Kagoshima

About Kagoshima

Kagoshima Prefecture covers 9,186.05 square kilometers including undetermined border parts, the largest in western Japan, population about 1.5 million, capital Kagoshima City 593,000 main city southern Kyushu. Two peninsulas Satsuma and Osumi face each other across Kagoshima Bay also called Kinko Bay, mainland mostly Shirasu pyroclastic plateau formed massive eruptions highly permeable fragile limited flatlands Kawachi, Izumi, Kokubu, Kimotsuki. Islands include Koshikishima, Tanegashima, Yakushima, Kuchinoerabu, Tokara chain 12, Amami chain eight inhabited north-south 600 km, 1,256 islands third nationally, 28 inhabited island population highest Japan, coastline 2,643 km third nationally. Old provinces Satsuma and Osumi but parts Tane until 824, Higo until 1581, Hyuga until 1872, Ryukyu until 1879 complex. Shimazu clan ruled Satsuma Domain 700 years forming Satcho Alliance with Choshu to achieve Meiji Restoration producing Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Matsukata, Mori, Togo Heihachiro, Godai Tomoatsu industrialist. Hayhan-chiken 1871 created Kagoshima Prefecture merging Kagoshima plus Osumi. Climate uniquely spans two forecast divisions: Kyushu Nanbu mainland including Miyazaki and Amami region Tokara-Amami. North basin Okuchi Isa City snow many subzero mornings, Kagoshima City surprisingly accumulation up to 25 cm Jan 1 2011 most among Kyushu capitals due East China Sea monsoon funneling. Amami subtropical no frost 21C average. Summer long many tropical days over 30C but few 35C+, record 38.5C Kimotsuki fourth lowest nationally, precipitation June high 400-500 mm, typhoons frequent Japan's No.1 landing since 1951 Makurazaki 1945, Ruth 1951, Isewan Toyamaru, 1993 severe. Industry agriculture 40 percent prefectural output from Osumi producing sweet potato shochu, tea second nationally, mango, loquat, tannkan citrus, livestock Kagoshima Kurobuta Berkshire pork and Kagoshima Wagyu wins national contests, katsuobushi Makurazaki large share, fisheries kibinago silver-banded herring amberjack, forestry cedar. Industrial core food processing fish cake shochu breweries 100 plus, aerospace Tanegashima Space Center Japan's largest rocket launch Yoshinobu complex and electronic parts Kyocera origin. Traditional crafts Satsuma-kiriko cut glass revived 20th century and Satsuma-yaki. Tourism includes active Sakurajima viewed from Sengan-en samurai garden 200-year villa with Sakurajima as borrowed scenery, Ibusuki sand baths buried sand heated springs 55C beach, Kirishima mountain shrine pilgrimage 500 m legendary descent place where Ninigi-no-Mikoto staff, Yakushima cedar forest 7,200-year Jomon Sugi World Heritage 1993, Amami Oshima mangrove kayaking Sumiyo and Amami rabbit endangered IUCN, Kaimon-dake cone 924 m Satsuma Fuji, Chiran samurai residences Edo street preserved and Peace Museum kamikaze pilots 1,036 letters family grief, Akune untamed coast and Sata Cape southernmost mainland point 31N lighthouse and annual Ohara Festival Kagoshima City 20,000 dancers folk night shamisen drums.