Kyushu, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the ...

Prefecture

Japanese transcription(s)

 • Japanese 佐賀県

 • Rōmaji Saga-ken

Flag Symbol

Country Japan

Region Kyushu

Island Kyushu

Capital Saga

Government

 • Governor Yoshinori Yamaguchi

Area

 • Total 2,439.58 km2

(941.93 sq mi)

Area rank 42nd

Population (December 1, 2013)

 • Total 839,458

 • Rank 42nd

 • Density 344.10/km2

(891.2/sq mi)

ISO 3166code

JP-41

Saga Prefecture

Saga Prefecture (佐賀県 Saga-ken) is a prefecture in the

northwest part of the island of Kyushu, Japan.[1] It touches

both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part

of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics

and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and

Arita. The capital is the city of Saga.[1]

HistoryFeudal period

Timeline

GeographyGeographical features

Plains

Mountains

Rivers and lakes

Seas

Peninsulas

Islands

Forests

Caves

Land use

Climate

Municipal it iesCities

Towns

Mergers

Metropolitan areas

EconomyBanks

EducationUniversities

Demographics

Transportat ionAir

Rail

Road

Culture

Language

FestivalsSaga International Balloon Fiesta

Karatsu Kunchi

Kashima Gatalympics

Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival

Saga Prefecture佐賀県

Contents

Coor din a tes: 3 3 °1 7 ′N 1 3 0°1 0′E

Districts 6

Municipalities 20

Flower Camphor blossom(Cinnamomumcamphora)

Tree Camphor tree(Cinnamomumcamphora)

Bird Black-billed magpie(Pica pica)

Website www.pref.saga.lg.jp/web/_7787/saga-english.html (http://www.pref.saga.lg.jp/web/_7787/saga-english.html)

SportsSports teams

Tour ism

Notable people

The Seven Wise Men of Saga

See also

Notes

References

External l inks

In ancient times, the area composed by Nagasaki Prefecture

and Saga Prefecture was called Hizen Province.[2] The

current name dates from the Meiji Restoration. Rice farming

culture has prospered here since ancient times, and vestiges can

be seen at the ruins of Nabatake in Karatsu and the Y oshinogari

site in Y oshinogari.

From the Kamakura period to the Muromachi period, it is

thought that over 100 feudal clans existed. Also exerting great

influence during this time was a samurai clan operating along

the Genkai Sea called the Matsuratō. Upon entering the Sengoku

period, the Ryūzōji clan expanded their control to include all of

Hizen and Chikugo Provinces, and part of Higo and Chikuzen

Provinces. After the death of daimyō Takanobu Ryūzōji,

Naoshige Nabeshima took control of the political situation, and

by 1607 all of the Ryūzōji clan's domain was under the control of

the Nabeshima clan.

In the Edo period this area was called the Saga Domain (佐賀藩

Saga-han), and it included three sub-domains: the Hasunoike,

Ogi and Kashima Domains. Also within the current borders of

Saga Prefecture during this time were the Karatsu Domain (唐津

藩 Karatsu-han) and two territories of the Tsushima-Fuchū

Domain (対馬府中藩 Tsushimafuchū-han). Saga Domain and its

sub-domains continued to be ruled by the Nabeshima clan, its various illegitimate family lineages and

members of the former Ryūzōji clan, and politically the area was relatively stable. However, the cost of

defending Nagasaki was increasing and, difficult from the start, the financial situation was worsened by the

great Kyōhō famine and the Siebold Typhoon of 1828. Nevertheless, due to the large area of reclaimed

land from the Ariake Sea arable land was able to increase significantly and by the 1840s the annual koku of

Saga Domain increased to about 67 0,000, twice that of 200 years before.

The seal of Saga Prefecture

The flag of Saga Prefecture

History

Feudal period

Around the middle of the 19th century, Naomasa Nabeshima

strove to set right the domain's financial affairs, reduce the

number of government officials, and encourage local industry

such as Arita porcelain, green tea, and coal. Also, thanks to the

proximity of the international port of Nagasaki, new

technologies were introduced from overseas, such as the

reverberatory furnace and models of steam locomotives.

After the Boshin War, many people from Saga Domain assisted in

the Meiji Restoration. In the Meiji era the modernization of coal

mines in Kishima and Higashimatsuura districts, among others,

progressed bolstered by the construction of railroads.

6th century BC (end of the Jōmon period): Estimated date of theNabatake ruins in Karatsu

1st century BC (middle of the Yayoi period): Villages flourished atwhat is now the Yoshinogari site

665: After losing the Battle of Baekgang, Kii Castle (in present-day Kiyama) amassed its defenses to protect Dazaifu.

