Kyushu

Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. It is considered the birthplace of the Japanese civilization. Its alternate ancient names include Kyukoku (九国), Chinzei (鎮西), and Tsukushi-shima (筑紫島). The ancient region Saikaido consists of Kyushu and its surrounding islands.

History

The name Kyushu literally means nine (九) provinces (州) and gets its meaning from the nine ancient provinces that once made up the island. These were Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyuga, Satsuma, and Osumi. The central government, behind the Meiji Emperor, in 1871 abolished this and the feudal system of government and established prefectures (Haihan Chiken) in their place.

Related Topics:
Chikuzen - Chikugo - Hizen - Higo - Buzen - Bungo - Hyuga - Satsuma - Osumi - Meiji Emperor - 1871 - Haihan Chiken

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Kyushu has many large cities - the largest of which is Fukuoka, Japan's eighth largest city. Following it is Kitakyushu, Japan's ninth most populous city, and also Nagasaki, the second site of the atomic bomb which closed World War II in 1945.

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Kyushu was the home to the oldest person in the world, Kamato Hongo and also the oldest man Yukichi Chuganji.

Related Topics:
Kamato Hongo - Yukichi Chuganji

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