Kagoshima Prefecture
From Free net encyclopedia
Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県 Kagoshima-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.
Contents |
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.
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 towns of Kaimon and Yamagawa from Ibusuki District merged into the city of Ibusuki.
- On January 1, 2006, the towns of Aira and Kushira from Kimotsuki District and the town of Kihoku from Soo District merged into the city of Kanoya.
- On March 13, 2006, the towns of Noda and Takaono from Izumi District merged into the 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 town of Azuma from Izumi District merged into the town of Nagashima.
Economy
GPP: 4,834,400m Yen
Agricultural products: Sweet potato, Radish, Satsuma pottery, Pongee rice.
Demographics
Culture
Tourism
Prefectural symbols
Miscellaneous topics
No other prefecture has more Pachinko parlours per capita than Kagoshima.
Birthplace of Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai.
External links
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et:Kagoshima prefektuur es:Prefectura de Kagoshima eo:Kagoŝima (prefektujo) fr:Préfecture de Kagoshima ko:가고시마 현 ja:鹿児島県 pt:Kagoshima sv:Kagoshima prefektur zh:鹿儿岛县