Fukuoka Prefecture

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**Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県 *Fukuoka-ken*)**

Capital	Fukuoka (city)
Region	Kyūshū
Island	Kyūshū
Governor	Wataru Aso
Area (rank)	4,971.01 km² (29^th)
- % water	2.3%
Population (July 1, 2004)
- Population	5,057,932 (9^th)
- Density	1,017 /km²
Districts	13
Municipalities	65
ISO 3166-2	JP-40
Website	www.pref.fukuoka.lg.jp/somu/ multilingual/english/top.html
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Ume blossom (Prunus mume)
- Tree	Azalea (Rhododendron tsutsusi)
- Bird	Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphone)
Symbol of Fukuoka Prefecture

Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県, Fukuoka-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Universities
5 Demographics
6 Culture
7 Sports
8 Tourism
9 Sister cities
10 Miscellaneous topics
11 External links

[edit] History

Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen.

Fukuoka Prefecture has signed Friendship Agreements with Delhi, India and Bangkok, Thailand. The population of 2006 was about 1,414,417.

[edit] Geography

Fukuoka Prefecture faces the sea on three sides, bordering on Saga, Ōita, and Kumamoto prefectures and facing Yamaguchi Prefecture across the Kanmon Straits.

Fukuoka includes the two largest cities on Kyūshū, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, and much of Kyūshū's industry. It also includes a number of small islands near the north coast of Kyūshū.

[edit] Cities

Twenty-eight cities are located in Fukuoka Prefecture:

Koga

[edit] Towns and villages

Map of Fukuoka Prefecture.

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Asakura District

Chikuzen

Tōhō

Chikujō District

Chikujō

Kōge

Chikushi District

Nakagawa

Itoshima District

Nijō

Shima

Kaho District

Keisen

Kasuya District

Kurate District

Kotake

Kurate

Mii District

Tachiarai

Miyako District

Kanda

Miyako

Mizuma District

Ōki

Onga District

Tagawa District

Yame District

[edit] Mergers

(as of October 1, 2006)

Main article: Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan

On April 1, 2003, the town of Genkai from Munakata District and the old city of Munakata merged to create the new city of Munakata.

On January 24, 2005, the former towns of Fukuma and Tsuyazaki (from Munakata District) merged, forming the city of Fukutsu.

On February 5, 2005, the towns of Kitano (from Mii District), Jōjima and Mizuma (from Mizuma District), and Tanushimaru (from Ukiha District) merged into the city of Kurume.

On March 20, 2005, the towns of Ukiha and Yoshii from Ukiha District merged to form the new city of Ukiha. Ukiha District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On March 21, 2005, the towns of Yamato and Mitsuhashi from Yamato District and the old city of Yanagawa merged to form the new city of Yanagawa.

On March 22, 2005, the towns of Miwa and Yasu from Asakura District merged to form the new town of Chikuzen.

OnMarch 28, 2005, the villages of Koishiwara and Hoshuyama from Asakura District merged to form the new village of Tōhō.

On March 28, 2005, the village of Ōshima merged into the city of Munakata. Munakata District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On October 11, 2005, the villages of Taihei and Yoshitomi from Chikujō District merged to form the new town of Kōge.

On January 10, 2006, the towns of Tsuiki and Shiida from Chikujō District merged to form the new town of Chikujō.

On February 11, 2006, the towns of Miyata and Wakamiya from Kurate District merged to form the new town of Miyawaka.

On March 6, 2006, the towns of Akaike, Hōjō and Kanada from Tagawa District merged to form the new town of Fukuchi.

On March 20, 2006, the municipalities of Asakura and Haki from Asakura District merged with the city of Amagi to form the new city of Asakura.

On March 20, 2006, the towns of Katsuyama, Saigawa and Toyotsu from Miyako District merged to form the new town of Miyako.

On March 26, 2006, the municipalities of Chikuho, Honami, Kaita, and Shonai (all from Kaho District) merged with the city of Iizuka to form the new city, also called Iizuka.

On March 27, 2006, the municipalities of Inatsuki, Kaho, and Usui (all from Kaho District) merged with the city of Yamada to form the new city of Kama.

On October 1, 2006, the town of Jōyō from Yame District merged into the city of Yame.

On January 29, 2007, Yamato District and Miike District merged to form the new city of Miyama. Both districts were dissolved following the merger.

[edit] Economy

Fukuoka prefecture's main cities form one of Japan's main industrial centers, accounting for nearly 40% of the economy of Kyūshū. Major industries include automobiles, semiconductors, and steel.

[edit] Universities

Institution	Location
Fukuoka University	Fukuoka
Kurume University	Kurume
Kyushu Institute of Technology	Kitakyushu and Iizuka
Kyushu University	Fukuoka
Seinan Gakuin University	Fukuoka
Kyūshū Institute of Information Sciences	Dazaifu
Kyūshū Sangyo University	Fukuoka

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Culture

Fukuoka Art Museum - In Ohori Park; contains a wide selection of contemporary and other art from around the world.

Fukuoka Asian Art Museum - contains art from various countries of Asia.

Fukuoka City Museum - displays a broad range of items from the region's history, including a spectacular gold seal.

Genko Historical Museum (Museum of the Mongol Invasion) - In Higashi Koen (East Park); displays Japanese and Mongolian arms and armor from the 13th century as well as paintings on historical subjects.

Hakata Machiya Folk Museum - Dedicated to displaying the traditional ways of life, speech, and culture of the Fukuoka region.

[edit] Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Fukuoka.

Football (soccer)

Avispa Fukuoka (Fukuoka city)

Baseball

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Fukuoka city)

Rugby

[edit] Tourism

The most popular places for tourists are Fukuoka City, especially at the time of the Dontaku festival, and Dazaifu, although Kitakyushu has also tried to attract tourists.

See also: Kyushu National Museum