Ōita Prefecture

"Ōita, Japan" redirects here. For the city, seeŌita (city).

Ōita Prefecture Đại phân huyện
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
•Japanese	Đại phân huyện
•Rōmaji	Ōita-ken
Tsurumi-Garan-Ohiramountain group seen fromBeppu.
Flag Symbol
Coordinates:33°14′17.47″N131°36′45.38″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Island	Kyushu
Capital	Ōita
Subdivisions	Districts:3,Municipalities:18
Government
•Governor	Kiichiro Satō
Area
• Total	6,340.73 km2(2,448.17 sq mi)
• Rank	22nd
Population (June 1, 2019)
• Total	1,136,245
• Rank	33rd
• Density	180/km2(460/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	JP¥4,525 billion US$41.5 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code	JP-44
Website	www.pref.oita.jp
Symbols of Japan
Bird	Japanese white-eye (Zosteropsjaponica)
Flower	Bungo-umeblossom(Prunus mumevar.bungo)
Tree	Bungo-ume tree (Prunus mumevar.bungo)

Ōita Prefecture(Đại phân huyện,Ōita-ken)is aprefectureofJapanlocated on the island ofKyūshū.Ōita Prefecture has a population of 1,136,245 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 6,340km²(2,448sq mi). Ōita Prefecture bordersFukuoka Prefectureto the northwest,Kumamoto Prefectureto the southwest, andMiyazaki Prefectureto the south.

Ōitais the capital and largest city of Ōita Prefecture, with other major cities includingBeppu,Nakatsu,andSaiki.Ōita Prefecture is located in the northeast of Kyūshū on theBungo Channel,connecting thePacific OceanandSeto Inland Sea,across fromEhime Prefectureon the island ofShikoku.Ōita Prefecture is famous for itshot springsand is a popular tourist destination in Japan for itsonsensandryokans,particularly in and around the city of Beppu.

History

See also:Historic Sites of Ōita Prefecture

Around the 6th century,Kyushuconsisted of four regions:Tsukushi Province,Hi Province,Kumaso ProvinceandToyo Province.

Toyo Province was later divided into two regions, upper and lower Toyo Province, calledBungo ProvinceandBuzen Province.

After theMeiji Restoration,districts fromBungoandBuzenprovinces were combined to form Ōita Prefecture.These provinces were divided among many localdaimyōsand thus a large castle town never formed in Ōita. From this time that whole area became known as "Toyo-no-Kuni", which means "Land of Abundance".

The origins of the name Ōita are documented in a report from the early 8th century called the Chronicles of Bungo(Phong hậu quốc phong thổ ký,bungonokuni-fudoki).According to the document, when Emperor Keikō visited the Kyushu region, stopping first in Toyo-no-Kuni, he exclaimed that 'This is a vast land, indeed. It shall be known as Okita-Kuni!' Okita-Kuni, meaning "Land of the Great Fields", later came to be written as "Ōita". Present day interpretations based on Ōita's topography state that Oita's name comes from "Okita", meaning "many fields", rather than "vast" or "great" field, because of Ōita's complex terrain.

In theEdo period(1603–1867) the town ofHitawas the government seat for the entire domain ofKyushu,which was directly controlled by the national government orshōgunat that time. The region became well known for the money-lending industry based out ofHita.Merchants in Hita's Mameda and Kuma districts worked with the national government to create this money-lending industry known as Hita-kin.

Shrines and temples

Sasamuta-jinjaandYusuhara Hachiman-gūare the chiefShinto shrines(ichinomiya) in the prefecture.

Usa Jjingū,the head shrine of more than 40,000Hachiman shrines,is located inUsa, Ōita.

Geography

Ōita Prefecture is on the north-eastern section of the island ofKyūshū.It is 119 kilometres (74 mi) from east to west, and 106 kilometres (66 mi) from north to south, with a total area of 6,340.71 square kilometers.

Surrounded by theSuo ChannelandHonshūIsland to the north, theIyo ChannelandShikokuIsland to the east, it is bordered byMiyazaki Prefectureto the south, andFukuoka PrefectureandKumamoto Prefectureto the west. It is divided between north and south by a major tectonic line running fromUsukiCity in Ōita Prefecture to Yatsushiro City inKumamotoPrefecture, which is to the west of Ōita. There are several other tectonic lines running from east to west through the prefecture. The northern part of the prefecture featuresgraniteandmetamorphic rocks,while the southern area featureslimestone,which is the foundation for theTsukumicement industry, and several limestone caves. The Kirishima Range is avolcanic beltthat runs vertically through the prefecture and contributes to the many hot spring sources that make the region a popular tourist attraction and makes Ōita the prefecture with the largest number of hot springs in the whole country.

