Miyazaki Prefecture

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Lore & Background

Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture. The prefecture was first created in 1873 when Mimitsu Prefecture was merged with parts of Miyakonojō Prefecture. That 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. Geographically, Miyazaki Prefecture is on the eastern coast of Kyushu, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and east. It is one of only two locations on Earth where the fungus Chorioactis geaster is found. 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, is the northernmost reproducing population of its native range.

Reader's Guide

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. Nine cities are in Miyazaki Prefecture, including Miyazaki, Miyakonojō, Nobeoka, and Hyūga. Sports teams based in Miyazaki include Honda Lock S.C. and Tegevajaro Miyazaki in association football, and the Miyazaki Shining Suns in basketball. The Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, an annual Japan Golf Tour event with one of the highest prize money amounts on the tour, attracts top players from around the world. Transportation is served by JR Kyushu rail lines (Nippō Main Line, Miyazaki Kūkō Line, Nichinan Line, Kitto Line, Hisatsu Line), Miyazaki Kōtsu bus services, and Miyazaki Airport.

Did You Know?

• Miyazaki Prefecture is one of only two locations on Earth where the fungus Chorioactis geaster is found.
• The prefecture is the home of the hyuganatsu fruit.
• Aoshima islet in Miyazaki hosts the northernmost reproducing population of the palm Livistona chinensis in its native range.
• Miyazaki Prefecture was first created in 1873, merged into Kagoshima in 1876, and became finally independent in 1883.
• The Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Miyazaki City is an annual Japan Golf Tour event with one of the highest prize money amounts on the tour.