Kagoshima prefecture

Category:Kyushu region\n\n\n\n Kagoshima prefecture (鹿児島県 Kagoshima-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.

Table of contents

1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Cities 2.2 Districts 3 Economy 4 Demographics 5 Culture 6 Tourism 7 Prefectural symbols 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links

History

\nKagoshima Prefecture occupies the part of Kyushu that was formerly the provinces of Satsuma and Osumi. During the Edo period, the powerful tozama daimyo Shimazu clan held this territory as the Satsuma Han. Satsuma played a central role in the Meiji Restoration, and during the early Meiji Era, Saigo Takamori was a member of the ruling oligarchy. Subsequently, he became disaffected, and led a rebellion, the Satsuma Rebellion, which ended in his defeat in 1877 in Kagoshima.\n

Geography

\nKagoshima 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). 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 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 Kagoshima Bay (Kinkowan) are littered with well-worn pumice stones. A crater lake in the south western tip of the prefecture, near the spa town of Ibusuki, is home to a rare species of giant eel.

Cities

\n*Akune\n*Ibusuki\n*Izumi\n*Kagoshima (capital)\n*Kanoya\n*Kaseda\n*Kokubu\n*Kushikino\n*Makurazaki\n*Naze\n*Nishinoomote\n*Okuchi\n*Sendai\n*Tarumizu

Districts

\n*Aira\n**Aira\n**Fukuyama\n**Hayato\n**Kajiki\n**Kamou\n**Kirishima\n**Kurino\n**Makizono\n**Mizobe\n**Yokogawa\n**Yoshimatsu\n*Hioki\n**Fukiage\n**Higashiichiki\n**Hiyoshi\n**Ichiki\n**Ijuuin\n**Kinpou\n**Kooriyama\n**Matsumoto\n*Ibusuki\n**Ei\n**Kaimon\n**Kiire\n**Yamagawa\n*Isa\n**Hishikari\n*Izumi\n**Azuma\n**Nagashima\n**Noda\n**Takaono\n*Kagoshima\n**Mishima\n**Sakurajima\n**Toshima\n**Yoshida\n*Kawanabe\n**Bonotsu\n**Chiran\n**Kasasa\n**Kawanabe\n**Oura\n*Kimotsuki\n**Aira\n**Higashikushira\n**Koyama\n**Kushira\n**Nejime\n**Onejime\n**Sata\n**Tashiro\n**Uchinoura\n*Kumage\n**Kamiyaku\n**Minamitane\n**Nakatane\n**Yaku\n*Oshima\n**Amagi\n**China\n**Isen\n**Kasari\n**Kikai\n**Setouchi\n**Sumiyo\n**Tatsugo\n**Tokunoshima\n**Uken\n**Wadomari\n**Yamato\n**Yoron\n*Satsuma\n**Hiwaki\n**Iriki\n**Kamikoshiki\n**Kashima\n**Kedoin\n**Miyanojo\n**Sato\n**Satsuma\n**Shimokoshiki\n**Togo\n**Tsuruda\n*Soo\n**Ariake\n**Kihoku\n**Matsuyama\n**Osaki\n**Osumi\n**Shibushi\n**Sueyoshi\n**Takarabe

Economy

\nGPP: 4,834,400m Yen
\nAgricultural products: Sweet potato, Radish, Satsuma pottery, Pongee rice.

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

Prefectural symbols

Miscellaneous topics

External links

\n*Official Kagoshima prefecture homepage