Fukuoka
福岡市

Fukuoka's location in Fukuoka, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Fukuoka
Physical characteristics
Area	340.03 km²
Population (as of 2007)
Total	1,422,836
Density	4,061/km²
Location	33°35′N, 130°24′E
Symbols
Tree	Camphor laurel
Flower	Camellia
Bird	Black-headed Gull
Symbol of Fukuoka
Fukuoka Hall
Mayor	Hiroshi Yoshida
Address	〒810-8620 1-8-1 Tenjin, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken
Phone number	092-711-4111
Official website: Fukuoka City

This article is about a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. For other uses, see Fukuoka (disambiguation).

Fukuoka (福岡市, Fukuoka-shi^?) is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyūshū in Japan, across the Tsushima Strait from South Korea's Busan. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1081x901, 42 KB) Map of Fukuoka Prefecture highlighting Fukuoka city. ... Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« Island, Japan. ... In political geography and international politics, a country is a political division of a geographical entity, a sovereign territory, most commonly associated with the notions of state or nation and government. ... Map of the regions of Japan. ... KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... The prefectures of Japan are the countrys 47 sub-national jurisdictions: one metropolis (都 to), Tokyo; one circuit (道 dō), Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures (府 fu), Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures (県 ken). ... Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« Island, Japan. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... Binomial name Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Sieb. ... A Phalaenopsis flower Rudbeckia fulgida A flower, (<Old French flo(u)r<Latin florem<flos), also known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also called angiosperms). ... Species About 100–250 species, including: Camellia assimilis Camellia brevistyla Camellia caudata Camellia chekiangoleosa Camellia chrysantha – Golden Camellia Camellia connata Camellia crapnelliana Camellia cuspidata Camellia euphlebia Camellia euryoides Camellia forrestii Camellia fraterna Camellia furfuracea Camellia granthamiana Camellia grijsii Camellia hongkongensis - Hong Kong Camellia Camellia irrawadiensis Camellia japonica – Japanese Camellia Camellia... “Aves” redirects here. ... Binomial name Larus ridibundus Linnaeus, 1766 The Black-headed Gull, (Larus ridibundus), is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... An address is a code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home, business or other building on the earths surface. ... A telephone number is a sequence of decimal digits that uniquely indicates the network termination point. ... Fukuoka can refer to several locations in Japan: Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県) Fukuoka, Fukuoka (福岡市), a city in Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka-Kitakyushu metropolitan area Fukuoka, Toyama (福岡町), a town in Toyama Prefecture Fukuoka, Gifu (福岡町), a town in Gifu Prefecture Fukuoka Castle (福岡城), Edo age castle on Fukuzaki Hill in Fukuoka City Fukuoka POW Camp, a... A city ) is a local administrative unit in Japan. ... Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« Island, Japan. ... KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... The Tsushima Strait is the eastern channel of the Korea Strait Tsushima Strait (対馬海峡, also known in Western historical reference works as the Tsu Shima Strait or Tsu-Shima Strait) is that part of the Korea Strait located east and south of the Tsushima Islands. ... Busan Metropolitan City, also known as Pusan[1] (this is also a correct phonetic variant) is the largest port city in the Republic of Korea. ...

It is the most populous city in Kyūshū, followed by Kitakyushu. It is the largest city and metropolitan area west of Osaka. The city was designated on April 1, 1972 by government ordinance. Greater Fukuoka with 2.5 million people (2005 Census), is part of the heavily industrialized North Kyushu zone. Kitakyushu , literally North KyÅ«shÅ«) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, KyÅ«shÅ«, Japan. ... Osaka )   is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of HonshÅ«. The city is the capital of Osaka Prefecture. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A position of each city designated by government ordinance A city designated by government ordinance (a designated city or Government Ordinance City (Japanese: 政令指定都市 seirei shitei toshi or 政令市 seirei shi)) is a Japanese city that has a population greater than 500,000; has important economic and industrial functions; and that is...

View of downtown Fukuoka as seen from an observation deck in Minami-ku, facing north.