The mountain ranges include the peaks ofMount Yufu,Mount Tsurumi,Mount Sobo,Mount Katamuki,andMount Kujū(which is called the "roof of Kyushu" ). These mountain ranges contribute to the fact that 70% of Oita is covered by forests, and the rivers and streams that flow from these ranges give the prefecture rich water sources. The prefecture's major water sources are theYamakuni River(with theHeisei Ozeki DamandYabakei Damon it), Yakkan River, Ōita River,Ōno River(withHakusui Damon it), and Banjō River. The coastline features includeBeppu Bayand theBungo Channel.

Mount Kujū,a volcano, is surrounded by highlands called the Kujū Highlands and the Handa Highlands. The main agriculture activity on the plateau grasslands north and south of Mt. Kujū isdairy farming.There are open plains throughout the prefecture with Nakatsu Plain in the north, Oita Plain in the center, and Saiki Plain in the south. The inland areas consist of basin valleys inHita,Kusu,YufuinandTaketa,which were formed bylavabuildup in combination with rivererosion.

Ōita has a 759 km (472 mi) coastline that has shoals in the north, Beppu Bay in the center, and a jagged or sawtooth "rias coastline" in the south. Sea cliffs, caves, and sedimentary rock formations that can be found inSaikiCity's Yakata Island are considered very rare outside of coral reef areas. Ōita's coastal waters contribute to a prosperous fishing industry.

As of April 1, 2014, 28% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated asNatural Parks,namely theAso KujūandSetonaikaiNational Parks; theNippō Kaigan,Sobo-Katamuki,andYaba-Hita-HikosanQuasi-National Parks; and theBungo Suidō,Jinkakuji Serikawa,Kunisaki Hantō,Sobo Katamuki,andTsue SankeiPrefectural Natural Parks.

Current municipalities

See also:List of cities in Ōita Prefecture by population

Oita City

Hita

Beppu

Yufu

Saiki

Currently, the prefecture has 14 cities, 3 districts, 3 towns, and one village. From 2005 to 2006, all municipalities butBeppu,Tsukumi,Himeshima,Hiji,and all towns inKusuDistrict, were merged, and the total municipalities went down from 58 on December 31, 2004, to 18 after the creation of the city ofKunisakiby merging with 4 towns from Higashikunisaki District on March 31, 2006. As a result, the prefecture became the one with the fewest municipalities within Kyūshū, and the fourth fewest in Japan. However, Ōita Prefecture now has the fewest towns (3) and fewest towns and villages combined (4) in all of Japan.

^Beppu_{Biệt phủ thị}

^Bungo-Ōno_{Phong hậu đại dã thị}

^Bungotakada_{Phong hậu cao điền thị}

^Hita_{Nhật điền thị}

^Kitsuki_{Xử trúc thị}

^Kunisaki_{Quốc đông thị}

^Nakatsu_{Trung tân thị}

^{Ōita(capital)}_{Đại phân thị}

^Saiki_{Tá bá thị}

^Taketa_{Trúc điền thị}

^Tsukumi_{Tân cửu kiến thị}

^Usa_{Vũ tá thị}

^Usuki_{Cữu xử thị}

^Yufu_{Do bố thị}

^Hiji_{Nhật xuất đinh}

^Himeshima_{Cơ đảo thôn}

^Kokonoe_{Cửu trọng đinh}

^Kusu_{Cửu châu đinh}

class=notpageimage|

Municipalities in Ōita PrefectureCityTown

Mergers and dissolutions

Main article:List of mergers in Ōita Prefecture

If the district dissolved, then the link will be in place.

• Hayami District:
  • Yamaga,Hiji
• Higashikunisaki District:
  • Aki,Kunimi,Kunisaki,Musashi,Himeshima
• Ōno District:
  • Notsu,Asaji,Chitose,Inukai,Kiyokawa,Mie,Ogata,Ōno
• Ōita District:
  • Notsuharu,Hasama,Shōnai,Yufuin
• Kitaamabe District:
  • Saganoseki
• Shimoge District:
  • Hon'yabakei,Sankō,Yabakei,Yamakuni
• Minamiamabe District:
  • Honjō,Kamae,Kamiura,Naokawa,Tsurumi,Ume,Yayoi,Yonōzu
• Hita District:
  • Amagase,Kamitsue,Maetsue,Nakatsue,Ōyama
• Usa District:
  • Ajimu,Innai
• Nishikunisaki District:
  • Kakaji,Matama,Ōta
• Naoiri District:
  • Kujū,Naoiri,Ogi

Economy

Ōita Prefecture's industrial activity is centered on agricultural products. Fishery products and manufactured goods rank second and third respectively in terms of Ōita's industrial activity.

