Kyushu

Kyushu is the third-largest and most southern of Japan's four main islands.

It covers a land area of 36,782 square kilometers. This makes it slightly larger than the total area of Taiwan. Because it is the closest island to the Asian continent, it has historically served as a gateway to Japan. The island is separated from the larger island of Honshu by the Kanmon Straits.

Travelers can cross this gap using the Kanmon Bridge or the Kanmon Roadway Tunnel. There is also the Kanmon Railway Tunnel for trains.

The physical landscape of Kyushu is dominated by mountains and volcanic activity. It is home to Mount Aso, which is Japan's largest active volcano. The highest elevation on the island is found on Mount Kujū. This tectonic activity creates many hot springs across the region. Some of the most famous springs are in Beppu on the east shore. Others are found around Mount Aso in central Kyushu. Some of these are even mud hot springs. These extreme environments support extremophiles, which are microorganisms that survive in very hot water.

Kyushu has a deep and complex history. In ancient times, there is a theory that the island hosted its own independent dynasty. This allowed a unique culture to flourish that was distinct from Honshu. The name Kyushu comes from the nine ancient provinces of Saikaidō. These were Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyūga, Ōsumi, and Satsuma. During the 8th-century Taihō Code reforms, Dazaifu was established as a special administrative term for the region.

Today, the Kyushu region is a large political area. It includes seven prefectures on the main island. These are Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Ōita, Saga, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki. It also includes Okinawa Prefecture to the south. The population of Kyushu was 14,311,224 in 2018. Most people live in the northwest in cities like Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. There are also population corridors stretching into Sasebo, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima. While some areas see population decline, the Ryukyu Islands have a relatively high birth rate.

The economy of Kyushu is a major force in Japan. It accounts for approximately 10% of Japan's total economic output. This makes its economic power comparable to countries like Norway or Thailand. It is the fourth largest economic region in Japan. The economy is well-balanced across many different sectors. Primary industries include agriculture, which produces 1.8 trillion yen in output. Secondary industries include manufacturing, specifically for automobiles and semiconductors. Tertiary industries include retail, tourism, and healthcare.

Kyushu is also a center for advanced technology and space exploration. The island of Tanegashima hosts the Tanegashima Space Center. This is the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan. The region also focuses on renewable energies like hydrogen and solar power. Several areas, including Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and Okinawa, are National Strategic Special Zones. These zones aim to promote new entrepreneurship and industrial innovation. The ports of Hakata and Kitakyushu serve as vital logistics nodes for trade with Asia.

Culture and food are deeply tied to the geography of the islands. Kyushu cuisine uses fresh ingredients from the sea and rich nature. Many dishes use sweet soy sauce or barley miso. You might find Hakata ramen in the north or meat-based dishes in the south.

Traditional sweets often use more sugar due to historical ties with Okinawa. An example is the sweet treat called Karukan.

The region is also famous for crafts like porcelain and the gottan, a traditional musical instrument.