Kagoshima Prefecture

Template:Infobox Prefecture Japan Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県, Kagoshima-ken) is located on Kyūshū island, Japan. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.

Geography

Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyūshū. 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.

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.

Sister relations

Jeollabuk-do, South Korea

October 1989 duo-declaration

November 28, 1966 became a sister state

July 27, 1971 Became a sister prefecture

Region

Cities, Towns, and Villages

Following cities, towns, and villages are located in Kagoshima Prefecture:

Akune
Amami
Hioki
Ibusuki
Ichikikushikino
Izumi
Kagoshima (capital, Core city)
Kanoya
Kirishima
Makurazaki
Minamisatsuma
Nishinoomote
Okuchi
Satsumasendai
Shibushi
Soo
Tarumizu
Aira District
- Aira, Kajiki, Kamou, Yusui
Ibusuki District
- Ei
Isa District
- Hishikari
Izumi District
- Nagashima
Kagoshima District
- Mishima, Toshima
Kawanabe District
- Chiran, Kawanabe
Kimotsuki District
- Higashikushira, Kimotsuki, Kinko, Minamiosumi
Kumage District
- Kamiyaku, Minamitane, Nakatane, Yaku
Oshima District
- Amagi, China, Isen, Kikai, Setouchi, Tatsugo, Tokunoshima, Uken, Wadomari, Yamato, Yoron
Satsuma District
- Satsuma
Soo District
- Osaki

Future mergers by region

Satsuma Region
Osumi Region
Yaku Region

Yakushima (by the mergers of the towns of Kamiyaku and Yaku from Kumage District) March 31, 2007.

Amami Region

Following Mergers took place

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)
November 1, 2004 - the towns of Kooriyama, Matsumoto, Kiire ,Sakurajima and Yoshida were absorbed into the city of Kagoshima.
March 22, 2005

The towns of Miyanojo, Tsuruda and Satsuma from Satsuma District merged to form the town of Satsuma. (Merger Information Page)

The towns of Kurino and Yoshimatsu merged to form the town of Yusui.

The towns of Onejime and Tashiro from Kimotsuki District merged to form the town of Kinko.

March 31, 2005 - The towns of Nejime and Sata from Kimotsuki District merged to form the town of Minamiosumi.
May 1, 2005, The towns of Fukiage, Higashiichiki, Hiyoshi and Ijuuin from Hioki District merged to form the city of Hioki.
July 1, 2005

The towns of Uchinoura and Koyama from Kimotsuki District merged to form the town of Kimotsuki.

The towns of Osumi, Sueyoshi and Takarabe from Soo District merged to form the city of Soo.

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

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.

January 1, 2006

The towns of Ariake, Matsuyama and Shibushi from Soo District merged to form the new city of Shibushi.

The city of Ibusuki merged with the towns of Kaimon and Yamagawa from Ibusuki District forming the new city of Ibusuki.

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.

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

The towns of Azuma and Nagashima from Izumi District merged to form the new town of Nagashima.

Dead Districts due to recent mergers

Hioki District-since November 7, 2005

Recreation

Kagoshima Prefectural Ballpark (鹿児島県立球場) Camp home of Chiba Lotte Marines
Kagoshima Municipal Ballpark (鹿児島市営球場)
Ibusuki Municipal Ballpark (指宿市営球場) Camp home of Kokutesu Swallows
Yunomoto Ballpark (湯之元球場) Camp home of Yakult Atoms
Kagoshima Prefectural Kamonoike Trackfield (鹿児島県立鴨池陸上競技場)　Camp home of Jubilo Iwata
Kagoshima Fureai Sportsland (鹿児島ふれあいスポーツランド) Camp home of Sagan Tosu
Kagoshima Prefectural Kamonoike Trackfield (鹿児島県立鴨池陸上競技場)　Camp home of Toshiba Fuchu Brave Rupas