Kumamoto Prefecture
熊本県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese熊本県
 • RōmajiKumamoto-ken
The towns of Takamori and Minamiaso in the heart of Nango-dani valley in Aso district, Kumamoto prefecture. This land is completely located in the giant caldera of the Aso volcano
The towns of Takamori and Minamiaso in the heart of Nango-dani valley in Aso district, Kumamoto prefecture. This land is completely located in the giant caldera of the Aso volcano
Flag of Kumamoto Prefecture
Official logo of Kumamoto Prefecture
Anthem: Kumamoto kenmin no uta
Location of Kumamoto Prefecture
Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E / 32.717; 130.667Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E / 32.717°N 130.667°E / 32.717; 130.667
Country Japan
RegionKyushu
IslandKyushu
CapitalKumamoto
SubdivisionsDistricts: 9, Municipalities: 45
Government
 • GovernorIkuo Kabashima
Area
 • Total7,409.48 km2 (2,860.82 sq mi)
 • Rank15th
Population
 (1 June 2019)
 • Total1,748,134
 • Rank23rd
 • Density240/km2 (610/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-43
Websitewww.pref.kumamoto.jp
Symbols of Japan
BirdEurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)
FlowerGentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
TreeCamphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)

Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.[1] Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 (as of 1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 7,409 square kilometres (2,861 sq mi). 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.[2] 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 1,592 metres (5,223 ft) above sea level.

History

Main article: 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.[3] 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".

Geography

Map of Kumamoto Prefecture showing municipal boundaries     Government Ordinance Designated City      City      Town      Village
Map of Kumamoto Prefecture showing municipal boundaries
     Government Ordinance Designated City      City      Town      Village

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 (1,592 m (5,223 ft)), 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.[4]

Cities

See also: List of cities in Kumamoto Prefecture by population

Hitoyoshi
Hitoyoshi
Kumamoto City
Kumamoto City
Itsuki Village
Itsuki Village
Aso City
Aso City
Minamata
Minamata

Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Amakusa, Kumamoto.svg
Amakusa
天草市 683.17 83,082
Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Arao, Kumamoto.svg
Arao
荒尾市 57.15 53,675
Arao in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Aso, Kumamoto.svg
Aso
阿蘇市 376.25 27,039
Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto.svg
Hitoyoshi
人吉市 210.55 33,461
Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kami-amakisa Kumamoto white version.JPG
Kami-Amakusa
上天草市 126.94 27,603
Kamiamakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kikuchi, Kumamoto.svg
Kikuchi
菊池市 276.66 49,455
Kikuchi in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kōshi, Kumamoto.svg
Kōshi
合志市 53.19 61,022
Koshi in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kumamoto, Kumamoto.svg
Kumamoto (capital)
熊本市 390.32 738,907
Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Minamata, Kumamoto.svg
Minamata
水俣市 162.88 25,310
Minamata in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Tamana, Kumamoto.svg
Tamana
玉名市 152.55 70,530
Tamana in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Uki, Kumamoto.svg
Uki
宇城市 188.56 59,928
Uki in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Uto Kumamoto.JPG
Uto
宇土市 74.17 37,442
Uto in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yamaga, Kumamoto.svg
Yamaga
山鹿市 299.67 53,404
Yamaga in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yatsushiro, Kumamoto.svg
Yatsushiro
八代市 680.59 129,358
Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Type Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Asagiri Kumamoto.JPG
Asagiri
あさぎり町 159.56 15,796 Kuma District Town
Asagiri in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Ashikita, Kumamoto.svg
Ashikita
芦北町 233.48 16,306 Ashikita District Town
Ashikita in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Gyokuto Kumamoto.JPG
Gyokutō
玉東町 24.4 5,363 Tamana District Town
Gyokuto in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hikawa Kumamoto.jpg
Hikawa
氷川町 33.29 12,250 Yatsushiro District Town
Hikawa in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Itsuki, Kumamoto.svg
Itsuki
五木村 252.94 1,136 Kuma District Village
Itsuki in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kashima Kuamamoto.jpg
Kashima
嘉島町 16.66 9,119 Kamimashiki District Town
Kashima in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kikuyo Kumamoto.jpg
Kikuyō
菊陽町 37.57 41,411 Kikuchi District Town
Kikuyo in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kosa Kumamoto.JPG
Kōsa
甲佐町 57.87 10,924 Kamimashiki District Town
Kosa in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kuma Kumamoto.jpg
Kuma
球磨村 207.73 3,863 Kuma District Village
Kuma in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Mashiki Kumamoto.gif
Mashiki
益城町 65.67 33,001 Kamimashiki District Town
Mashiki in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Mifune Kumamoto.jpg
Mifune
御船町 99 16,901 Kamimashiki District Town
Mifune in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Minamiaso, Kumamoto.svg
Minamiaso
南阿蘇村 137.3 11,086 Aso District Village
Minamiaso in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Minamioguni Kumamoto.jpg
Minamioguni
南小国町 115.86 3,977 Aso District Town
Minamioguni in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Misato, Kumamoto.svg
Misato
美里町 144.03 10,532 Shimomashiki District Town
Misato in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Mizukami Kumamoto.jpg
Mizukami
水上村 192.11 2,276 Kuma District Village
Mizukami in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Nagasu, Kumamoto.svg
Nagasu
長洲町 19.43 16,125 Tamana District Town
Nagasu in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Nagomi Kumamoto.JPG
Nagomi
和水町 98.75 10,030 Tamana District Town
Nagomi in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Nankan Kumamoto.JPG
Nankan
南関町 68.92 9,572 Tamana District Town
Nankan in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Nishihara Kumamoto.svg
Nishihara
西原村 77.23 6,752 Aso District Village
Nishihara in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Nishiki Kumamoto.jpg
Nishiki
錦町 84.87 10,899 Kuma District Town
Nishiki in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Oguni Kumamoto.jpg
Oguni
小国町 137 8,735 Aso District Town
Oguni in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Ozu Kumamoto.JPG
Ōzu
大津町 99.09 33,793 Kikuchi District Town
Ozu in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Reihoku Kumamoto.JPG
Reihoku
苓北町 67.06 7,462 Amakusa District Town
Reihoku in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Sagara Kumamoto.jpg
Sagara
相良村 94.54 4,598 Kuma District Village
Sagara in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Takamori Kumamoto.jpg
Takamori
高森町 174.9 6,189 Aso District Town
Takamori in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Taragi Kuamamoto.jpg
Taragi
多良木町 165.87 9,604 Kuma District Town
Taragi in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Tsunagi Kumamoto.JPG
Tsunagi
津奈木町 33.97 4,574 Ashikita District Town
Tsunagi in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Ubuyama Kumamoto.jpg
Ubuyama
産山村 60.72 1,542 Aso District Village
Ubuyama in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yamae Kumamoto.JPG
Yamae
山江村 121.2 3,553 Kuma District Village
Yamae in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yamato Kumamoto.jpg
Yamato
山都町 544.83 15,771 Kamimashiki District Town
Yamato in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yunomae Kumamoto.jpg
Yunomae
湯前町 48.41 4,046 Kuma District Town
Yunomae in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Kumamoto Prefecture

