Fukuoka Prefecture

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

Capital	Fukuoka (city)
Region	Kyūshū
Island	Kyūshū
Governor	Wataru Aso
Area	4,971.01 km² (29^th)
- % water	2.3%
Population (July 1,2004)
- Population	5,057,932 (9^th)
- Density	1,017 /km²
Districts	15
Municipalities	68
ISO 3166-2	JP-40
Website	Fukuoka Prefecture
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 located on Kyūshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Universities
5 Demographics
6 Culture
7 Tourism
8 Prefectural symbols
9 Miscellaneous topics
10 External links

[edit] History

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

[edit] Geography

Image:FukuokaMapCurrent.png 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-six cities are located in Fukuoka Prefecture:

Koga

[edit] Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Asakura District

Chikuzen

Toho

Chikujo District

Chikujo

Koge

Shinyoshitomi

Chikushi District

Nakagawa

Itoshima District

Nijo

Shima

Kaho District

Keisen

Kasuya District

Sue

Umi

Kurate District

Kotake

Kurate

Miyawaka

Mii District

Tachiarai

Miike Districtǂ

Takataǂ

Miyako District

Kanda

Miyako

Mizuma District

Oki

Onga District

Tagawa District

Aka

Oto

Yamato Districtǂ

Setakaǂ

Yamakawaǂ

Yame District

ǂ Scheduled to be dissolved following mergers.

[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), Jojima 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 Toho.

On March 28, 2005, the village of Oshima 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 Chikujo District merged to form the new town of Koge.

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

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 Joyo from Yame District merged into the city of Yame.

[edit] Future mergers

Yamato District and Miike District are scheduled to merge to form the new city of Miyama on January 29, 2007. Both districts will be dissolved after 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. There are separate economic areas (toshiken) around Fukuoka and Kitakyushu, and very rarely the term "Fukuoka-Kitakyushu" is also used.

[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

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Culture

[edit] Tourism

Fukuoka is not well-known as a tourist center. The most popular place for tourists is Fukuoka City, although Kitakyushu has also tried to attract tourists.

See also: Kyūshū National Museum