Fukuoka is served by Fukuoka Airport, the Sanyō Shinkansen high speed rail line at Hakata Station and by ferry. JR Kyushu operates a hydrofoil between Hakata and Busan, South Korea. The subway opened a new line, the Nanakuma line, on February 2, 2005. Download high resolution version (1536x650, 188 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1536x650, 188 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Fukuoka Airport ) (IATA: FUK, ICAO: RJFF), is an international and domestic airport in Fukuoka, Japan. ... Map of Sanyo Shinkansen route Sanyō Shinkansen ) is one of the lines of Shinkansen high speed rail network in Japan. ... Hakata Station (&#21338;&#22810;&#39365;) is the main railway terminal in Fukuoka city, Japan. ... The ferryboat Dongan Hills, filled with commuters, about to dock at a New York City pier, ca. ... JR Kyushu Midori Express Train on Sasebo Line The Kyushu Railway Company (&#20061;&#24030;&#26053;&#23458;&#37444;&#36947;,Kyushu Ryokaku Tetsudo) is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railway. ... The Jetfoil Toppi is a ferry which connects Yakushima, Tanegashima Island and Kagoshima port in Japan. ... Busan Metropolitan City, also known as Pusan[1] (this is also a correct phonetic variant) is the largest port city in the Republic of Korea. ... The Fukuoka City Subway (福岡市地下鉄) serves Fukuoka City, Japan. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Fukuoka has produced a higher number of successful music artists than any other city in Japan. Big names in J-pop include Ayumi Hamasaki (allegedly Japan's richest woman), hugely popular singer/songwriter duo Chage & Aska, Misia and Yui. During the 1970s, local musicians prided themselves on their origins and dubbed their sound, Mentai Rock. In recent years, the music scene has been rejuvenated by the willingness of local players to perform with foreign musicians located in the area. These hybrid bands include the likes of Fever, Cut Flowers, Dr. Funkinstein, F8 & The Routes. J-pop (or Jpop) is an abbreviation of Japanese pop. ... Ayumi Hamasaki , born October 2, 1978) is an award-winning J-Pop singer. ... Chage and Aska ) or Chage and Asuka, are a Japanese popular music duo composed of two singer-songwriters from Fukuoka Prefecture, Chage (b. ... MISIA MISIA (Japanese) - A Japanese R&B singer. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Mentai Rock is the name given to the collection of Japanese artists who gained national popularity during the late 1970s. ...

History

Fukuoka (the area of Kashii, Hakata, Sawara and Imazu) is said to be the oldest city in Japan, because it is the nearest city to China and Korea. The area around Fukuoka is among the oldest non-Jōmon settlements in Japan. Dazaifu was an administrative capital in 663 A.D., but some say a prehistoric capital was in the area. Ancient texts such as the Kojiki and archaeology confirm this was a very critical place in the founding of Japan. Some scholars ^[1] even go as far as to claim it was the first place outsiders and the Imperial Family set foot, but like many early Japan theories, it remains contested. See History of Japan. Fukuoka is sometimes still referred to as Hakata, the central ward of the city. Hakata (&#21338;&#22810;&#21306;; -ku) is a ward in Fukuoka, Japan with a population of 176,585. ... Sawara-ku (早良区, Sawara Ward) is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka-shi (福岡市, Fukuoka City), Fukuoka-ken (福岡県, Fukuoka Prefecture), KyÅ«shÅ«, Japan. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 in South Korea or ì¡°ì„  in North Korea, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... Characters for Jōmon (Cord marks). The Jomon period ) is the time in Japanese pre-history from about 10,000 BC to 300 BC. Most scholars agree that by around 40,000 BC glaciation had connected the Japanese islands with the Asian mainland. ... Categories: Cities in Fukuoka Prefecture | Japan-related stubs ... Kojiki or Furukotofumi (古事記), also known in English as the Records of Ancient Matters, is the oldest surviving historical book recounting events of ancient earth in the Japanese language. ... The written history of Japan began with brief appearances in Chinese history texts from the first century CE. However, archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the upper paleolithic period. ... Hakata (&#21338;&#22810;&#21306;; -ku) is a ward in Fukuoka, Japan with a population of 176,585. ...

Mongol invasions (1274–1281)

Stone barrier in Fukuoka

Main article: Mongol invasions of Japan

Fukuoka's Hakata Bay is Japan's gateway to Korea and China. Gateways, of course, attract interest; after having conquered and terrorised the continent, the great Mongol Kublai Khan of the Mongol Empire turned his attention to Japan starting in 1268, exerting a new external pressure on Japan with which it had no experience. Kublai Khan first sent an envoy to Japan to make the Shogunate acknowledge Khan's suzerainty. The Kamakura Shogunate refused. Mongolia repeatedly sent envoys thereafter, each time urging the Shogunate to accept their proposal, but to no avail. Defensive wall, Fukuoka, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan This is part of the defensive wall built to resist the Mongolian invasion of Japan. ... Defensive wall, Fukuoka, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan This is part of the defensive wall built to resist the Mongolian invasion of Japan. ... Combatants Mongol Empire Japan Commanders Kublai Khan Hōjō Tokimune Strength 35,000 Mongol & Chinese soldiers and 18,000 Korean warriors 10,000 Casualties 16,000 killed before landed minimal Defensive wall at Hakata. ... The city of Fukuoka encircling Hakata Bay. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 in South Korea or 조선 in North Korea, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... Kublai Khan, Khubilai Khan or the last of the Great Khans (September 23, 1215[8] - February 18, 1294[9]) (Mongolian: Хубилай хаан, Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ), was a Mongol military leader. ... Expansion of the Mongol Empire Another picture of Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire (Mongolian: Их Монгол Улс, literally meaning Greater Mongol Nation; 1206–1405) was the largest contiguous land empire in history, covering over 33 million km² [1] (12 million square miles) at its peak, with an estimated population of over 100 million... This wooden Kongorikishi statue was created during the Kamakura shogunate during 14th century Japan. ...

