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Customs and Heritage: Fukuoka (capital)
C Higashi-ku
h -Karate originated in Okinawa. On Okinawa, the
a three main styles are considered to be Shorin-Ryu,
p Hakata-ku
t Goju-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu. Various styles and sub-
e Chio-ku
r styles include Wado-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, Uechi Ryu,
Goju Ryu, Shotokan, Isshin-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, Shorinji Minami-ku
-Ryu Kenkokan, Shorinji-Ryu Koshinkai, Shorinji-
Ryu, Shuri-Ryu, and Pangai-noon. Jonan-ku
Sawara-ku
-Five times as many Okinawans live to be 100 as
compared to the rest of Japan, possibly due to the di- Nishi-ku
et, low-stress lifestyle, caring community, activity, Kitakyushu
and spirituality of the inhabitants of the island.
Munakata
-Eisa: A form of folk dance unique to the people of
the Ryukyu Islands, is performed many times Omuta
throughout the year at various festivals concentrated Economy:
around lunar mid-July to mark the end of the Obon
Festival. Fukuoka is the economic center of the Kyushu re-
gion, with an economy largely focused on the service
-Numerous Ryukyuan languages exist, which are sector. Fukuoka city is also the largest startup city in
more or less incomprehensible to Japanese speakers. Japan, and is the only economic zone for startup.
These languages are in decline as Standard Japanese Most of the region's heavy manufacturing takes place
is being used. "Okinawans over age 60 use these lan- in the nearby city of Kitakyushu. The port of Hakata
guages, though the use of them is in decline as Stand- also makes the city a key regional transportation hub.
ard Japanese is being used. The Okinawan language
is still used in traditional cultural activities, such as Customs and Heritage:
folk music, or folk dance despite the decline. -Yamakasa: Held for two weeks each July, is Fukuo-
ka's oldest festival with a history of over 700 years.
Cuisine:
The festival dates back to 1241 when a priest named
-The Okinawan diet consist of low-fat, low-salt Shioichu Kokushi saved Hakata from a terrible
foods, such as fish, tofu, and seaweed. plague by being carried around the city on a movable
shrine and throwing water. Teams of men (no wom-
en, except small girls, are allowed), representing dif-

ferent districts in the city, commemorate the priest's
route by racing around a set course carrying on their
shoulders floats weighing several thousand pounds.

Participants all wear shimekomi (called fundoshi in
FUKUOKA other parts of Japan), which are traditional loincloths.

A prefecture situated on the northern shore During the festival, men can be seen walking around
of the island Kyushu. It is the largest and most popu- many parts of Fukuoka in long happi coats bearing
lous city on the island. the distinctive mark of their team affiliation and tra-
ditional geta sandals. The costumes are worn with
Total Area: 340.03 km2 (131.29 sq mi) pride and are considered appropriate wear for even

Total Population: 1,550,626 formal occasions, such as weddings and cocktail par-
ties, during the festival.
Major Cities:
Cuisine: N/A
Dazaifu

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