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Kumamoto

Coordinates: 32°48′11″N 130°42′28″E / 32.80306°N 130.70778°E / 32.80306; 130.70778
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This article is about the city in Japan. For the prefecture with the same name where this city is located, see Kumamoto Prefecture.
Not to be confused with Kumanovo.
Kumamoto
熊本市
Designated city
Kumamoto City
From top left: Skyline view of Kumamoto City from Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Shintoshin Plaza, Fujisaki Hachimangū shrine, Downtown Shimotori-Shintengai of Kumamoto City, Suizenji Park, Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal
Flag of Kumamoto
Flag
Official seal of Kumamoto
Emblem
Nickname: 
The Heart of Kyushu
Location of Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture
Location of Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto is located in Japan
Kumamoto
Kumamoto
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°48′11″N 130°42′28″E / 32.80306°N 130.70778°E / 32.80306; 130.70778
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKumamoto Prefecture
First official recorded558 AD[citation needed]
City SettledApril 1, 1889
Government
 • MayorKazufumi Ōnishi[1][2]
Area
 • Total
390.32 km2 (150.70 sq mi)
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
 • Total
738,907
 • Density1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.city.kumamoto.jp
Symbols
BirdGreat tit
FlowerCamellia
TreeGinkgo

Kumamoto (熊本市, Kumamoto-shi) is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2.

Greater Kumamoto (熊本都市圏) had a population of 1,461,000, as of the 2000 census. As of 2010, Kumamoto Metropolitan Employment Area has a GDP of US$39.8 billion.[3][4] It is not considered part of the Fukuoka–Kitakyushu metropolitan area, despite their shared border. The city was designated on April 1, 2012, by government ordinance.

History

See also: History of Kumamoto Prefecture

Early modern period

Shokuhō period

Katō Kiyomasa, a contemporary of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was made daimyō of half of the (old) administrative region of Higo in 1588. Afterwards, Kiyomasa built Kumamoto Castle. Due to its many innovative defensive designs, Kumamoto Castle was considered impenetrable, and Kiyomasa enjoyed a reputation as one of the finest castle-builders in Japanese history.

Edo period

After Kiyomasa died in 1611, his son, Tadahiro, succeeded him. In 1632, Tadahiro was removed by Tokugawa Iemitsu and replaced with the Hosokawa clan. Hosokawa Tadatoshi, the third lord of Kumamoto, was the patron of the artist[5] and swordsman Miyamoto Musashi[6]

Late modern period

Meiji period

The current administrative body of the City of Kumamoto was founded on April 1, 1889.

Showa period

On July 1, 1945, near the end of World War II, Kumamoto was bombed in an Allied air raid that destroyed one square mile, which was 20% of the city's area.[8]

Contemporary history

After World War II

After the war, the Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fujii decided to construct a Peace Pagoda atop Mount Hanaoka in the city to commemorate all those lost in war and to promote peace.[9] Inaugurated in 1954, it was the first of over 80 Peace Pagodas built by Fujii and his followers all over the world.[10]

Heisei period

On February 1, 1991, the towns of Akita, Kawachi, Tenmei, and Hokubu (all from Hōtaku District) were merged into Kumamoto. On October 6, 2008, the town of Tomiai (from Shimomashiki District) was merged into Kumamoto. On March 23, 2010, the town of Jōnan (also from Shimomashiki District) and the town of Ueki (from Kamoto District) were merged into Kumamoto.[11]

A series of earthquakes struck the area beginning April 14, 2016, including a tremor with moment magnitude 7.1 early in the morning of April 16, 2016.[12]

Geography

Downtown of Kumamoto

Climate

Kumamoto has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Kumamoto is 17.2 °C (63.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,007.0 mm (79.02 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.4 °C (83.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.0 °C (42.8 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Kumamoto was 38.8 °C (101.8 °F) on 17 July 1994; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −9.2 °C (15.4 °F) on 11 February 1929.