In 1274 Kublai Khan mounted an invasion of the northern part of Kyūshū with a fleet of 900 ships 33,000 troops, which included troops from Goryeo in Korean peninsula. This first invasion was compromised by a combination of incompetence and storms. Taegeuk is a traditional symbol of Korea Capital Gaegyeong Language(s) Korean Religion Buddhism Government Monarchy Wang  - 918 - 946 Taejo  - 949 - 975 Gwangjong  - 1259 - 1274 Wonjong  - 1351 - 1374 Gongmin Historical era 918 - 1392  - Later Three Kingdoms rise 892  - Coronation of Taejo June 15, 918  - Korea-Khitan Wars 993 - 1019  - Mongolian...

After the first invasion of 1274, the Japanese samurai built a stone barrier 20 kilometers in length bordering the coast of Hakata Bay in what is now Fukuoka city. The wall, between 2–3 metres in height and having a base width of 3 metres, was constructed between 1276 and 1277 and was excavated again in the 1930s.

Kublai sent another envoy to Japan in 1279. At that time, Hōjō Tokimune of the Hōjō clan (1251–1284) was the Eighth Regent. Not only did he decline the offer, but he beheaded the five Mongolian emissaries after summoning them to Kamakura. Infuriated, Kublai made another attack on Fukuoka Prefecture in 1281, reinforcing the troops to 140,000 soldiers and 4,000 ships. The Japanese warriors, numbering around 40,000, were no match for Mongols and the Kublai invasion force made it as far as Dazaifu, 15 kilometers south of the city of Fukuoka. By sheer luck, the Japanese were aided by another typhoon which struck a crushing blow to the Mongolian troops, however, and the invasion was thwarted. Hōjō Tokimune (北条 時宗, 1251 - 1284) was the eighth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate (reigned 1268 - 84), best known for leading the Japanese forces against the invasion of the Mongols. ... The Hōjō clan (北条氏) in the history of Japan was a family of regents of the Kamakura Shogunate. ... Kamakuras location in Japan Crowds of visitors in Kamakura (Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine) Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in Kamakura (Japanese: 鎌倉市; -shi) is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan, about 50 km south-south-west of Tokyo (to which it is linked by the railway line to Yokosuka). ... Dazaifu (太宰府市; -shi) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ...

It was this typhoon that came to be called the Kamikaze (Divine Wind). Kamikaze (神風 kamikaze) is a Japanese word, usually translated as divine wind, beleived to be a gift from the gods. ...

Formation of the modern city (1889)

The Tenjin area which is the center of Fukuoka City.

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 Ieyasu in the district was destroyed by fire during the Boshin war of 1868. (Adapted from 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.) Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 3055 KB) Fukuoka Japan File links The following pages link to this file: Fukuoka, Fukuoka Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 3055 KB) Fukuoka Japan File links The following pages link to this file: Fukuoka, Fukuoka Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... Chikuzen (筑前国; Chikuzen no kuni) was an old province of Japan in the area that is today part of Fukuoka Prefecture on KyÅ«shÅ«, but without the southern and eastern parts of Fukuoka. ... Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu The Tokugawa clan crest This is a Japanese name; the family name is Tokugawa Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu) January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until... Combatants Imperial faction: Satsuma, ChōshÅ«, Tosa Tokugawa Shogunate Commanders Ruler: Meiji Emperor, CIC: Saigō Takamori, Army: Kuroda Kiyotaka Shogunate: Ruler: Tokugawa Yoshinobu, Army: Katsu Kaishu, Navy: Enomoto Takeaki, Ezo Republic: President:Enomoto Takeaki, CIC: Otori Keisuke, Navy: Arai Ikunosuke Casualties ~1,000 killed ~2,000 killed Campaign map of... (Redirected from 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica) The Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1911) in many ways represents the sum of knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century. ...

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 called Tenjin. is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Hakata (&#21338;&#22810;&#21306;; -ku) is a ward in Fukuoka, Japan with a population of 176,585. ... Kuroda Nagamasa (1568-1623) Kuroda Nagamasa, the son of Kuroda Kanbei. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... Okayama Prefecture ) is located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island, Japan. ...

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, and its dialect, Hakata-ben. Hakata Station (&#21338;&#22810;&#39365;) is the main railway terminal in Fukuoka city, Japan. ...

Fukuoka in the 20th century

ACROS International Hall, Fukuoka.