Ōita is Japan's number one producer of the following products:

Kabosu limes:Ōita Prefecture is Japan's number one producer ofkabosu,a citrus fruit that is similar to a lime. Kabosu are available year-round but peak season for taste and quality is from August to October.Kabosuare rich in vitamin C and contain beneficial acids, such as citric acid. Kabosu have been produced in theTaketaandUsukiareas for many years.

Dried shiitake mushrooms:Ōita is the largest producer of driedshiitakemushrooms in Japan, and the cultivation ofshiitakemushrooms is said to have originated in Ōita. Ōita's dried shiitake rank number one in Japan in production quantity and quality.Shiitakeare said to be beneficial in the prevention of high blood pressure andarterial sclerosis.

Saffron:Saffronhas been cultivated in Ōita since the late 19th century, and Ōita'sTaketaarea produces 80% of Japan's total amount ofsaffron,making Ōita the top producer ofsaffron.The quality of Ōitasaffronhas gained international acclaim as active component levels are several times higher than foreign saffron.Saffronis said to have many benefits including circulation enhancement and is used as a food coloring and natural medicine.

Galingale:Ōita is Japan's top producer of galingale(シチトウ｜shichitō),a kind of rush plant, a grass with a distinctive triangular profile, belonging to the familyCyperaceae.It is grown inKunisaki Peninsulaof Ōita Prefecture and is used in the production of Ryukyu-styletatamimats, as it is dust and moisture absorbent and has a pleasant scent.

Madake bamboo:The madake variety of bamboo makes up 60% of Japan's cultivated bamboo, and Ōita is Japan's top producer. It is the most popular variety of bamboo used in handiwork and traditional crafts since it is very flexible and pressure resistant.

Ōita ranks number one in Japan (and second in the world next to America's Yellowstone National Park) for the amount of hot-spring output and geothermal power. Ōita also ranks number one in Japan for the amount of limestone production.

Other industries

Seki-aji and seki-saba are mackerels that are well-known seafood products of Ōita. Ōita has gained nationwide recognition for their promotion of "The Oita Brand", labeling local products with the prefectural name.

Key Ōita Brand products are as follows:

Agricultural products:tomatoes,leeks,strawberries,scallions,kabosulimes, greenhousetangerines,prairie gentians(トルコギキョウ,torukogikyō),roses,chrysanthemums,pears (HitaCity, Shonai Town inYufuCity andKokonoetown in Kusu are all production regions for Japanese pears. Oita pears are shipped nationwide, with large distribution quantities throughout Kyushu), and Bungo beef (the Kujū highlands are a perfect feeding ground for cattle and cattle farmers in Oita are involved in breeding and shipping cattle. Bungo beef is a well known local product.).

Forest products:Driedshiitakemushrooms and Oita-style seasoned timber (Oita is one of the leading production centers for Japanesecedar,ranking second in Japan for amount of lumber reserves and number of cedars produced. Oita cedar producers use a special method for drying the wood which combines benefits of natural and artificial drying to produce cedar that has cracks and retains its natural scent and color.)

Marine products:culturedflatfish,culturedyellow jack,culturedyellowtail,culturedloach,pearl,cultured kuruma prawn, natural kuruma prawn (kuruma ebi),cuttlefish,hairtail,butterfish,blue crab,conger eel,clam,and Japanesemitten crab.

Economic development of Ōita was greatly aided by theOne Village One Product movementof long-time governorMorihiko Hiramatsu.This movement has gained international attention and increased international exchange activities between Oita and overseas cities and countries.

The following companies operate factories in Oita:Toshiba Corporation,Nippon Steel Corporation,Canon Inc.,Texas Instruments Inc.,Sony,DaihatsuMotor Co. Ltd.,Showa DenkoK.K., Kawasumi Laboratories Inc. (Xuyên trừng hóa học công nghiệp chu thức hội xã), CKK, Asahi Kasei Medical Co. Ltd. ( húc メディカル),NECCorporation,Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,SumitomoChemical Co. Ltd, Mitsui E&S Corporation.

Demographics

Oita prefecture population pyramid in 2020

As of October 1, 2008, Ōita's total population was 1,201,715. Broken down into age groups, it was determined that 13.3% of the population was between the age of newborn and 14 years old, while 60.6% of the population was between the ages of 15 years and 64 years old, and 25.8% of the population was 65 years old or older.

