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Kumamoto Prefecture .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} 熊本県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	熊本県
• Rōmaji	Kumamoto-ken
Flag Symbol
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
Region	Kyushu
Island	Kyushu
Capital	Kumamoto
Government
• Governor	Ikuo Kabashima
Area
• Total	7,404.14 km2 (2,858.75 sq mi)
Area rank	16th
Population (May 1, 2011)
• Total	1,812,255
• Rank	23rd
• Density	244.76/km2 (633.9/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-43
Districts	9
Municipalities	45
Flower	Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
Tree	Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
Bird	Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Website	www.pref.kumamoto.jp

Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu.^[1] The capital is the city of Kumamoto.^[2]

History

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

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 (1592 m), an extensive active volcano, is in the east of Kumamoto Prefecture. This volcano is located at the centre of the Aso caldera.

As of March 31, 2008, 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

Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:

Kumamoto City

Hitoyoshi

Aso City

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Itsuki Village

Mergers

Demographics

The population is 1,812,255. The prefecture ranks 23rd in Japan. The population density is 244.76 people per square kilometer.

Economy

Tsūjun Bridge in Yamato, Kamimashiki

Kumamoto Castle

There is a Honda motorcycle plant.

Tourism

• 
  Mount Aso is one of the world's largest active volcanoes.


• Kumamoto Castle


• 
  Suizenji Park


• 
  Tsūjun Bridge, the largest stone aqueduct in Japan is in Yamato

Education

Universities

National

• Kumamoto University

Public

• Kumamoto Prefectural University

Private

• Kumamoto Gakuen University


• Kyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfare


• Kyushu Lutheran College


• Kumamoto Health Science


• Shokei Gakuin University


• Sojo University


• Heisei College of Music

Transportation

Rail

• 
  JR Kyushu
  
  
  
  • Kyushu Shinkansen
  
  
  • Kagoshima Line
  
  
  • Hohi Line
  
  
  • Hisatsu Line
  
  
  • Misumi Line
  
  
  
  


• Kumamoto Electric Railway


• Kumagawa Railroad


• South Aso Railway


• Hisatsu Orange Railway

Tramway

• Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau

Road

Expressways and toll roads

• Kyushu Expressway


• South Kyushu Expressway


• Kumamoto Amakusa Road

National highways

• Route 3


• Route 57


• 
  Route 208 (Kumamoto-Tamana-Arao-Ōmuta)


• Route 212


• 
  Route 218 (Kumamoto-Takachiho-Nobeoka)


• Route 219


• Route 265


• Route 266


• 
  Route 267 (Hitoyoshi-Isa-Satsuma-Satsumasendai)


• Route 268


• Route 324


• 
  Route 325 (Yamaga-Minamiaso-Takamori-Takachiho)


• Route 387


• 
  Route 388 (Saiki-Nobeoka-Unomae)


• Route 389


• Route 442


• Route 443


• Route 445


• 
  Route 501 (Ōmuta-Arao-Udo)


• Route 503

Ports

Ferry routes

• 
  Kumamoto-Shimabara
  


• 
  Nagasu-Unzen
  


• 
  Ushibuka-Kuranomoto (Nagashima)


• 
  Yatsushiro-Kamiamakusa
  


• 
  Reihoku-Nagasaki
  

Airport

• Kumamoto Airport


• Amakusa Airport

Sports

Roasso Kumamoto franchise stadium in KKWing of Kumamoto

These sports teams are based in the prefecture:

• Professional:
  
  
  
  • 
    Roasso Kumamoto - Men's football and J League Second Division
  
  
  • Blaze Kumamoto - Men's association football
    
  
  
  • Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto - Women's association football
  
  
  
  


• Amateur:
  
  • Kumamoto Golden Larks - regional baseball
  
  

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

• 
  Tetsu Komai, a Hollywood actor


• 
  Kazuaki Kiriya, a filmmaker


• 
  Kimeru, a pop artist


• Miku Kobato, founder and vocalist of Band-Maid^[5]
  


• 
  Moe Kamikokuryou, a Japanese idol


• 
  Yuri Masuda, singer


• 
  Tomiko Van, singer, vocalist of Do As Infinity
  


• 
  Eiichiro Oda, manga author, creator of One Piece^[6]
  


• 
  Yu Todoraki, actress


• 
  Tetsuya Noda, Contemporary artist


• 
  Katsuhiro Ueo, Drifting driver

Notes

References

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
  

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kumamoto prefecture.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kumamoto_prefecture.

• Official website


• National Archives of Japan ... Kumamoto map (1891)