• 1903: Fukuoka Medical College, a campus associated with Kyoto Imperial University, is founded. In 1911 the college is renamed to Kyūshū Imperial University and established as a separate entity.
• 1910: Fukuoka streetcar service begins. (The service ran until 1979.)
• 1929: Flights commence along the Fukuoka-Osaka-Tokyo route.
• 1945: Saturation bombing of Japanese cities commences on Honshū with Fukuoka one of the targets. Vivisections of American POWs are performed at Kyūshū Imperial University Hospital.
• 1947: First Fukuoka Marathon.
• 1951: Fukuoka airport opens.
• 1953: Fukuoka Zoo opens.
• 1981: Subway commences service.
• 1988: Osaka's pro baseball team, the Nankai Hawks, are moved to Fukuoka and renamed the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. (In 2004, re-boughted out, renamed Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks).
• 1995: ACROS (Asian CrossRoads Over the Sea), a multipurpose convention and cultural center, is founded to encourage increased relations with other Asian countries. It is located downtown in Tenjin, and features a large park, terraced gardens, a library and other facilities for encouraging peaceful relations with other Asian cultures.^[1]

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan (&#20140;&#37117;&#22823;&#23398; Ky&#333;to daigaku, abbreviated to &#20140;&#22823; Ky&#333;dai) is the second oldest university of Japan and one of leading national universities having a total of roughly 22,000 students. ... Kyushu University ), abbreviated to Kyudai ), is one of Japans most prestigious national universities and the largest public university on the island of KyÅ«shÅ«. It is located in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka. ... Osaka )   is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of HonshÅ«. The city is the capital of Osaka Prefecture. ...   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ... HonshÅ« (本州 Literally Main State) is the largest island of Japan, called the Mainland; it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait. ... Etymologically, Vivisection refers to the dissection of, or any cutting or surgery upon, a living organism. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Fukuoka marathon, held in Fukuoka (Japan), is a prominent international marathon race started in 1947. ... The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ) is a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. ...

Fukuoka in the 21st century

• 2005: Fukuoka city subway Nanakuma Line started operation.

Hit by the earthquake, one person was killed, 70 people were severely injured and 1017 received attention for minor injuries.

Strength of the initial quake, measured using the Japanese intensity scale, as recorded throughout south-western Japan. ...

Geography

Fukuoka as viewed from space.

The view downstream along Nakagawa (Naka River) from Canal City in Hakata-ku. Nishi-Nakasu and Tenjin are situated to the left of the river, and Nakasu is on the right.

Fukuoka is bordered on three sides by mountains and opens, on the north, to the Sea of Genkai. Much of the city is now built on reclaimed land, with ongoing developments in Higashi-ku building more artificial islands. Download high resolution version (784x787, 194 KB) Cities Collection: Search for Cities Form. ... Download high resolution version (784x787, 194 KB) Cities Collection: Search for Cities Form. ... In the city of Fukuoka, along the banks of the river; photographer: Thorfinn Stainforth; October 2004 More geographic detail: This photo depicts view downstream (north) along Nanokawa from Canal City in Hakata-ku. ... In the city of Fukuoka, along the banks of the river; photographer: Thorfinn Stainforth; October 2004 More geographic detail: This photo depicts view downstream (north) along Nanokawa from Canal City in Hakata-ku. ...

Located 1,100 km from Tokyo, 540 km from Seoul and 870 km from Shanghai, 1300 km from Taipei, Fukuoka's proximity to Korea, China and Taiwan has led it to seek closer ties with those countries while acting as a hub for Asian cultural and economic exchange.   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ... Seoul   is the capital of South Korea and is located on the Han River in the countrys northwest. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; Wu (Long-short): ZÃ¥nhae; Shanghainese (IPA): ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China and the ninth largest in the world. ... For other uses, see Taipei (disambiguation). ...

Climate

Along with much of the prefecture, Fukuoka City has a moderate climate with an annual average temperature of 16.3 °C, average humidity of 70%, 1,811 annual daylight hours and 205 cm of precipitation. Roughly 40% of the year is cloudy.

Winter temperatures rarely drop below 0 °C and it is generally rainy with occasional, brief snowfalls. Spring is warm and more sunny, with cherry blossoms appearing in late March or early April. The rainy season (tsuyu) lasts for approximately six weeks through June and July, during which time the humidity is very high and temperatures hover between 25 °C and 30 °C. Summers are humid and hot, with temperatures peaking around 37 °C. Fall, often considered to be Fukuoka's best season, is mild and dry, though the typhoon season runs between August and September. Overall, Spring and Fall it rains more calmly. Washington, D.C. Tidal Basin showing cherry trees in flower Cherry tree blossoms A cherry is both a tree and its fleshy fruit, a type known as a drupe with a single hard pit enclosing the seed. ... Summer is one of the four seasons of the year. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Earthquakes

Main article: 2005 Fukuoka earthquake Strength of the initial quake, measured using the Japanese intensity scale, as recorded throughout south-western Japan. ...

