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Kumamoto Prefecture
From Virtual Japan
Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県) is a Japanese prefecture located in the midst of Kyushu Island. The capital of Kumamoto Prefecture is Kumamoto City.
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History
Before the abolition of the Han system in the 1870s by the Meiji Restoration, Kumamoto Prefecture was known as Higo Province. The new name of the prefecture roughly translates to origin of the bear.
Region
The prefecture of Kumamoto is located in the middle of Kyushu, in the southernmost corner of Japan. On one side sits the Ariake Inland Sea and on the other the Amakusa Arhcipelago. Kagoshima Prefecture sits to the south, Miyazaki Prefecture to the east, and Oita Prefecture and Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, making the prefecture largely land bordered. The best known geographic feature in Kumamoto Prefecture is Mt. Aso, an active volcano located in the east portion of the prefecture.
Cities
Within Kumamoto Prefecture, there are the following cities:
- Amakusa
- Kumamoto
- Arao
- Minamata
- Aso
- Tamana
- Hitoyoshi
- Uki
- Kami-Amakusa
- Uto
- Kikuchi
- Yamaga
- Koshi
- Yatsushiro
Districts and Towns
Also located within Kumamoto Prefecture are the following districts and towns:
- Amakusa District – Reihoku
- Shimomashiki District – Jonan, Misato, Tomiai
- Tamana District – Gyokuto, Nagasu, Nagomi, Nankan
- Kuma District – Asagiri, Kuma, Mizukami, Itsuki, Nishiki, Tamae, Yunomae, Sagara, Taragi
- Ashikita District – Ashikita, Tsunagi
- Aso District – Minamiaso, Nishihara, Oguni,, Minamioguni, Takamori, Ubuyama
- Kamoto District – Ueki
- Kikuchi District – Kikuyo, Ozu
- Kamimashiki District – Kashima, Mifune, Yamato, Kosa, Mashiki
- Yatsushiro District – Hikawa
Sources of Income
The largest economic source in Kumamoto is currently a Honda automobile plant, which recently – in 2007 – expanded to include a solar cell production plant.