733: Hizen Fudoki created.

1274: Battle of Bun'ei, the first invasion in the Mongol invasionsof Japan

1281: Battle of Kōan, the second invasion in the Mongol invasionsof Japan

1591: Construction of Nagoya Castle. After the Japaneseinvasions of Korea the castle fell in 1598.

1602: Construction of Karatsu Castle and Saga Castle.

1607: Control of Saga Domain moved from the Ryūzōji clan to theNabeshima clan.

1771: Nijinomatsubara Uprising

1781: Establishment of Kōdōkan, the Saga Han school.

1828: Heavy damage from the Siebold Typhoon, deaths estimatedat over 10,000.

1871, July 14: Abolition of the han system. All of the han becameprefectures.

1871, November 14: The prefectures of Saga, Hasuike, Ogi, Kashima, Karatsu and part of Tsushima merged toform one prefecture, Imari Prefecture.

1872, May 29: Imari Prefecture renamed Saga Prefecture.

1874, February: Saga Rebellion.[3]

1876, April 18: Incorporation of Mizuma Prefecture.

1883: Separation from Nagasaki Prefecture.

1889, April 1: The city of Saga is founded.

1891: The Kyushu Railroad Nagasaki Line opens, beginning with a section from Tosu to Saga.

1895: Opening of railroad from Saga to Takeo.

1897: Opening of railroad from Takeo to Haiki.

1903: Opening of railroad from Saga to Nishi-Karatsu.

1932, January 1: The city of Karatsu is founded.

1935: The Japanese National Railways Saga Line opens.

1954: During the Great Showa Merger the cities of Tosu, Imari, Takeo, Kashima and Taku are formed. At thispoint there are 7 cities, 8 districts, 18 towns and 35 villages in Saga Prefecture.

1972: With the closing of the Nishiki coal mine, all coal mines in Saga are closed.

1975: The Genkai Nuclear Power Plant begins operation.

1987: The Japanese National Railways Saga Line closes.

1992: The Yoshinogari History Park opens to the public.

A reconstruction of a Yayoi period

building at the Yoshinogari site

Saga Castle (Shachi gate)

Timeline

1998: The Saga Airport opens in Kawasoe, in what is now the cityof Saga.

2005: As a part of the Great Heisei Merger various municipalitiesare reorganized.

January 1: Karatsu and Shiroishi.

March 1: Ogi and Miyaki.

October 1: Saga.

2006: The Great Heisei Merger continues.

January 1: Karatsu and Ureshino.

March 1: Takeo, Yoshinogari, and Arita.

March 20: Kanzaki.

2007, October 1: The towns of Higashiyoka, Kawasoe and Kubotamerge with the city of Saga.

2011, March 12: The Kyushu Shinkansen opens.

Kyushu's a prefecture, Saga, is located on the northwest corner

of the island, bordered by the Genkai Sea and the Tsushima

Strait to the north and the Ariake Sea to the south. Saga's

proximity to mainland Asia has made it an important gateway

for the transmission of culture and trade throughout Japanese

history. Largely rural outside of the two largest cities of Saga and Karatsu, agricultural and forested lands

comprise over 68% of the total prefectural land area. There are six prefectural parks and one quasi-

national park in Saga.

Northernmost point: Enuonohana, Kakarajima, Karatsu – 33°36′N 129°51′E

Easternmost point: Iida-machi, Tosu – 33°23′N 130°32′E

Southernmost point: Ōurakō, Tara – 32°57′N 130°13′E

Westernmost point: Ōse, Madarashima, Karatsu – 33°34′N 129°44′E

Saga Plains

Sefuri Mountains, Tara Mountains

Mount Kyōga (1,076 m, the highest point in Saga), Mount Sefuri (1,056 m), Tenzan (1,046 m), Taradake (996 m), Mount Ihara (962 m), Kinzan (957 m), Raizan (955 m), Mount Hagane (900 m)

Chikugo River (15.5 km in Saga), Kase River (57.5 km), Matsuura River (45.3 km), Rokkaku River (43.6 km)

Hokuzan Dam, Kase River Dam

East China Sea: Ariake Sea, Isahaya Bay

Eto Shimpei in Saga. Woodblock print

from Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun, 1871.