Fukuoka is not as seismically active as many other parts of Japan, but does experience occasional earthquakes. The most powerful recent earthquake registered a lower 6 of maximum 7 of the Japanese intensity scale and hit at 10:53 am local time on March 20, Easter Sunday 2005, killing one person and injuring more than 400. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Sea of Genkai, along a yet-undiscovered extension of the Kego fault that runs through the centre of Fukuoka. Genkai-jima (Genkai island), a part of Nishi-ku, was the most severely damaged by the earthquake and almost all island residents were forced to evacuate. Aftershocks continued intermittently throughout the following weeks as construction crews worked to rebuild damaged buildings throughout the city. Traditional Japanese houses, particularly in the areas of Daimyo and Imaizumi, were the most heavily damaged and many were marked for demolition, along with several apartment buildings. Insurance payments for damages were estimated at approximately 15.8 billion yen. An earthquake is the result from the sudden release of stored energy in the Earths crust that creates seismic waves. ... The Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale (震度 shindo) is a measure used in Japan to indicate the strength of earthquakes. ... Strength of the initial quake, measured using the Japanese intensity scale, as recorded throughout south-western Japan. ... Easter (also called Pascha) is generally accounted the most important holiday of the Christian year, observed March or April each year to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead (after his death by crucifixion; see Good Friday), which Christians believe happened at about this time of year, almost two... Nishi-ku, Fukuoka is the western ward of Fukuoka City. ... Aftershocks are earthquakes in the same region of the mainshock (generally within a few rupture length) but of smaller magnitude and which occur with a pattern that follows Omoris law. ...

Fukuoka's most famous major fault, the Kego fault, runs northwest to southeast, roughly parallel to Nishitetsu's Omuta train line, and was previously thought to be 22 km long. It is estimated to produce earthquakes as strong as magnitude 7 at the focus approximately once every 15,000 years. If the focus were located at a depth of 10 km, this would translate to an earthquake of a lower-6 magnitude (similar to the March 20, 2005 earthquake) in downtown Fukuoka if it were the epicenter. The probability of an earthquake along the known length of the Kego fault occurring within 30 years was estimated at 0.4% prior to the March 20, 2005 earthquake, but this probability has been revised upwards since. Including the new extension out into the Sea of Genkai, Kego fault is now thought to be 40 km long. The Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co. ... &#332;muta (&#22823;&#29279;&#30000;&#24066;; -shi) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. ... The Richter magnitude scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Probability is the chance that something is likely to happen or be the case. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Following reports that the city has only prepared for earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6.5, several strong aftershock renewed fears that the quakes might cause the portion of the Kego faultline that lies under the city to become active again, leading to an earthquake as big as, or bigger than, the March 20 quake. is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Wards

Fukuoka has 7 wards (ku):	Ward	Population	Land area	Pop. density
		as of 2004	km²	per km²
	Higashi-ku	275 652	66.68	4 134
	Hakata-ku	190 178	31.47	6 043
	Chūō-ku	163 975	15.16	10 816
	Minami-ku	247 913	30.98	8 002
	Jonan-ku	127 952	16.02	7 987
	Sawara-ku	207 851	95.88	2 168
	Nishi-ku	177 625	83.81	2 119

A ku (&#21306;), translated as ward, is a district in a large Japanese city. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1896x2061, 301 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Fukuoka, Fukuoka ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,0,0). ... Higashi-ku (東区;-ku) is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Japan. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(60,80,0). ... Hakata (&#21338;&#22810;&#21306;; -ku) is a ward in Fukuoka, Japan with a population of 176,585. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(0,40,100). ... Chūō (中央区; -ku) is a ward located in the center of Fukuoka city in Japan. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,80,0). ... Minami-ku (南区;-ku) is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Japan. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,40,0). ... Jonan-ku is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Japan. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(20,80,40). ... Sawara-ku (早良区, Sawara Ward) is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka-shi (福岡市, Fukuoka City), Fukuoka-ken (福岡県, Fukuoka Prefecture), Kyūshū, Japan. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,40,100). ... Nishi-ku, Fukuoka is the western ward of Fukuoka City. ...