Climate data for Kumamoto (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1890−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.5
(72.5) 		26.4
(79.5) 		27.4
(81.3) 		30.7
(87.3) 		34.4
(93.9) 		36.1
(97.0) 		38.8
(101.8) 		38.5
(101.3) 		37.0
(98.6) 		33.7
(92.7) 		28.9
(84.0) 		24.6
(76.3) 		38.8
(101.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.7
(51.3) 		12.4
(54.3) 		16.1
(61.0) 		21.4
(70.5) 		26.0
(78.8) 		28.1
(82.6) 		31.8
(89.2) 		33.3
(91.9) 		30.1
(86.2) 		25.0
(77.0) 		18.8
(65.8) 		12.9
(55.2) 		22.2
(72.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8) 		7.4
(45.3) 		10.9
(51.6) 		15.8
(60.4) 		20.5
(68.9) 		23.7
(74.7) 		27.5
(81.5) 		28.4
(83.1) 		25.2
(77.4) 		19.6
(67.3) 		13.5
(56.3) 		8.0
(46.4) 		17.2
(63.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9) 		2.6
(36.7) 		5.9
(42.6) 		10.6
(51.1) 		15.6
(60.1) 		20.2
(68.4) 		24.2
(75.6) 		24.8
(76.6) 		21.2
(70.2) 		14.9
(58.8) 		8.8
(47.8) 		3.4
(38.1) 		12.8
(55.0)
Record low °C (°F) −9.2
(15.4) 		−9.2
(15.4) 		−6.9
(19.6) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		1.3
(34.3) 		7.1
(44.8) 		14.3
(57.7) 		15.3
(59.5) 		6.7
(44.1) 		0.5
(32.9) 		−3.8
(25.2) 		−7.9
(17.8) 		−9.2
(15.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 57.2
(2.25) 		83.2
(3.28) 		124.8
(4.91) 		144.9
(5.70) 		160.9
(6.33) 		448.5
(17.66) 		386.8
(15.23) 		195.4
(7.69) 		172.6
(6.80) 		87.1
(3.43) 		84.4
(3.32) 		61.2
(2.41) 		2,007
(79.02)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 1
(0.4) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) 8.1 9.0 11.4 10.7 10.4 15.2 13.3 11.3 10.4 7.2 8.3 8.3 123.5
Average relative humidity (%) 70 67 66 65 67 76 76 72 71 69 72 71 70
Mean monthly sunshine hours 133.0 141.1 169.6 184.0 194.3 130.8 176.7 206.0 176.4 187.1 153.7 143.4 1,996.1
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[13]

Area

Map showing Kumamoto Metropolitan Employment Area

Wards

Since April 1, 2012, Kumamoto has five wards (ku):

Wards of Kumamoto
Place Name Map of Kumamoto
Rōmaji Kanji Color
1 Kita-ku 北区 Blue

2 Nishi-ku 西区 Yellow
3 Chuo-ku 中央区
(administrative center) 		Purple
4 Higashi-ku 東区 Red
5 Minami-ku 南区 Green

Surrounding municipalities

Kumamoto PrefectureKumamoto Prefecture

Demographics

Kumamoto prefecture population pyramid in 2020

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kumamoto in 2020 is 738,865 people.[14] Kumamoto has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 267,466—    
1925 290,729+8.7%
1930 312,013+7.3%
1935 329,225+5.5%
1940 321,622−2.3%
1945 389,649+21.2%
1950 413,497+6.1%
1955 454,514+9.9%
1960 474,859+4.5%
1965 502,463+5.8%
1970 534,228+6.3%
YearPop.±%
1975 574,299+7.5%
1980 619,236+7.8%
1985 654,348+5.7%
1990 680,765+4.0%
1995 708,097+4.0%
2000 720,816+1.8%
2005 727,978+1.0%
2010 734,294+0.9%
2015 740,822+0.9%
2020 738,865−0.3%
Kumamoto population statistics[14]

Government

Kazufumi Ōnishi has been the city's mayor since December 2014.[15]

Working mother incident

In November 2017, Kumamoto politician Yuka Ogata was forced to leave the Kumamoto municipal assembly because she had brought her baby.[16] The incident was reported by international media as an example of the challenges facing women in Japan.[17]

Transportation

Kumamoto Airport
Kumamoto Station
Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau
Kumamoto city tram
Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal
Kitakumamoto Service Area
Port of Kumamoto

Local public transport is provided by the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau.

Airways

Airports

Kumamoto Airport is located in nearby Mashiki.

Railways

High-speed rail

On March 12, 2011, work on the shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) network was completed, establishing a direct high-speed rail link to Tokyo via Fukuoka's Hakata station.

Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu)

Conventional lines

The JR Kumamoto station provides rail links to Japan's extensive rail network.

Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu)
Kumamoto Electric Railway

Tramways

Trams run to a few suburbs near the downtown area.

Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau

Bus

A large bus terminus, called the Kotsu Centre, provides access to both local and intercity destinations.

Taxi

Several local taxi companies serve the Kumamoto metropolitan area and are the only 24-hour public transport in the city.

Roads

Expressways

Japan National Route

Seaways

Seaports

  • Port of Kumamoto

Ferry

  • Kyusyu Shosen: Kumamoto - Shimabara
  • Kumamoto-Ferry: Kumamoto - Shimabara
  • Korean Marine Transport: Kumamoto - Busan

Education

Universities

Landmarks

Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle

The city's most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle, a large and once extremely well fortified Japanese castle. The donjon (castle central keep) is a concrete reconstruction built in the 1970s, but several ancillary wooden buildings from the original castle remain. The castle was assaulted during the Satsuma Rebellion and sacked and burned after a 53-day siege. It was during this time that the tradition of eating basashi (raw horse meat) originated. Basashi remains popular in Kumamoto and, to a lesser extent, elsewhere in Japan, although these days it is usually considered a delicacy.

