View source for Miyazaki Prefecture (Kyushu, Japan)

Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan,<strong> </strong>is located on the southeastern side of Kyushu Island, in southwestern [[Japan|Japan]]. The prefecture is roughly 900 miles from [[Tokyo (Japan)|Tokyo]]. It has a land area of 17,734 sq. km. (2,985 sq. mi.). About 76 percent is forested and 11 percent is farmland. The northern, western, and southern parts are surrounded by mountains, and the east faces the Pacific Ocean.

There are four distinct seasons. Summer is hot with a rainy season early, important for rice growing. There are occasional typhoons. In winter, cold winds come from the west. Some places, such as the tiny island of Aoshima, are almost semi-tropical. The average low temperature in January is about 2 degrees C. (36 degrees F.); the average high in Aug. is 31 degrees C. (88 degrees F.). Annual precipitation is approximately 2,500 mm (98 in.). The latitude is similar to the U.S. state of [[Georgia (USA)|Georgia]].

Since the prefecture was established (1873) the population has increased threefold. In 1980 it was 1,151,000. In 2000, its population was 1,170,023. Miyazaki City, the capital, had about 250,000 inhabitants (in 1987) and about 307,742 in 2003. But many towns and villages exist too. Being largely rural, agriculture, forestry, and fishing are some of the main industries. There is also some manufacturing, and development is expected in electronics. Around 60 percent of the population lives along the coast.

Miyazaki is widely known as a sightseeing area because of its beautiful scenery, like that along the Nichinan Coast. Palm trees and wild horses can be seen. Many historical sites are also associated with early Japanese legend. For example, Jimmu Tenno, supposedly the first emperor (660 B.C.), is said to be a descendant of the Sun Goddess, whose grandson came down on the top of Mt. Takachiho in Kirishima National Park. The emperor is said to have later moved to the Kyoto region. Every fall traditional dances re-enacting some of the mythology are staged. Old burial mounds remain. The [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] (GCM) began working in Miyazaki in 1952, and in 1987, 10 congregations and the Japanese conference offices of the [[Nihon Menonaito Kirisutokyo Kyokai Kaigi (Japan Mennonite Christian Church Conference)|Nihon Menonaito Kirisuto Kyokai Kaigi]] (Japan Mennonite Christian Church Conference) were situated there.


= Bibliography =
"Miyazaki Prefecture." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, </em>vol. 5. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1983: 221.

Kraybill, Paul N., ed. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite World Handbook</em>. Lombard, IL: Mennonite World Conference, 1978: 168-172.


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