Demographics

Fukuoka Tower

As of May 2007, the city had an estimated population of 1,422,836 and a density of 4,184.07 persons per km². The total area is 340.60 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). Fukuoka, Japan; Fukuoka Tower; October 2004; ; photographer: THorfinn Stainforth File links The following pages link to this file: Fukuoka, Fukuoka User:Peregrine981/Images Categories: GFDL images ... Fukuoka, Japan; Fukuoka Tower; October 2004; ; photographer: THorfinn Stainforth File links The following pages link to this file: Fukuoka, Fukuoka User:Peregrine981/Images Categories: GFDL images ... Fukuoka Tower Winter View of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower Fukuoka Tower is a 234 metre tall tower located at Fukuoka, Japan. ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

Attractions

Sky Dream Fukuoka, located in Fukuoka City's western ward, is one of the world's largest ferris wheels at a height of 120 meters. Fukuoka Castle located adjacent to Ohori Park features the remaining stone walls and ramparts left after a devastating fire during the upheaval of the Meiji Restoration. It has now been preserved along with some reconstructed prefabricate concrete towers constructed during the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a trend across Japan to rebuild damaged castles as tourist attractions. Ohori Park is also the location of one of Fukuoka City's four major art galleries. There is a newly opened Kyushu National Museum in nearby Dazaifu. Sky Dream at Night At 112 meters in diameter and 120 meters in height, Sky Dream Fukuoka, the giant Ferris wheel of Evergreen Marinoa (a fairly large Japanese outlet mall), dominates the harbor of Fukuoka, Japans western skyline. ... A Ferris wheel on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey, USA. A Ferris wheel (or, more commonly in the UK, big wheel) is a nonbuilding structure consisting of an upright wheel with passenger gondolas suspended from the rim. ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units. ... The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japans political and social structure. ... The Kyushu National Museum ) opened on October 16, 2005 in Dazaifu near Fukuoka. ... Dazaifu (太宰府市; -shi) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. ...

The Marine Park Uminonakamichi is located on a narrow cape on the northern side of the Bay of Hakata. The park has an amusement park, petting zoo, gardens, beaches, a hotel, and a large marine aquarium.

Fukuoka was selected as one of Newsweek's 10 "Most Dynamic Cities" in the July 3, 2006 publication. It was chosen for its central Asian location, increasing tourism and trade, and a large increase in volume at its sea and airport. The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Tourists on Oahu, Hawaii Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes or the provision of services to support this leisure travel. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

For tourists from other parts of Japan, local foods such as mentaiko, Hakata ramen and motsunabe are associated with Fukuoka. Yatai (street stalls) serving ramen can be found in Tenjin and Nakasu most evenings. Mentaiko Mentaiko (Kanji: 明太子) is the marinated roe of the pollock, and is one of the common ingredients used in Japanese cuisine. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... motsunabe Motsunabe (Japanese: もつ鍋) is a type of nabemono, a sort of Japanese cuisine, which made from beef or pork offal. ... A yatai (屋台) is a small, mobile food stall in Japan typically selling ramen or other hot food. ... Nakasu night scene Nakasu (中州) is the island entertainment district which exists between the Nakagawa river「那珂川」 and the Hakatagawa「博多川」 in Fukuoka city「福岡市」 Fukuoka Prefecture Japan. ...

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.

Festivals

Winter View of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower

Fukuoka is home to many festivals that are held throughout the year. Of these, the most famous are Hakata Dontaku and Hakata Gion Yamakasa. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 215 KB) Summary Photo of the skyline of Fukuoka on the morning of 29 December 2005, taken from Fukuoka Tower. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 215 KB) Summary Photo of the skyline of Fukuoka on the morning of 29 December 2005, taken from Fukuoka Tower. ... Fukuoka Tower Winter View of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower Fukuoka Tower is a 234 metre tall tower located at Fukuoka, Japan. ... A festival is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some unique aspect of that community. ...

Yamakasa

Yamakasa (山笠), held for two weeks each July, is Fukuoka's oldest festival with a history of over 700 years.^[2][3] Teams of men (no women, except small girls, are allowed), representing different districts in the city, race against the clock around a set course carrying on their shoulders floats weighing several thousand pounds. Participants all wear shimekomi (called fundoshi in other parts of Japan), which are traditional loincloths. Each day of the two-week festival period is marked by special events and practice runs, culminating in the official race that takes place the last morning before dawn. Tens of thousands line the streets to cheer on the teams. During the festival period, men can be seen walking around many parts Fukuoka in long happi coats bearing the distinctive mark of their team affiliation and traditional geta sandals. The costumes are worn with pride and are considered appropriate wear for even formal occasions, such as weddings and cocktail parties, during the festival period. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The fundoshi (褌) is a traditional Japanese male loincloth, made from a strip of cotton cloth, one shaku (traditional Japanese foot, 35 cm = 14 inches) wide and about 2. ... Women at a matsuri wearing a happi Happi (法被, 半被) is a traditional Japanese straight-sleeved coat, usually made of indigo or brown cotton, and imprinted with a distinctive crest. ... Geta can be either: Geta, Åland - a Municipality in Finland. ...

The uniform used during the ceremonies and preparation. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (380x700, 44 KB) Traditional uniform used during Yamakasa-festival in Fukuoka, Japan. ...

The uniform used during the competition. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (700x850, 116 KB) Traditional uniform used during Yamakasa-festival in Fukuoka, Japan. ...

