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Kagoshima (鹿児島市; -shi) the capital city of Kagoshima
Prefecture at the southwest tip of the Kyushu
island of Japan. It has been
nicknamed the 'Naples of Japan', for its bay location (Aira Caldera),
hot climate and impressive stratovolcano, Sakurajima.
Kagoshima City and Sakurajima volcano in the background
(Picture by
Takobou)
Kagoshima Overview
As of 1 January 2005, the city has an estimated
population of 605,650 and the density of 1,107.81 persons per km˛. The
total area is 546.71 km˛.
As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 554,136 and the
density of 1,911.41 persons per km˛. The total area was 289.91 km˛.
The reason the city's total area was nearly doubled between 2003 and
2005 is that five towns --- Kooriyama, Matsumoto, Kiire, Sakurajima,
and Yoshida --- were merged into Kagoshima City on 1 November 2004.
Kagoshima is a well-equipped cosmopolitan city, with an international
airport, a full complement of hotels, large shopping districts and
malls, served by trams, and probably the finest Satsuma region
cuisine: 'kibi' (tiny fishes), tonkatsu (caramelised pork, as opposed
to the breaded version encountered elsewhere in Japan), finest smoked
eel, and Karukan—sweet cakes made from steamed yam and rice flour. A
large, modern aquarium has been installed on the old docks overlooking
the volcano. The exceptional traditional Japanese garden of Senganen (Isoteien)
is just outside the city.
The St. Xavier church is a reminder of the first Christian who came to
Japan.
Kagoshima has four high rise buildings, with the Kagoshima Kyocera
Hotel (60 meters) being the highest.
Kagoshima History
In 1549 Japan had its first contact with Christians
in Kagoshima. The Spanish missionary Francis Xavier arrived in
Kagoshima and was given a friendly welcome.
Kagoshima was the scene of the last stand of Saigo Takamori, a
legendary figure in Meiji Japan.
Kagoshima was bombarded by the British Royal Navy in 1863 to punish
the Satsuma daimyo for the murder of Charles Richardson on the Tōkaidō
highway the previous year, and the refusal to pay an indemnity in
compensation. (See 'Bombardment of Kagoshima').
Japan's industrial revolution may be said to have started here,
stimulated by the young students commemorated in a large statue
outside the city's main train station. Seventeen young men of Satsuma
broke the Tokugawa ban on foreign travel to travel and return to share
the benefits of the best of Western science and technology.
The city was officially founded on April 1, 1889.
Kagoshima was the birthplace of Saigo Takamori, one of the key figures
of the Meiji Restoration, and of Togo Heihachiro. After naval studies
in England between 1871 and 1878, Togo's role as Chief Admiral of the
Grand Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Russo-Japanese War
made him a legend in Japanese military history, and earned him the
nickname 'Nelson of the Orient' in Britain. He led the Grand Fleet to
two startling victories in 1904 and 1905, completely destroying Russia
as a naval power in the East, and thereby contributing to the failed
revolution in Russia in 1905.
KAGOSHIMA SURROUNDING ATTRACTIONS
BEPPU Beppu is a city on the island of Kyushu which is famous for its traditional Japanese bath houses, onsen built around natural hot springs.
FUKUOKA Fukuoka, also known by its traditional name Hakata, is the largest city on the Japanese island of Kyushu.Fukuoka is famous for its food including its ramen.
NAGASAKI Nagasaki is the largest city and capital of the island of Kyushu. Nagasaki is famous for having an atomic bomb dropped on it, but it also has long and diverse history, much of which survived the bombing.
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