Kumamoto Prefecture

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Kumamoto Prefecture
Japanese: 熊本県
Kumamoto-ken
Map of Japan with Kumamoto highlighted
Capital Kumamoto
Region Kyūshū
Island Kyūshū
Governor Ikuo Kabashima
Area (rank) 7,404.14 km² (16th)
 - % water 0.2%
Population  (October 1, 2005)
 - Population 1,842,140 (23rd)
 - Density 249 /km²
Districts 10
Municipalities 48
ISO 3166-2 JP-43
Website www.pref.kumamoto.jp/
english/list.html
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
 - Tree Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
 - Bird Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
 - Fish {{{Fish}}}
Symbol of Kumamoto Prefecture
Symbol of Kumamoto Prefecture
TemplateDiscussionWikiProject Japan

Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県 Kumamoto-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.

Contents

[edit] History

Historically the area was called Higo Province and was renamed to Kumamoto Prefecture during the Meiji Restoration as part of the abolition of the feudal system. The current Japanese orthography for Kumamoto literally means "bear root/origin", or "origin of the bear".

[edit] Geography

Map of Kumamoto Prefecture showing municipal boundaries.

Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the center of Kyūshū, 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.

Mt. Aso (1592 m), an extensive active volcano, is in the east of Kumamoto Prefecture. This volcano is located at the center of the Aso caldera, the most famous caldera in Japan.

[edit] Cities

Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:

[edit] Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

Reihoku
Ashikita
Tsunagi
Minamiaso
Minamioguni
Nishihara
Oguni
Takamori
Ubuyama
Kashima
Kōsa
Mashiki
Mifune
Yamato
Ueki
Kikuyō
Ōzu
Asagiri
Itsuki
Kuma
Mizukami
Nishiki
Sagara
Taragi
Yamae
Yunomae
Jōnan
Misato
Gyokutō
Nagasu
Nagomi
Nankan
Hikawa

[edit] Mergers

[edit] Economy

Kumamoto hosts a large Honda automobile plant. In 2007, a Honda factory on the site began to produce non-silicon solar cells for homes and businesses, with a projected capacity roughly equivalent to 8,000 households/year.[1]

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Tourism

Kumamoto's main tourist attractions consist of Mt. Aso, one of the worlds largest active volcanoes, Kumamoto castle and Suizenji park.

[edit] Prefectural symbols

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E / 32.717; 130.667

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