In 2008, there were 11,034 non-Japanese residents registered in Ōita, that was up 1,684 people from the previous year.

As of December 2009, Ōita was ranked as having the highest number of foreign students relative to population in Japan. Oita has 339.8 foreign students per 100,000 people in the prefecture, where Tokyo, now ranking second has 329.4 foreign students per 100,000 people in the city.This is contributed to the fact thatRitsumeikan Asia-Pacific University (APU)in Beppu accepts many foreign students. As of November 1, 2009, there were 4,160 foreign students in Ōita total, from 101 different countries and territories, with the majority being from Asia (e.g. China and South Korea).

Culture

Oita is in the northeast corner of the island of Kyushu. Its coastal areas, farmland, highland, and mountains lend to a mix of different farming and fishing culture. There are many festivals throughout the year to pray for healthy harvests and abundant crops.

As of May 2006, 146 cultural assets in Ōita were designated by the national government (Agency for Cultural Affairs), four of which are designated asNational Treasures.Additionally, the prefecture itself has designated almost 700 traditions, properties, landmarks etc. as cultural assets.

National treasures

1. Fuki-jiTemple: The only wooden structure in Kyushu to remain intact since the Heian period (794–1192). Fukiji Temple is in Bungo-Takada.
2. The Main Building ofUsa Shrine:A building which is said to be a prototype forhachimanstyle architecture located in Usa City.
3. Peacock Buddhist Altar Fitting: This is a Buddhist altar fitting calledKujaku Monkeiwith engraved peacocks and an inscription dated 1209. The information on it tells of the relationship between Usa Shrine and its branch shrine Mirokuji.
4. Usuki Stone Buddhas:Approximately 60 cliff carvings of Buddha that were crafted between the Heian period (794–1192) and the Kamakura period (1185–1333) are the only rock carvings of their kind to have received a "National Treasure" designation. They are in Usuki City.

Below are some of Oita's cultural traditions that are designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs asImportant Intangible Cultural Properties:

1. Shujo Onie Fire Festival: An event held to pray for national security, health, and longevity on the first day of the Chinese New Year at temples of Tendai Buddhist denomination in the Kunisaki Peninsula area. The three temples that continue to hold this event are the Tennenji-temple (Bungotakata City), Iwatoji-temple (Kunisaki Town) and Jobutsuji-temple (Kunisaki Town).
2. Koyo Shrine Puppet Show: This is a puppet show also known as "Kitabaru Puppet Show" which useskugutsupuppets that perform dance and sumo wrestling matches. Oita's Hachiman Kohyo Shrine is in Nakatsu City.
3. Hita's Gion Festival: A festival held in Hita City in July with parade floats that are up to 12 meters high. Although the festival only takes place once a year, the magnificent floats are on display year-round at the Gion Festival Float Museum in Kuma Town, Hita City.
4. Yoshihiro Gaku Traditional Performing Art: Dance performed along with traditional song and music in Musashi Town in Kunisaki Peninsula
5. Manufacturing Process of Sulfur "Flowers" at Myoban Hot Spring: Thatched huts at Myoban Hot Spring are used to produceyu-no-hanaor sulfur “flowers” which are crystals that develop naturally on the ground around the springs. The manufacturing and collection process of the sulfur flowers has remained largely unchanged since the Edo period and thus the manufacturing process itself is designated as an ethno-cultural asset. The crystals are used as the main component of bath salts sold in Myoban, which are a popular souvenir that is used to help heal skin conditions.

Dance

Kagurais a sacred dance performed at festivals and celebrations throughout the prefecture.

Shonai kagurais a festive dance that has been practiced for over 200 years and is representative of Oita Prefecture. Another kagura, theOndake-style Kagura,was nationally designated as an "Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property" in 2007. There is also traditional song and music known as "gaku"that is performed in the Kunisaki Peninsula Area and is accompanied by characteristic dances such as theYoshihirogakuin Musashi Town. Dancers wear grass skirts and dance with a drum tied to their front and a flag tied to their backs to pray to the Buddhist God Amida Buddha. In the Ono district there are 80 groups ofShishimaior dancers who perform a lion dance with roots based on the Ondake-style dance.

Crafts

Onta Potteryis the name of a type of stoneware pottery made for everyday usage – typically called 'mingei' (folk art or craft) in Japanese. The community is situated in the Hiko mountain range, about 17 kilometres from the centre of Hita City, and is said to have been established in 1705 to make large wares – lidded jars for pickled vegetables and fruit, water crocks, ash burners, and pouring vessels with small spouts – for local farmhouses. At the time potters were themselves farmers, who produced pots during the 'off season' in agriculture. These they fired in a cooperative kiln (kyōdō noborigama).

