Yamagawa from Ibusuki District forming the new city of Ibusuki.

On January 1, 2006, the city of Kanoya merged with the towns of Aira and Kushira from Kimotsuki District and the town of Kihoku from Soo District forming the new city of Kanoya.

On March 13, 2006, the city of Izumi merged with the towns of Noda and Takaono from Izumi District forming the new city of Izumi.

On March 20, 2006, the city of Naze and the towns of Sumiyo and Kasari from Oshima District merged to form the new city of Amami.

On March 20, 2006, the towns of Azuma and Nagashima from Izumi District merged to form the new town of Nagashima.

Future mergers

The towns of Amagi and Isen from Oshima District are scheduled to merge to form the new town of Amagiisen on March 31, 2007.
The towns of Kamiyaku and Yaku from Kumage District are scheduled to merge to form the new town of Yakushima on March 31, 2007.
The town of Ei from Ibusuki District is scheduled to merge with the towns of Chiran and Kawanabe from Kawanabe District to form a new city on December 1, 2007. The name is not yet decided.

Economy

GPP: 4,834,400m Yen
Agricultural products: Sweet potato, Radish, Satsuma pottery, Pongee rice.

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

Famous people

Prefectural symbols

Miscellaneous topics

No other prefecture has more Pachinko parlours per capita than Kagoshima.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[Special]

[Official Kagoshima Prefecture homepage]

Coordinates: [31°24′N 130°31′E]

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