Geography

Geographical features

Plains

Mountains

Rivers and lakes

Seas

Sea of Japan: Genkai Sea, Karatsu Bay, Imari Bay,

Higashimatsuura Peninsula, part of Kitamatsuura Peninsula

Genkai Sea: Takashima, Kashiwajima, Ogawajima, Kakarajima, Matsushima, Madarajima, Kabeshima, Mukushima,Iroha Islands[4]

Ariake Sea: Okinoshima

Niji-no-Matsubara[4]

Nanatsugama Caves[4]

Total area: 2439.31 km2

Forest, rough lands: 49.2% – 1/3 of the national average.

Forested area: 1096.9 km2 – From 2000, 42nd in the country.

Arable land: 39.1% – 2 times the national average.

Residential: 6.8% – 1.4 times the national average.

Other: 4.9% – Roughly the same as the national average.

As of March 31, 2008, 11% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely

the Genkai Quasi-National Park and Hachimandake, Kawakami-Kinryū, Kurokamiyama, Sefuri-Kitayama,

Taradake, and Tenzan Prefectural Natural Parks.[5]

Saga Prefecture has a mild climate with an average temperate of about 16 °C (61 °F).

As of October 1, 2007 , there are 10 cities, six districts, and 10 towns in Saga Prefecture, a total of 20

municipalities. As a part of the Great Heisei Merger, the number of municipalities has decreased since

January 1, 2005. On March 20, 2006 the village of Sefuri merged with the city of Kanzaki, leaving Saga

with no more villages.

Ten cities are located in Saga Prefecture:

Peninsulas

Islands

Forests

Caves

Land use

Climate

Municipalities

Cities

Imari

Kanzaki

Karatsu

Kashima

Ogi

Saga (capital)

Takeo

Taku

Tosu

Ureshino

These are the towns in each district:

Map of Saga Prefecture showing municipal

boundaries.

     City      Town

Saga City

Karatsu

Tara Town

Towns

Fujitsu District

Tara

Higashimatsuura District

Genkai

Kanzaki District

Yoshinogari

Kishima District

Kōhoku

Ōmachi

Shiroishi

Miyaki District

Kamimine

Kiyama

Miyaki

Nishimatsuura District

Arita

Saga

Saga, Taku, Ogi, Kanzaki

Karatsu-Higashimatsuura

Karatsu, Genkai

Tosu

Tosu, Kamimine, Kiyama, Yoshinogari, Miyaki

Kitō

Takeo, Kashima, Ureshino, Shiroishi, Ōmachi, Kōhoku, Tara

Agriculture, forestry , and coastal fisheries form a large portion of the prefectural economy. Regional

agricultural specialties include Saga beef, onions, and strawberries. The prefecture is the largest producer

of mochigome (sticky rice) and greenhouse mandarin oranges in Japan.

According to 2002 figures, regional trade exports are focused primarily towards North America (29.3%),

Western Europe (26.1%), and the Newly Industrializing Economies of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong

and Singapore (19.9%). Imports come principally from North America (40.6%), the ASEAN nations

(23.3%), and the People's Republic of China (12.2%).

Bank of Saga

Saga Kyoei Bank

Saga University

Nishikyushu University

Nishikyushu University Junior College (former Saga Junior College)

Mergers

Metropolitan areas

Economy

Banks

Education

Universities

Saga Women's Junior College

Kyushu Ryukoku Junior College

Saga Prefectural Agricultural College

As of 2002, the census recorded a population 87 3,885 in Saga. Of these, 15.9% were aged 0–14, 62.7 %

were age 15–64, and 21.4% were over 65 years old. There were 3,596 foreigners (0.4%) and 307 exchange

students (0.03%) living in the prefecture.

Saga Airport

Major stations in the prefecture include Saga Station, Tosu Station, Karatsu Station and Imari Station. The

new Kyushu Shinkansen line stop at the Shin-Tosu Station.

JR Kyushu

Chikuhi Line

Kagoshima Main Line

Karatsu Line

Kyūshū Shinkansen

Nagasaki Main Line

Sasebo Line

Matsuura Railway

Nishi-Kyūshū Line

Amagi Railway

Amagi Line

Tollways

Nagasaki Expressway, Kyūshū Expressway, Nishikyūshū Expressway

Nijō-Hamatama Road, Kyūragi-Taku Road, Mitsuse Tunnel

National highways

Route 34, Route 35

Route 202, Route 203, Route 204, Route 207, Route 263, Route 264, Route 323, Route 385, Route 444,Route 498

Arita, Imari and Karatsu are famous for the beautiful porcelain that is created there. The top porcelain

houses in the country are located in these areas, including Imaemon Porcelain, Genemon Porcelain and

Fukagawa Porcelain.

Demographics

Transportation

Air

Rail

Road

Culture

Saga-ben (Saga-dialect) is Saga's own variation of Japanese.

