Kumamoto Prefecture

For the city, see Kumamoto.

Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [kɯ.ma.mo.to, -toꜜ.keɴ]^[2]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.^[3] Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 (as of 1 June 2019^[update]) 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 Prefecture 熊本県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	熊本県
• Rōmaji	Kumamoto-ken
Mount Aso and Aso Caldera Kumamoto Castle Tsūjun Aqueduct Nabegataki Falls Suizen-ji Jōju-en
Flag Symbol
Anthem: Kumamoto kenmin no uta [ja]
Coordinates: 32°43′N 130°40′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Island	Kyushu
Capital	Kumamoto
Subdivisions	Districts: 9, Municipalities: 45
Government
• Governor	Takashi Kimura
Area
• Total	7,409.48 km2 (2,860.82 sq mi)
• Rank	15th
Population  (1 June 2019)
• Total	1,748,134
• Rank	23rd
• Density	240/km2 (610/sq mi)
GDP [1]
• Total	JP¥ 6,363 billion US$ 58.4 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code	JP-43
Website	www.pref.kumamoto.jp
Symbols of Japan
Bird	Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Flower	Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri)
Tree	Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)

Kumamoto is the capital and largest city of Kumamoto Prefecture, with other major cities including Yatsushiro, Amakusa, and Tamana.^[4] 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.^[5] 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." However, Man'yōgana-like phonetic transcriptions based on the kanji for "a ball, a sphere" (球 /ku/ ~ /kjū/) and "to polish, to grind, to brush (one's teeth)" (磨 /ma/) are used for the names of the Kuma River (球磨川) and Kuma District (球磨郡). The Kuma element also appears in the ancient Kumaso.

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 (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.^[6]

Cities

See also: List of cities in Kumamoto Prefecture by population

Hitoyoshi

Kumamoto City

Itsuki Village

Aso City

Minamata

Fourteen cities are located in Kumamoto Prefecture:

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

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

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

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Kumamoto Prefecture

Demographics

As of 1 June 2019,^[update] 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

Kumamoto Castle

The largest motorcycle production facility in the world is located in Kumamoto.^[7]

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.^[8]

Renge-in Tanjō-ji

Tourism

• Kumamoto Castle
• Mount Aso is one of the world's largest active volcanoes.
• Suizenji Park
• Tsūjun Bridge, the largest stone aqueduct in Japan is in Yamato

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.^[9][10]

Education

Universities

National

• Kumamoto University

Public

• Prefectural University of Kumamoto

Private

• Heisei College of Music
• Kumamoto Gakuen University
• Kumamoto Health Science
• Kyushu Lutheran College
• Kyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfare
• Shokei Gakuin University
• Sojo University

Transportation

Rail

• Hisatsu Orange Railway
• JR Kyushu
  • Hisatsu Line
  • Hohi Line
  • Kagoshima Line
  • Kyushu Shinkansen
  • Misumi Line
• Kumamoto Electric Railway
• Kumagawa Railroad
• Minami Aso Railway

Tramway

• Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau

Road

Expressways and toll roads

• Kumamoto Amakusa Road
• Kyushu Chūō Expressway
• Kyushu Expressway
• South Kyushu Expressway

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
• Reihoku-Nagasaki
• Ushibuka-Kuranomoto (Nagashima)
• Yatsushiro-Kamiamakusa

Airport

• Amakusa Airport
• Kumamoto Airport

Sports

Roasso Kumamoto franchise stadium in KKWing of Kumamoto

These sports teams are based in the prefecture:

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

• Amateur:
  • Kumamoto Golden Larks - regional baseball

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

• Aki Yashiro, a popular Japanese singer^[11]
• Jun Kunimura, a popular Japanese actor
• Tetsu Komai, a Hollywood actor
• Kazuaki Kiriya, a filmmaker
• Kimeru, a pop artist
• Miku Kobato, founder and vocalist of Band-Maid^[12]
• Kunio Nakagawa, Japanese Army general
• Yuri Masuda, singer
• Munetaka Murakami, Japanese baseball player
• Shodai Naoya, Sumo wrestler
• Tomiko Van, singer, vocalist of Do As Infinity
• Eiichiro Oda, manga author, creator of One Piece^[13]
• Yuki Midorikawa, manga author, creator of Natsume's Book of Friends and Hotarubi no Mori e^[14][15]
• Tetsuya Noda, contemporary artist
• Katsuhiro Ueo, drifting driver
• Ichiki Tatsuo, journalist and defector in the Indonesian National Revolution
• Madoka Hisagae, female Japanese fencer
• Hitomi Tanaka, pornographic actress^[16]
• Kenta Matsumoto, vocalist and bassist of WANIMA
• Koushin Nishida, guitarist of WANIMA
• Kouki Fujiwara, drummer of WANIMA
• Naoichi Fujimori, father of Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori