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

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). 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 southwestern tip of the prefecture, near the spa town of Ibusuki, is home to a rare species of giant eel.

Cities

• Akune
• Ibusuki
• Izumi
• Kagoshima (capital)
• Kanoya
• Kaseda
• Kokubu
• Kushikino
• Makurazaki
• Naze
• Nishinoomote
• Okuchi
• Satsumasendai
• Tarumizu

Districts

Mergers and changes of municipalities

Merger: Sensatsu Area (12 October 2004)

The City of Sendai, the Towns of Hiwaki, Iriki, Kedoin and Togo and the Villages of Sato, Kamikoshiki, Shimokoshiki and Kashima were merged to form the City of Satsumasendai (Satsumasendai-Shi).

The Merger Council of Sensatsu Area (in Japanese)

Absorption: Kagoshima Area (1 November 2004)

The Towns of Kooriyama, Matsumoto, Kiire ,Sakurajima and Yoshida were absorbed into the City of Kagoshima (Kagoshima-Shi).

Merger: Eastern Area of Satsuma (22 March 2005)

The Towns of Miyanojo, Tsuruda and Satsuma are to be merged to form the Town of Satsuma (Satsuma-Chō).

The Merger Council of the Eastern Area of Satsuma (in Japanese)

Merger: Yoshimatsu and Kurino (22 March 2005)

The Towns of Kurino and Yoshimatsu are to be merged to form the Town of Yusui (Yūsui-Chō).

The Merger Council of Yoshimatsu and Kurino (in Japanese)

Merger: Onejime and Tashiro (22 March 2005)

The Towns of Onejime and Tashiro are to be merged to form the Town of Kinko (Kinkō-Chō).

The Merger Council of Onejime and Tashiro (in Japanese)

Merger: Minami-Osumi (31 March 2005)

The Towns of Nejime and Sata are to be merged to form the Town of Minamiosumi (Minamiōsumi-Chō).

The Merger Council of Minami-Osumi (in Japanese)

Thus, by 1 April 2005, the number of the municipalities in Kagoshima Pref. will have been reduced to 78: 14 cities, 59 towns and 5 villages. There are more merger projects that are underway in this prefecture. See Kagoshima Merger Information Corner (in Japanese)

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.

External links

• Official Kagoshima Prefecture homepage