Kyusyu

Kyushu

Native name: 九州
Kyushu region of Japan and the current prefectures on the island of Kyushu
Geography
Location	East Asia
Archipelago	Japanese Archipelago
Area	36,782 km2 (14,202 sq mi)
Area rank	37th
Highest elevation	1,791 m (5,876 ft)
Highest point	Mount Kujū
Administration
Japan
Prefectures	Fukuoka Prefecture  Kagoshima Prefecture  Kumamoto Prefecture  Miyazaki Prefecture  Nagasaki Prefecture  Ōita Prefecture  Okinawa Prefecture  Saga Prefecture
Largest settlement	Fukuoka
Demographics
Population	12,970,479 (2016)
Pop. density	307.13 /km2 (795.46 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Japanese

Kyushu (九州, Kyūshū, literally "Nine Provinces"; Japanese: [kʲɯᵝːꜜɕɯᵝ]) is the third biggest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternative ancient names include Kyūkoku (九国, "Nine States"), Chinzei (鎮西, "West of the Pacified Area"), and Tsukushi-no-shima (筑紫島, "Island of Tsukushi"). The historical regional name Saikaidō (西海道, lit. West Sea Circuit) referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands.

In the 8th century Taihō Code reforms, Dazaifu was established as a special administrative term for the region.

As of 2016^[update], Kyushu has a population of 12,970,479 and covers 36,782 square kilometres (14,202 sq mi).

The island is mountainous, and Japan's most active volcano, Mt Aso at 1,591 metres (5,220 ft), is on Kyushu. There are many other signs of tectonic activity, including numerous areas of hot springs. The most famous of these are in Beppu, on the east shore, and around Mt. Aso, in central Kyushu. The island is separated from Honshu by the Kanmon Straits.

The name Kyūshū comes from the nine ancient provinces of Saikaidō situated on the island: Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyūga, Osumi, and Satsuma.