Fukuoka
Fukuoka (福岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Fukuoka prefecture on the northern tip of the island of Kyushu in Japan. It is the largest city in Kyushu, followed closely by Kitakyushu.
 |
| View of Momochi, Fukuoka. Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Dome are visible. |
Situated across the Korea Strait from South Korea's Busan, the city has been strongly influenced by Korean cuisine and is attempting to situate itself as a hub for East Asian cultural interchange.
As of July 2003, the city has an estimated population of 1,325,611 and a density of 4,054.18 persons per km². The total area is 339.38 km². With an average age of 38.6 years, Fukuoka is Japan's second youngest major city and with a growth rate of 4.4%, is also Japan's second-fastest growing city (based on 2000 census data).
It is the home of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, one of Japan's top professional baseball teams.
The city is served by Fukuoka Airport, and by the Sanyo Shinkansen high speed rail line at Hakata Station.
Sky Dream Fukuoka, located in Fukuoka City's western ward, is one of the world's largest ferris wheels at a height of 120 metres.
The city was designated on April 1, 1972 by government ordinance.
History
Fukuoka was formerly the residence of the powerful daimyo of Chikuzen, and played a conspicuous part in the medieval history of Japan; the renowned temple of Ieiyasu in the district was destroyed by fire during the revolution of 1868. (from 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica)
The modern city was formed on April 1, 1889 with the merger of the former cities of Hakata and Fukuoka. Historically, Hakata was the port and merchant district, and as such was more associated with the area's culture: it remains the main commercial area. On the other hand, the Fukuoka area was home to many samurai, and its name has been used since Kuroda Nagamasa, the first daimyo of Chikuzen, named it after his birthplace in Okayama Prefecture. Today, the old Fukuoka is the main shopping area.
When Hakata and Fukuoka decided to merge, a meeting was held to decide the name for the new city. Hakata was initially chosen, but a group of samurai crashed the meeting and forced those present to choose Fukuoka as the name for the merged cities. However, Hakata is still used to refer to the Hakata area of the city, and most famously to refer to the city's train station (Hakata Station).
Subdivisions
Fukuoka is divided into seven wards: Chuo, Hakata, Higashi, Jonan, Minami, Nishi, and Sawara.
Universities
External Links
Masanobu Fukuoka, author of 'The One Straw Revolution', is the pioneer of 'No Till' grain growing (see also permaculture)
Fukuoka is also a town in Toyama, Japan.
Referenced By
2013 | AIIB | Abe Iso | Air New Zealand | Anti-Imperialist International Brigade | Anti-War Democratic Front | Ayumi Hamasaki | Changrong Hangkong | China Airlines | China International Airlines | Cities of Japan | City designated by government ordinance | Daitec | Demographics of Japan | EVA Air | EVA Airlines | EVA Airways | First class airport | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | Fukuoka Prefecture | Hakata | Hakata-Minami Line | Hakata-ku, Fukuoka | Hakata Minami Line | Hakata Station | Hamasaki Ayumi | Hard Rock Cafe | Higashi-ku | Higashi ku | Holy War Brigade | Honda | Honda Corporation | Ito Noe | Japan/People | Japan/Transportation | Japanese Red Army | Kitakyushu | Kitakyushu, Fukuoka | Kitakyuushuu | Kyushu Institute of Design | Kyushu Shinkansen | Kyushu University | List of Airports:F | List of Japanese prefectures | List of airports: F | List of airports in Japan | List of capitals of subnational entities | List of cities in Japan | List of metro systems | List of underground railway systems | Marathon world best progression | Mentai Waido | Mentai Wide | Metro listing | Minami-ku | Nihon Sekigun | Nippon Sekigun | Noe Ito | Pacific League | Philippine Airlines | Prefectures of Japan | Provincial capital | Regional capital | Rem Koolhaas | San'yo Shinkansen | Sanyo Shinkansen | Second class airport | Shiina Ringo | State capital | Subway listing | Tokaido Main Line | Tokaido Shinkansen | Transportation in Japan | Transportation of Japan | Underground listing
|
