Kagoshima Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan on the island of Kyushu.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kagoshima prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 447; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Kagoshima Prefecture, Regional Information; retrieved 2012-4-6. The capital city is Kagoshima.Nussbaum, "Kagoshima" at p. 447.

History
Kagoshima Prefecture is made from the old provinces of Ōsumi and Satsuma, including the northern part of the Ryukyu Islands.Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.

During the Sengoku period and Edo period, Ōsumi was controlled by the Shimazu clan of Satsuma.

This region played a key role in the Meiji Restoration.  Important historical figures from Kagoshima are Saigo Takamori and Tōgō Heihachirō. History of Kagoshima ; retrieved 2012-2-4.

Timeline
 713 (Wadō 6, 3rd month) – Ōsumi Province was separated from Hyūga Province.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 64.
 1543 (Tenbun 12, 25th day of the 8th month): 1st gun is brought to Japan by the Portuguese
 1549 (Tenbun 18, 3rd day of the 7th month): Catholic Francis Xavier arrives in Kagoshima History of the Catholic Church in Japan; retrieved 2012-2-4.
 1914 (Taishō 3, 1st month): Eruption of the Sakurajima volcanoDavison, C. "The Sakura-Jima Eruption of January, 1914," Nature. 98:57-58 (21 September 1916), doi:10.1038/098057b0; Illustrated London News. January 24, 1914; retrieved 2012-2-4.
 2004 (Heisei 16): Kyushu Shinkansen line opens in KagoshimaKyushu Shinkansen Kagoshima Route ; retrieved 2012-2-4.

Geography
Kagoshima borders Kumamoto Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture. It is in the southern part of Kyushu facing the Pacific Ocean.
Cities
Aira
Akune
Amami
Hioki
Ibusuki
Ichikikushikino
Isa
Izumi
Kagoshima (capital, core city)
KanoyaKirishima
Makurazaki
Minamikyūshū
Minamisatsuma
Nishinoomote
Satsumasendai
Shibushi
Soo
Tarumizu

National Parks
National Parks are established in about 9% of the total land area of the prefecture.Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-13.

Shrines and Temples
Kagoshima jinja, Hirasaki jinja and Nitta Hachiman-gū are the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture."Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 ; retrieved 2012-2-4.

Related pages
 Provinces of Japan
 Prefectures of Japan
 List of regions of Japan
 List of islands of Japan

References

 Other websites 

 http://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/foreign/english/index.html ;