Hakata Dontaku

Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく) is held in Fukuoka City on May 3 and 4. Boasting over 800 years of history, Dontaku is attended by more than 2 million people, making it the Japanese festival with the highest attendance during Japan's Golden Week holidays. During the festival, stages are erected throughout downtown for traditional performances and a parade of floats is held. The full name is Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri (博多どんたく港祭). is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The festival was stopped for seven years during the Meiji era, and since it was restarted in the 12th year of the Meiji era it has been known as Hakata Dontaku. History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Meiji period (Japanese: Meiji Jidai &#26126;&#27835;&#26178...

Sports and Olympic ambitions

Fukuoka is the home of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, one of Japan's top professional baseball teams. Threatened with bankruptcy and forced by its creditors to restructure, in 2004 former owner Daiei sold the Hawks to Masayoshi Son of Softbank Capital. The team name was changed to Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks from the 2005 season. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ) is a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. ... Masayoshi Son (Japanese: 孫正義, Son Masayoshi; Korean hangul: 손정의; revised: Son Jeongeui; McCune-Reischauer: Son Chŏngŭi; born August 11, 1957 in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, Japan) is a third generation Korean-Japanese and the founder and current chief executive officer of Softbank Capital, and the chief executive officer of Vodafone K... Softbank Capital (&#12477;&#12501;&#12488;&#12496;&#12531;&#12463;&#26666;&#24335;&#20250;&#31038;) (TYO: 9984) is Japanese enterprise that manages IT industries of electronic commerce etc. ... The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ) is a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Fukuoka is also home to a professional soccer team, Avispa Fukuoka, which, until last year were playing in the top division of Japan's J. League - J1. They were recently relegated back down in to the second rung of Japanese Football - Japan's J League Division 2 (J2). Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ... Avispa Fukuoka ) is a Japanese professional soccer (football) club, currently playing in the J-league Division 1. ... The Japan Professional Football League ), or J.LEAGUE ), is the top professional football (soccer) league in Japan and one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football. ...

In 2006, The Mayor of Fukuoka, Hirotaro Yamasaki, had attempted to bring the Olympic Games to Fukuoka and Kyūshū in 2020, calling them the "Fukuoka-Kyūshū Olympics", but in vain. The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ...

Annual sporting events include:

• Fukuoka International Women’s Judo Championships
• Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championships
• Prince Takamatsu Cup Nishinippon Round-Kyūshū Ekiden, beginning in Nagasaki and ending in Fukuoka, the world's longest relay race.

The 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in Fukuoka. Judo ), meaning gentle way, is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budō) and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. ... Modern-day marathon runners Runners in ancient Greece. ... The Prince Takamatsu Cup Nishinippon Round-Kyushu Ekiden (九州一周駅伝 KyÅ«shÅ« isshÅ« ekiden) has been an annual race in Japan since 1951. ... Megane-bashi (Spectacles Bridge) Nagasaki   listen? (長崎市; -shi, literally long peninsula) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture located at the south-western coast of Kyushu, Japan. ... During a relay race, members of a team take turns swimming or running (usually with a baton) parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. ... The 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 1-2 April 2006 in Fukuoka, Japan. ...

Sports teams and facilities

Top League Rugby teams: Coca Cola West Red Sparks, Fukuoka Sanix Blues, Kyuden Voltex The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ) is a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. ... The Pacific League (パシフィック・リーグ Pashifikku Riigu) is one of Japans two major professional baseball leagues (the other is the Central League). ... Fukuoka Dome (福岡ドーム) is a baseball field located in Fukuoka, Japan. ... Avispa Fukuoka ) is a Japanese professional soccer (football) club, currently playing in the J-league Division 1. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... The Japan Professional Football League ), or J.LEAGUE ), is the top professional football (soccer) league in Japan and one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football. ... Rugby at Hakata no Mori stadium Hakata no mori stadium in Fukuoka city is the home ground of Avispa Fukuoka football (soccer) club and also hosts rugby matches, including some Top League games, Top League Challenge series and Top Kyushu league games. ... In an effort to drive up the overall standard of Japanese rugby and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team, the Japan Rugby Football Union has recently created a new semi-professional 12-team league, called the Top League. ... Coca Cola West Red Sparks RFC (formerly Coca Cola West Japan) is a Japanese company-owned rugby union team based in Fukuoka city, Kyushu. ... Fukuoka Sanix Blues (formerly Fukuoka Sanix Bombs) is a Japanese rugby union team based in Munakata, Fukuoka prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. ... Kyuden Voltex is a Japanese rugby team owned by Kyushu Electric Power Co. ...

Education

Fukuoka City operates all public elementary and junior high schools, while the prefecture operates the high schools.

Hakata Seisho High School [2] is located in Fukuoka.