Within the outer walls of Kumamoto Castle is the Hosokawa Gyobu-tei, the former residence of the Higo daimyō. This traditional wooden mansion has a fine Japanese garden located on its grounds.

Religious sites

The first of many peace pagodas around the world was erected by Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fujii atop Mount Hanaoka beginning 1947.[18] Inaugurated in 1954, it was the first of over 80 built by Fujii and his followers all over the world.[19]

Kumamoto is also the location of Takahashi Inari Shrine and Fujisaki Hachimangū.

Suizenji area

Suizenji jojuen garden.

Kumamoto is home to Suizen-ji Jōju-en, a formal garden neighboring Suizenji Temple approximately 3 kilometers southeast of Kumamoto Castle. Suizenji Park is also home to the Suizenji Municipal Stadium, where the city's football team, Roasso Kumamoto, used to play regularly. The team now uses the larger KKWing Stadium in Higashi Ward.

Other notable sites

Miyamoto Musashi lived the last part of his life in Kumamoto. His tomb and the cave where he resided during his final years (known as Reigandō, or "spirit rock cave") are situated close by. He penned the famous Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings) whilst living here.

The downtown area has a commercial district centred on two shopping arcades, the Shimotori and Kamitori, which extend for several city blocks. The main department stores are located here along with a large number of smaller retailers, restaurants, and bars. Many local festivals are held in or near the arcades.

Cultural venues include the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art and Kumamoto Prefectural Theater.

Culture

Sports

Sports teams

Baseball
Football
Basketball
Volleyball

Sporting events

The Kumamoto Castle Marathon is a yearly event in Kumamoto City. It was established in commemoration of Kumamoto becoming a designated city in 2012.[20] The city also hosted the 1997 World Men's Handball Championship and the 2019 World Women's Handball Championship.

External relations

Twin towns/sister cities

Kumamoto City is twinned with the following cities.

International

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Kumamoto City". JAPAN SHOWCASE. The Japan Times. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  2. ^ 市長名の検索結果 (in Japanese). Japan Association of City Mayors. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  3. ^ Yoshitsugu Kanemoto. "Metropolitan Employment Area (MEA) Data". Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo.
  4. ^ Conversion rates - Exchange rates - OECD Data
  5. ^ "Art of Miyamoto Musashi". ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com. 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Wilson, The Lone Samurai, pp. 104–105.
  7. ^ "Mimasaka. Musashi Miyamoto". Mémorial Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu. 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Craven, Wesley; Cate, James, eds. (1953). The Pacific: Matterhorn to Nagasaki. The Army Air Forces in World War II. Volume V. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. p. 664. OCLC 256469807.
  9. ^ Kisala, Robert (1999). Prophets of Peace: Pacifism and Cultural Identity in Japan's New Religions. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 52–53. ISBN 9780824822675.
  10. ^ Stone, Jacqueline I. (2003). Queen, Christopher S.; Prebish, Charles S.; Keown, Damien (eds.). Action Dharma: New Studies in Engaged Buddhism. Psychology Press. p. 81. ISBN 9780700715947.
  11. ^ "都道府県別市町村変更情報：福岡 Archived 2010-04-06 at the Wayback Machine." kokudo.or.jp. Retrieved on November 22, 2008. (in Japanese)
  12. ^ "Japan earthquake: Powerful new tremor in Kumamoto". BBC News. 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  13. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Kumamoto population statistics
  15. ^ 市長のプロフィール (in Japanese). Kumamoto City. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Japanese politicians force colleague with baby to leave chamber". TheGuardian.com. 24 November 2017.
  17. ^ "A Japanese politician took her baby to work. Male colleagues made a fuss. - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  18. ^ Kisala, Robert (1999). Prophets of Peace: Pacifism and Cultural Identity in Japan's New Religions. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 52–53. ISBN 9780824822675.
  19. ^ Stone, Jacqueline I. (2003). Queen, Christopher S.; Prebish, Charles S.; Keown, Damien (eds.). Action Dharma: New Studies in Engaged Buddhism. Psychology Press. p. 81. ISBN 9780700715947.
  20. ^ Kumamoto Castle Marathon website Information on 2013 Kumamoto Castle Marathon Archived 2012-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "Twinning". City of Heidelberg. Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
  22. ^ City of San Antonio International Relations Office. Retrieved 12 October 2011
  23. ^ "Kumamoto Prefecture - the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)".
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