Kitakyushu
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Kitakyushu 北九州市 |
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| Designated city | |||
| City of Kitakyushu | |||
Clockwise from Top, River-walk Kitakyushu, Kokura Castle, Mojiko railroad Station, former site of Higashida blast fumace, Night view of Kokura from Mount Adachi, Tanga Market in Kokura
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 Location of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture |
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 Kitakyushu
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| Coordinates: 33°53′N 130°53′E / 33.883°N 130.883°ECoordinates: 33°53′N 130°53′E / 33.883°N 130.883°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Kyushu | ||
| Prefecture | Fukuoka Prefecture | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Kenji Kitahashi | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 486.81 km2 (187.96 sq mi) | ||
| Population (January 1, 2010) | |||
| • Total | 983,037 | ||
| • Density | 2,019.34/km2 (5,230.1/sq mi) | ||
| Symbols | |||
| • Tree | Ichiigashi (Japanese beech) | ||
| • Flower | Tsutsuji (Azalea) Himawari (Sunflower) |
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| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| City hall address | 1-1 Jōnai, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka-ken 803-8501 |
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| Website | www |
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Kitakyushu (北九州市 Kitakyūshū-shi?, lit. "North Kyushu City") is one of two designated cities in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, together with Fukuoka, with a population of over 1 million people.
Kokura Prefecture was founded separately from Fukuoka Prefecture in 1871 when the clan system was abolished. The old wooden-built Kokura Prefectural Office is still standing, and is being restored. It is opposite Riverwalk Kitakyūshū. In 1876, Kokura Prefecture was absorbed by Fukuoka Prefecture. The city of Kokura was founded in 1900.
Yahata in Kitakyushu was the target for the beginning of the US bombing raids on the home islands on June 16, 1944, when 75 Boeing B-29 Superfortresses flew out from mainland China.
Kokura was the primary target of the nuclear weapon "Fat Man" on August 9, 1945. Major Charles Sweeney had orders to drop the bomb visually, but all three attempts failed due to clouds and smoke from Yahata, which is located only 7 km west of Kokura and had air raids on the previous day, preventing Sweeney from identifying the target clearly. Additionally, a smoke screen was created by industrial workers burning barrels of coal tar, and/or electric plant workers releasing steam. The bomb was ultimately dropped on the city of Nagasaki, the secondary target, at 11:02 JST.
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