Symbol
Kumamoto has a lot of kind symbols. Prefectural mark is red and white color. The mark is a symbol of Ku in katakana, center of Kyusyu and land-form. Prefectuar tree is Kusunoki （Camphor tree）. This tree is planted in Kumamoto castle and you can see this in each places for example shrine and temple. Perpetual flower is Gentian. This flower start to come out in October and you can see this in grassland in Aso. Prefecture Bird is Lark. We can see the lark anywhere. The lark became a symbol of Kumamoto as an agricultural prefecture. Perpetual Fish is Prawn. The prawn is well known product in Ariake Sea and Shiranui Sea.
Personality
We use 'Higo moccos' as a word that we suggest own personality. It means obstinate in dialect. Moreover, the people of Kumamoto prefecture are got the impression that they are coarse. And then, people who lived in Kumamoto defined that beauty is to hold on something with wiping the sweat off from their forehead. We think long history here influence them. Why Kumamoto is called "Hinokuni". Hinokuni means land of fire in word for word translation. There was caldera volcano in Kumamto that is the reason why Kumamoto is called "Hinokuni". People of Kumamoto prefecture's personality is that are to say stubborn and passionate.
History of Kumamoto
Kumamoto has a moderate temperature, abundant water supply and endless hills. A lot of people lived there. Rice cultivation began earlier in the Yayoi period compared to other areas.In the Burial Mound Age,prosperous and powerful people called "The Hinokimi" lived in Kumamoto. In early modern ages, Kiyomasa Kato ruled the northern part of the prefecture, while Yukinaga Konishi held authority in the south. After the fall of Konishi in 1600, in the battle that called Sekigahara, Kiyomasa Kato who builds a Kumamoto castle won Yukinaga Konishi, and unified Higo. In 1878, the old domains were replaced by prefectures. Kumamoto domain became Kumamoto Prefecture, Hitoyoshi domain became Hitoyoshi Prefecture, and Amakusa was temporarily incorporated into Nagasaki Prefecture.
Famous places in Kumamoto
Kumamoto has many good places to sightseeing.
One of the famous places is Kumamoto castle. It is located in the center of Kumamoto and was built by Kiyomasa Kato in 1607. The signature curved stone walls known as musha-gaeshi. It is the 400Th anniversary memory by 2007.
Mt. Aso is also popular in Kumamoto. It is the largest volcano in Japan and has the biggest caldera of all over the world. Its caldera is 25 km across north to south and 18 km across east to west. The caldera has a circumference of around 120 km (75 miles), although sources vary on the exact distance.
Japanese like spas. Kumamoto has many good spas and famous places are Kurokawa, Tamana, Kikuchi and Yamaga. Kurokawa is the most famous place about spas in Kumamoto. It is a spa in Minamioguni town, Aso gun, Kumamoto Prefecture that is very popular among men and women of all ages. There are many spas, Japanese-style hotels and many sweets shops. Many people visit there every year. Most Japanese like spas, because they relax them. The Americans are not accustomed soaking in bath tabs, but the Japanese have those habits. There are spas that we can see beautiful view such as the sea or mountains. Kurokawa spa is very nice place.
Festivals in Kumamoto
We would like to tell you about dance and music in Kumamoto. There are a lot of festival in Kumamoto for example, Hinokuni (Land of Fire) Festival, the great festival of fujisaki hachimangu shrine, Myouken festival in Yatsushiro and so on. Like this, there are some festival each area in Kumamoto. We will intoroduce about Hinokini Festival. The first time, this festival held in fifty three of showa. Hinokuni Festival hold on August in Kumamoto city. About 65 groups take part in this festival.People who join gather in center of Kumamoto city. They wear special clothes or dress. Each group dance original dance fit to 'Otemoyan' music. It is an original song. From the very beginning, this song was Japanese style room's song. It has two pattern. One is slow temp, another is up temp like the samba. I like both of them.
Foods
Kumamoto has a lot of traditional and special foods. We all often eat it. We would like to introduce you some of them. “Basashi” is the most famous food in Kumamoto. It is raw horse meat, one of the sashimi. It is slightly sweet, tender, low in fat, and high in protein. We usually eat it with soy sauce and grated ginger or garlic. It is little expensive. "Karashi Renkon" is crammed lotus root's holes with mustard. The whole is fried. It has a sharp taste, but very delicious. We usually eat it with mayonnaise.
