Kurume, Fukuoka
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Fukuoka prefecture
, Japan
.
The city has an estimated population
of 303,277 and a population density
of 1,319.51 persons per km². The total area is 229.84 km².
The city was founded on April 1, 1889.
Famous people from Kurume include: the family of the Bridgestone Tire Corporation
(Shojiro Ishibashi), George Shima
(the "Potato King" of California), the pop group Checkers, the singer and actress Seiko Matsuda
, anime creator Leiji Matsumoto
, the television celebrity, Rena Tanaka
, actor Ryo Ishibashi
and the late Izumi Sakai
of Zard
. The Bridgestone Tire Corporation has its origins in Kurume as traditional footwear manufacturers, producing the sock-like shoe (tabi
), used by farmers. They found that by coating the bottom of tabi with rubber, farmers could be protected from the invasion of parasitic worms that live in rice paddies.
Famous traditional products of Kurume are the kasuri (絣), roughly woven indigo dyed cloth; pork
soup (tonkotsu) ramen
noodles; and trays and bowls made from rantai shikki (籃胎漆器), a composite made from lacquered bamboo.
In 2010 Kurume is planning to host the International Camellia
Conference.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in Fukuoka prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 303,277 and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 1,319.51 persons per km². The total area is 229.84 km².
The city was founded on April 1, 1889.
Famous people from Kurume include: the family of the Bridgestone Tire Corporation
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
(Shojiro Ishibashi), George Shima
George Shima
George Shima was a Japanese American businessman in California who became the first Japanese American millionaire. At one point, he produced about 85% of the state's potato crop, which earned him the nickname "The Potato King"....
(the "Potato King" of California), the pop group Checkers, the singer and actress Seiko Matsuda
Seiko Matsuda
is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal idol" by the Japanese media.- Biography :...
, anime creator Leiji Matsumoto
Leiji Matsumoto
is a well-known creator of several anime and manga series. His wife is also known as a manga artist.-Space opera:Matsumoto is famous for his space operas such as Space Battleship Yamato...
, the television celebrity, Rena Tanaka
Rena Tanaka
is a Japanese actress and TV personality. In 1999, she won the Japanese Academy Award for 'Best Newcomer' for her performance in Give It All; in 2001 she received a 'Best Actress' nomination for Hatsukoi.-Selected filmography:* Give It All...
, actor Ryo Ishibashi
Ryo Ishibashi
is a Japanese actor and international celebrity. He is known around the world for his roles in the classic Japanese Horror films Suicide Club and Audition. He is also recognized in America for his role as Nakagawa in The Grudge and The Grudge 2....
and the late Izumi Sakai
Izumi Sakai
, born 6 February 1967 in Kurume, Japan – 27 May 2007 was a Japanese Pop singer, song writer, and member of the group Zard.- Biography :Born in Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan, Sakai grew up in Hadano, Kanagawa. Her father was a driving instructor, and she had a younger brother and younger sister...
of Zard
Zard
was a Japanese pop group. Originally a group of five members, with lead vocalist Izumi Sakai as group leader. However, Sakai was the only member who stayed on in the group while others joined and left regularly. As such, Zard and Sakai may be referred to interchangeably. Zard's work was sold under...
. The Bridgestone Tire Corporation has its origins in Kurume as traditional footwear manufacturers, producing the sock-like shoe (tabi
Jika-tabi
is a type of outdoor footwear worn in Japan. It was invented in the 20th century.Also known as "tabi boots", they are modelled on tabi, traditional split-toe Japanese socks...
), used by farmers. They found that by coating the bottom of tabi with rubber, farmers could be protected from the invasion of parasitic worms that live in rice paddies.
Famous traditional products of Kurume are the kasuri (絣), roughly woven indigo dyed cloth; pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
soup (tonkotsu) ramen
Ramen
is a Japanese noodle dish. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as , , kamaboko, green onions, and occasionally corn...
noodles; and trays and bowls made from rantai shikki (籃胎漆器), a composite made from lacquered bamboo.
In 2010 Kurume is planning to host the International Camellia
Camellia
Camellia, the camellias, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalaya east to Korea and Indonesia. There are 100–250 described species, with some controversy over the exact number...
Conference.
Mergers
- On February 5, 2005 the following four towns merged into Kurume: the town of KitanoKitano, Fukuokawas a town located in Mii District, Fukuoka, Japan.On February 5, 2005 Kitano, along with the towns of Jōjima and Mizuma, both from Mizuma District, and the town of Tanushimaru, from Ukiha District, was merged into the expanded city of Kurume and no longer exists as an independent municipality.As...
, from Mii DistrictMii District, Fukuokais a district located in Fukuoka, Japan.As of 2003 statistics , the district has an estimated population of 15,378 and a density of 674 persons per km². The total area is 22.83 km².-Mergers:...
, the towns of JōjimaJojima, Fukuokawas a town located in Mizuma District, Fukuoka, Japan.On February 5, 2005 Jōjima, along with the town of Kitano, from Mii District, the town of Mizuma, also from Mizuma District, and the town of Tanushimaru, from Ukiha District, was merged into the expanded city of Kurume and no longer exists as an...
and MizumaMizuma, Fukuokawas a town located in Mizuma District, Fukuoka, Japan.On February 5, 2005 Mizuma, along with the town of Kitano, from Mii District, the town of Jōjima, also from Mizuma District, and the town of Tanushimaru, from Ukiha District, was merged into the expanded city of Kurume and no longer exists as an...
, both from Mizuma DistrictMizuma District, Fukuokais a district located in Fukuoka, Japan.As of 2003 statistics and counting the decrease in size and population due to the Kurume merger, the district has an estimated population of 14,305 and a density of 776 persons per km²...
, and the town of TanushimaruTanushimaru, Fukuokawas a town located in Ukiha District, Fukuoka, Japan.On February 5, 2005 Tanushimaru, along with the town of Kitano, from Mii District, and the towns of Jōjima and Mizuma, both from Mizuma District, was merged into the expanded city of Kurume and no longer exists as an independent municipality.As...
, from Ukiha DistrictUkiha District, FukuokaUkiha was a district located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.-Mergers:* On February 5, 2005, the town of Tanushimaru merged with three other towns into the expanded city of Kurume....
.