Miyazaki Prefecture (宮崎県, Miyazaki-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū.[2] Miyazaki Prefecture has a population of 1,073,054 as of 1 June 2019 and has a geographic area of 7,735 km2 (2,986 sq mi). Miyazaki Prefecture borders Ōita Prefecture to the north, Kumamoto Prefecture to the northwest, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the southwest.

Miyazaki Prefecture
宮崎県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese宮崎県
 • RōmajiMiyazaki-ken
Panoramic view of the Kakutō Basin in Ebino City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The Ebino Interchange between the Kyushu and Miyazaki Expressways can be seen
Panoramic view of the Kakutō Basin in Ebino City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The Ebino Interchange between the Kyushu and Miyazaki Expressways can be seen
Flag of Miyazaki Prefecture
Official logo of Miyazaki Prefecture
Anthem: Miyazaki kenminka
Location of Miyazaki Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionKyushu
IslandKyushu
CapitalMiyazaki
SubdivisionsDistricts: 6, Municipalities: 26
Government
 • GovernorShunji Kōno
Area
 • Total7,735.32 km2 (2,986.62 sq mi)
 • Rank14th
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
 • Total1,073,054
 • Rank36th
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
GDP
 • TotalJP¥ 3,704 billion
US$ 34.0 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 codeJP-45
Websitewww.pref.miyazaki.lg.jp
Symbols of Japan
BirdIjima copper pheasant (Phasianus soemmerringii ijimae)
FlowerHamayu (Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum)
TreePhoenix palm (Phoenix canariensis)

Miyazaki is the capital and largest city of Miyazaki Prefecture, with other major cities including Miyakonojō, Nobeoka, and Hyūga. Miyazaki Prefecture is located in southeastern Kyūshū on Japan's Pacific coast, with its coastline extending from Nobeoka near the entrance to the Bungo Channel to Shibushi Bay in Kushima.

History edit

Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture.[3]

In Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture was first created in 1873 when Mimitsu Prefecture was merged with parts of Miyakonojō Prefecture. The first Miyazaki existed only until 1876 when it was merged (back) into Kagoshima Prefecture. Under public pressure and demands in the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly, Miyazaki became finally independent from Kagoshima in 1883.[4]

Geography edit

Miyazaki Prefecture is on the eastern coast of the island of Kyushu, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and east, Ōita Prefecture to the north, and Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures to the west. It is one of only two locations on Earth where the fungus Chorioactis geaster is found.[5] Miyazaki is the home of the hyuganatsu fruit. It is also home to two virgin forests of the palm Livistona chinensis, one of which, on the islet of Aoshima, Miyazaki, is the northernmost reproducing population of its native range.[6]

As of 31 March 2019, 12% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Kirishima-Kinkōwan National Park; Kyūshū Chūō Sanchi, Nichinan Kaigan, Nippō Kaigan, and Sobo-Katamuki Quasi-National Parks; and Mochio-Sekinoo, Osuzu, Saitobaru-Sugiyasukyō, Sobo Katamuki, Wanitsuka, and Yatake Kōgen Prefectural Natural Parks.[7][8]

 
Ōyodo River in Miyazaki City
 
Cape Toi, habitat of Cycas revoluta (Sotetsu)
 
Takachiho Valley

Cities edit

 
Map of Miyazaki Prefecture
     City      Town      Village

Nine cities are in Miyazaki Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
  Ebino えびの市 282.93 18,337  
  Hyūga 日向市 336.94 60,037  
  Kobayashi 小林市 562.95 44,154  
  Kushima 串間市 295.16 17,457  
  Miyakonojō 都城市 653.36 161,137  
  Miyazaki (capital) 宮崎市 643.67 398,215  
  Nichinan 日南市 536.11 51,241  
  Nobeoka 延岡市 868.02 119,521  
  Saito 西都市 438.79 29,262  

Districts edit

 
Miyazaki prefecture population pyramid in 2020

These are the towns and villages of each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Type Map
Rōmaji Kanji
  Aya 綾町 95.19 7,023 Higashimorokata District Town  
  Gokase 五ヶ瀬町 171.73 3,537 Nishiusuki District Town  
  Hinokage 日之影町 277.67 3,656 Nishiusuki District Town  
  Kadogawa 門川町 120.52 17,526 Higashiusuki District Town  
  Kawaminami 川南町 90.12 15,372 Koyu District Town  
  Kijō 木城町 145.96 5,008 Koyu District Town  
  Kunitomi 国富町 130.63 18,717 Higashimorokata District Town  
  Mimata 三股町 110.02 25,379 Kitamorokata District Town  
  Misato 美郷町 448.84 4,823 Higashiusuki District Town  
  Morotsuka 諸塚村 187.56 1,532 Higashiusuki District Village  
  Nishimera 西米良村 271.51 1,013 Koyu District Village  
  Shiiba 椎葉村 537.29 2,579 Higashiusuki District Village  
  Shintomi 新富町 61.53 16,663 Koyu District Town  
  Takachiho 高千穂町 237.54 11,959 Nishiusuki District Town  
  Takaharu 高原町 85.39 8,709 Nishimorokata District Town  
  Takanabe 高鍋町 43.8 20,185 Koyu District Town  
  Tsuno 都農町 102.11 10,028 Koyu District Town  

Mergers edit

Sports edit

The sports teams/events listed below are based in Miyazaki.

Football (soccer) edit

Basketball (Bj League) edit

Golf (Japan Golf Tour) edit

Transportation edit

Rail edit

Bus edit

  • Miyazaki Kōtsu

Airport edit

 
Miyazaki Airport

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "2020年度国民経済計算(2015年基準・2008SNA) : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Miyazaki prefecture" at Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 651, p. 651, at Google Books.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  4. ^ Prefectural government of Miyazaki (2013): 宮崎県 置県130年 (Miyazaki-ken chiken 130-nen, "Miyazaki Prefecture – 130 years [since/after] the establishment of the prefecture"), retrieved September 1, 2020.
  5. ^ Nagao H, Kurogi S, Kiyota E, Sasatomi K (2009). "Kumanasamuha geaster sp. nov., an anamorph of Chorioactis geaster from Japan". Mycologia. 101 (6): 871–877. doi:10.3852/08-121. PMID 19927753. S2CID 27704164.
  6. ^ "Exploring for Palms in Japan" (PDF). 14 February 2017. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Retrieved 24 December 2021
  7. ^ 自然公園都道府県別面積総括 [General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  8. ^ 宮崎の国定公園・県立自然公園 [Quasi-National and Prefectural Natural Parks of Miyazaki] (in Japanese). Miyazaki Prefecture. Retrieved 12 August 2019.

References edit

External links edit

Video Footage edit

The following travel- and tourism-related videos were shot and provided by video artist egawauemon.

32°1′N 131°21′E / 32.017°N 131.350°E / 32.017; 131.350