Demographics

As of 1 June 2019, the population was 1,748,134 inhabitants with a population density of 236 inhabitants per square kilometre (610/sq mi). The prefecture ranks 23rd in Japan.

Economy

Tsūjun Bridge in Yamato, Kamimashiki
Tsūjun Bridge in Yamato, Kamimashiki
Kumamoto Castle

The largest motorcycle production facility in the world is located in Kumamoto.[5]

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.[6]

Renge-in Tanjō-ji

Tourism

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.[7][8]

Education

Universities

National

Public

Private

Transportation

Rail

Tramway

Road

Expressways and toll roads

National highways

Ports

Ferry routes

Airport

Sports

Roasso Kumamoto franchise stadium in KKWing of Kumamoto
Roasso Kumamoto franchise stadium in KKWing of Kumamoto

These sports teams are based in the prefecture:

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

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Kumamoto Prefecture" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Notes

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kumamoto prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 572, p. 572, at Google Books.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, "Kumamoto" in p. 572, p. 572, at Google Books.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  4. ^ 自然公園都道府県別面積総括 [General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. ^ Frank, Aaron (2009-10-22). "Honda greens up its Kumamoto motorcycle manufacturing facility". Motorcyclist.
  6. ^ "Mitsubishi Electric to build 100 bil. yen chip factory in Kumamoto Pref". Mainichi Daily News. 2023-03-15.
  7. ^ The Life and Times of Japan's Mascots
  8. ^ "Top Ten Japanese Character Mascots". Finding Fukuoka. 2012-01-13. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  9. ^ JpopAsia. "Miku (BAND-MAID) | JpopAsia". JpopAsia. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  10. ^ "Eiichiro Oda, Hajime Isayama Show Their Support After Kumamoto Earthquakes". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  11. ^ "Real-life Locations of "Natsume's Book of Friends" in Kumamoto's Countrysides (Part 1)". So Japan. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  12. ^ "A Forest Shrine in Japan". Twisted Sifter. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  13. ^ "Hitomi at AV Idol Directory". in Japanese

References