About Kyushu/Yamaguchi

The U.S. Consulate Fukuoka's consular district consists of the seven prefectures of Kyushu Island and Yamaguchi Prefecture on the main island of Honshu. Major cities in this region of over 15 million people include Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, and Kagoshima.

Kyushu

Kyushu accounts for 10% of Japan's GNP and represents Japan's fourth economic center after the greater Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya metropolitan areas. In addition, it boasts an economic growth rate above the national average and increasing integration into the regional Asian economy. Already known as Japan's "Silicon Island" because of a semiconductor industry that accounts for over 30% of Japan's total chip output, Kyushu is also developing into a major car manufacturing center. It will soon produce 10% of Japan's overall car output, based on roboticized state-of-the-art auto technology.

Few regions in Japan can match Kyushu's historic consciousness, and fewer yet have the deep sense of self-identity and pride seen in the people of Kyushu. According to tradition, it is here that the Sun Goddess Amaterasu descended from heaven to establish the nation of Japan, and it is here where Japan's first emperor was born. Historically, foreigners - Chinese, Koreans, Portuguese, Dutch - first made contact with Japan through Kyushu, and it was through this region (e.g. Nagasaki) that Japan continued its foreign trade during the 300 years that it was officially "closed" to the outside world. Kyushu also led Japan out of feudalism in 1868, and its local heroes have played major roles in shaping modern Japan. Starting with Japan's first prime minister, Hirobumi Ito, 15 Japanese prime ministers have been natives of Yamaguchi prefecture and Kyushu.

Fukuoka City

Fukuoka City, capital of Fukuoka Prefecture, is the cultural, economic, and educational center of Kyushu. With a population of 1.3 million people, it is the heart of the region's $410 billion economy, which is larger than that of Australia and almost equals that of South Korea.

Fukuoka City is also the heart of Kyushu's dynamic hi-tech research and development sector, which is noted as a leading world center for research in advanced computer chips, nuclear fusion, and robotics. With its long tradition of openness to the outside world and receptivity to foreign ideas and products, Fukuoka City has developed into Japan's test market for fashion design and new products.

Culturally and politically, Fukuoka has led Kyushu's advancement in promoting some of the nation's most active sister-city programs and Japan-America Society activities. Fukuoka City's universities are highly active in expanding student and cultural exchanges, particularly with Asia. In addition, Fukuoka City's leading officials are exploring ways in which the City, region, and people may play a more constructive role in the development of the Asian-Pacific region. Each summer, the "Asia-Pacific Children's Convention, a Fukuoka-based nonprofit organization supported by local entities, also hosts an "international exchange congress" for more than 300 children from over 40 places in Asia and the Pacific region; 2005 will mark the organization's 16th convention.

In this context, the Kyushu region is known as the "Gateway to Asia," maintaining close economic, cultural, and political ties with Japan's Asian neighbors. Fukuoka City has established the Asian Cultural Awards to honor contributions to the understanding of Asian culture and thought by both Western and Asian scholars. It has also initiated an Asian-Pacific Mayors summit to encourage networking by local leaders in order to work cooperatively in developing solutions to common problems. The City has also established regular meetings with relevant counterparts in Korea to promote understanding and cooperation. Reflecting its increasing prominence in Asia, Fukuoka City was named "Most Livable City in Asia" on several occasions in recent years. Fukuoka City also hosted the G-8 Finance Ministers meeting in July 8, 2000. The City hopes to become an important international economic, cultural, and political center in the future.

The U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka

American Consulate Fukuoka is responsible for promoting closer ties between the United States and western Japan. Its consular district consists of Kyushu Island (Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Oita prefectures) and Yamaguchi prefecture on the main island of Honshu. The consulate is headed by a principal officer and divided into consular, economic/commercial, administrative, and public affairs (e.g., Fukuoka American Center) sections. In addition to actively supporting companies interested in marketing U.S. goods and services throughout western Japan, it provides consular services for local U.S. residents and visiting Americans.

Two key U.S. military facilities, Sasebo Naval Base (Nagasaki prefecture) and the Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni (Yamaguchi prefecture), are located in the Kyushu-Yamaguchi consular district. Foreign consulates and trade representative offices are also located in Fukuoka and the Kyushu region.