The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is held at the beginning of November every year just outside Saga

City along the Kase River. This is a very popular event and attracts competitors from all over the world.

The Karatsu Kunchi is held at the beginning of November in Karatsu City . This is Saga's most famous

festival and attracts around 500,000 visitors every year.

The Kashima Gatalympics are held every May–June in the city of Kashima. This event involves playing a

variety of sports in the mudflats of the Ariake Sea. The Gatalympics are not held if the weather is raining.

The Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival is held for 3 days every year near the end of October. Located in Imari

City , the festival is one of the three great fighting festivals in Japan. In the festival a crashing battle takes

place between the two huge portable shrines, the Ara-mikoshi and the Danjiri. The name "Ton-Ten-Ton"

represents the sound of drums used in the festival.

Teams listed below are based in Saga Prefecture.

Football (soccer)

Sagan Tosu (Tosu)

Volleyball

Hisamitsu Springs (Tosu)

Karatsu, with its fine castle, is a popular tourist destination in Saga. The remains of a Y ayoi village in

Y oshinogari also attract large numbers of sightseers. Another place to visit is Y ūtoku Inari Shrine, one of

Japan's three biggest Inari shrines.

Language

Festivals

Saga International Balloon Fiesta

Karatsu Kunchi

Kashima Gatalympics

Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival

Sports

Sports teams

Tourism

Comedian and J-Pop singer Hanawa became famous for comically singing about Saga Prefecture and itsoddities.

Former TV personality Masashi Tashiro was born in Saga Prefecture.

World War II fighter ace Saburō Sakai was born in Saga Prefecture.

Actress and J-pop singer Yasuko Matsuyuki and her younger brother, J-pop/rock singer Yuna Katsuki (of LazyKnack and Red), are from Saga city.[6]

"The Seven Wise Men of Saga" is the name given to these seven men from Saga, each of whom have made a

significant contribution to the modernisation of Japan. Their contributions began in the last days of the

Tokugawa Shogunate, and continued into the Meiji Restoration. Even today, this era shines impressively

in Saga's history.

Lord Naomasa Nabeshima, feudal lord of the Nabeshima clan, helped to bring about the development of Sagathrough introducing European technology and culture.

Sano Tsunetami founded the Japanese Red Cross.

Shima Yoshitake contributed to the exploration of Hokkaidō.

Soejima Taneomi served the roles of Diet member, Foreign Minister, Minister of Domestic Affairs and was wellknown for his Chinese Poetry and talented writing skills.

Ōki Takatō was Minister of Civil Affairs, Education and Legal Affairs, held the position of a Diet member andmade considerable contributions to the establishment of the modern education system in Japan.

Etō Shimpei, also once a Minister of Legal Affairs, became a Diet member and created the foundation forJapan's judicial system.

Ōkuma Shigenobu served two terms as Prime Minister of Japan. He also established Waseda University.

Saga Domain

Saga Rebellion

1. Nussbaum & Roth (2005), "Saga prefecture", p. 804.

2. Nussbaum & Roth (2005), "Provinces and prefectures", p. 780.

3. Nussbaum & Roth (2005), "Saga no ran", p. 804.

4. "The Saga Sightseeing Information: Nature" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140908015550/http://www.asobo

-saga.jp/lang/english/nature.html). Saga Tourist Federation Information Center (Tourism Division). Archived

from the original (http://www.asobo-saga.jp/lang/english/nature.html) on September 8, 2014. Retrieved

Karatsu Castle

Notable people

The Seven Wise Men of Saga

See also

Notes

26 September 2012.

5. "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/

doc/files/np_6.pdf) (PDF). Ministry of the Environment (Japan). 1 April 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2012.

6. "Yuna" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120327143011/http://flare.sugizolove.com/yuna.html). Love Flare.

2005. Archived from the original (http://flare.sugizolove.com/yuna.html) on March 27, 2012. Retrieved June 10,

2015.

Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric; Käthe Roth (2005). Japan Encyclopedia (https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. pp. 780 (https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA780#v=onepage&q&f=false), 804 (https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA804#v=onepage&q&f=false). ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5. OCLC 58053128 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128).

"Welcome to Saga". Saga Prefecture: International Exchange Division, General Affairs Department.

Saga City website (http://www.city.saga.lg.jp/en/)

Saga Prefecture website (https://web.archive.org/web/20061213231335/http://www.pref.saga.lg.jp/at-contents/gaikoku/english.html)

SagaJET website (http://www.sagajet.com/)

Hagakure (http://www.hyoho.com/Hagakure1.html)

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References

External links