Universities

• Fukuoka Institute of Technology (Fukuoka kôgyô Daigaku)
• Fukuoka University
• Kyūshū Institute of Design
• Kyūshū Sangyo University
• Kyūshū University
• Seinan Gakuin University
• Towa University

Fukuoka University is a private university in Fukuoka, Japan. ... Kyushu Institute of Design (九州芸術工科大学; Kyūshū Geijutsu Kōka Daigaku, KID) in Fukuoka, Japan is one of Japans prestigious national universities and was founded in April, 1968. ... Kyushu University ), abbreviated to Kyudai ), is one of Japans most prestigious national universities and the largest public university on the island of Kyūshū. It is located in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka. ... Seinan Gakuin University (Japanese: 西南学院大学 Seinan Gakuin Daigaku) is a Christian university in Fukuoka, Japan. ...

Sister cities

Fukuoka has several sister cities: Sign denoting twin towns of Neckarsulm Town twinning or sister cities is a concept whereby towns or cities from geographically and politically distinct areas are paired, with the goal of fostering human contact and cultural links. ...

• Oakland, California, United States
• Guangzhou, China (1979)
• Bordeaux, France (1982)
• Auckland, New Zealand
• Ipoh, Malaysia
• Pusan, South Korea
• Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Cali, Colombia

Fukuoka City established the Asian Pacific City Summit in 1994. It consists of 26 Asian-Pacific Cities. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Schematic map of Auckland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Nickname: Location in Malaysia Coordinates: Country Malaysia State Perak Establishment Around 1880 Government  - Mayor Mohamad Rafiai Moktar Area  - City 643 km²  (248. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... P&#363;san is also a Vedic Hindu god. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Hotlanta redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Santiago de Cali, better known as Cali, is the main city and capital of the Valle del Cauca department in Colombia. ... The Asian-Pacific region is drawing global attention for its remarkable economic growth. ...

Notable people from Fukuoka

• Ayumi Hamasaki
• Chage & Aska
• Misia
• Yui
• Nobuchika Eri
• Tamori
• Torigoe Shuntaroh(journalist)

Ayumi Hamasaki , born October 2, 1978) is an award-winning J-Pop singer. ... Chage & Aska are a Japanese musical duo, consisting of singer-songwriters Chage (Shuuji Shibata) and Ryo Aska (Shigeaki Miyazaki), both from Fukuoka. ... MISIA ), born July 7, 1978, in Fukuoka, Japan) is a female Japanese R&B singer. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Image:Erinobuchika. ... Tamori (タモリ) is a Japanese celebrity. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Fukuoka in Fiction

• In the 1994 film, "Godzilla Vs. SpaceGodzilla", the final battle takes place in Fukuoka, ending with the destruction of the Fukuoka Tower.

• In the 1995 film, "Gamera: Guardian Of The Universe", Gamera's first appearance and encounter with the Gyaos after nearly 30 years takes place in Fukuoka with Gamera making landfall in Hakata Bay.

• Fukuoka is the capital of Japan in the anime Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex after Tokyo is destroyed in a nuclear attack.

• Excel Saga takes place in F city, F prefecture (understood to mean Fukuoka, Fukuoka), and several famous hotels in Fukuoka (ACROS, Hyatt, Il Palazzo) are used as named for characters and organizations

Batou and a Tachikoma Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is also titled K&#333;kaku Kid&#333;tai: Stand Alone Complex (ManMachine Interface: STAND ALONE COMPLEX) in Japan, and is often refered to by its acronym GitS:SAC. GitS:SAC is a Japanese anime TV series set in... Serialized in Young King OURs Original run April 1997 – Present No. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Fukuoka

• Fukuoka travel guide from Wikitravel
• Fukuoka-city Online
• The official web site of the Fukuoka Olympic Bid Committee
• Fukuoka City page of Fukuoka Tourism Association website

• Beetle - Fukuoka-Pusan ferry service owned by JR Kyūshū
• Fukuoka International Association
• Gateway Fukuoka
• Fukuoka City Guide with extensive list of places to go
• Fukuoka Now, a Fukuoka city guide and local English-language magazine, online forums
• Fukuoka subway
• Map Of Fukuoka with English labels

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ... JR Kyushu Midori Express Train on Sasebo Line The Kyushu Railway Company ), also referred to as JR Kyushu ), is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railway. ...

References

Fukuoka Prefecture
Cities
Asakura | Buzen | Chikugo | Chikushino | Dazaifu | Fukuoka (capital) | Fukutsu | Iizuka | Kasuga | Kama | Kitakyūshū | Koga | Kurume | Maebaru | Miyama | Miyawaka | Munakata | Nakama | Nōgata | Ogōri | Ōkawa | Ōmuta | Ōnojō | Tagawa | Ukiha | Yame | Yanagawa | Yukuhashi
Districts
Asakura | Chikujō | Chikushi | Itoshima | Kaho | Kasuya | Kurate | Mii | Miyako | Mizuma | Onga | Tagawa | Yame
See also: Towns and villages by district edit