Onta pottery is now produced full-time by ten families in Sarayama, five of whom continue to share and fire an eight chambered climbing kiln. The other five households fire independent climbing kilns of four or five chambers, which they fire approximately six times a year. The potters use clays that they dig locally and obtain natural materials (notably, wood ash, rice straw ash, feldspar, iron oxide and, occasionally, copper) with which to mix their glazes. Sarayama is famous for the 'karausu' clay pounders lining its two streams and powered by the water therein. The fact that the clay pounders prepare only enough clay for two people to work with full-time at the wheel has determined both household structure and the number of houses able to take up pottery in Sarayama.

For anything other than small pots, potters use a kick wheel on which to throw their wares, which they decorate typically with hakeme and tobiganna slipware decoration techniques. In April 1995, the Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the designation of Onta Pottery as an "Important Intangible Cultural Property" in 1995.This designation is for the actual techniques used in making the pottery and not the actual pots themselves. Precisely because the designation is for the process rather than the product, it is regarded as an "intangible" property and is the only stoneware pottery-making process so designated in Japan.

Bamboo Craftswere started in the late 14th century to create baskets for travelling goods salesmen. During theEdo period(1600–1868)Bepputhrived as a tourist town and bamboo baskets and goods were used in the daily lives of the local people for everything from cooking to washing in order to meet the demands of the thriving tourist population. The bamboo items soon became a souvenir that tourists purchased to take home and this solidified making Beppu a center for Bamboo crafts production. In 1903 a training center for bamboo workers was established and present-day visitors to Beppu can enjoy learning about the history of bamboo, and hands-on classes at the Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center. Festivals using bamboo shoots as candle holders are carried out yearly in the autumn inUsuki,Taketa,andHitaCities.

Religion

TheKunisaki Peninsulahas been called "Buddha's Village" and manyBuddhist statuesandtemplesfill the areas surroundingBungotakadaandKunisaki.The most notable of these are theRokugō Manzan( lục hương mãn sơn ) temples.Shinbutsu-shūgō( thần phật tập hợp ), or the syncretism ofBuddhismandShinto,is said to have begun in this region out of the uniqueRokugō Manzanculture.

Usa JingūinUsais the head shrine ofHachiman Shrinesin Japan. It is said to be the birthplace ofmikoshi.

Mankoji Temple which was founded in 1352 is a place for practicingzenmeditation.

Architecture

TheAgency for Cultural Affairsalso designates certain areas for preservation asGroups of Traditional Buildings.The merchant quarter ofHita,Mameda Town, is one of 83 districts (as of April 1, 2009) throughout the country designated as "Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings".Old samurai residences throughout the prefecture are points of architectural interest. Nioza Historical Road in Usuki is also lined with buildings dating back to the 16th century and also in Usuki the Inaba-Family Villa is a former samurai residence open to the public.

Arata Isozakiis a world-renowned architect who is from Oita. The former Oita Prefectural Library (now Oita Art Plaza) won an award for architectural design in 1967. Other works of his can be found throughout the prefecture including B-con Plaza in Beppu, Bungo-No-Kuni Information Library, the Audio-Visual Center in Oita City, and Yufu Train Station.

Music

TheMartha Argerichmusic festival "Argerich's Meeting Point in Beppu" is an annual event held inBeppuCity. Martha Argerich is the General Director of the festival and the event is supported by a large number of volunteers. It takes place over 10 days and includes recitals and also lessons. This international event welcomes music lovers from all over the world to Beppu.

Arts

The Oita-Asian Sculpture Exhibition (see external link below) is a biennial event that takes place in Asaji Town in Bungo-Ono City. This exhibition is carried out to commemorate Oita sculptor Asakura Fumio, and to encourage rising artists throughout Asia. Applicants are accepted from within Japan and from several Asian countries. Exhibition winners are given generous prizes and their works are kept on display at the Asakura Fumio Memorial Museum in Bungo-Ono City.

Sports

Showa Denko Dome Oita.

The sports teams listed below are based in Oita.

Football (soccer)

• Oita Trinita

Basketball

• Oita Heat Devils(Beppu)

Volleyball

• Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler(Ōita city)

Futsal

• Vasagey Oita

The Oita International Wheelchair Marathon (see external link below) is a yearly event held in October. This international race gathers wheelchair athletes from all over the world to participate in full and half-marathon racing. It was started in 1981 to commemorate theInternational Year of Disabled Persons.

Tourism

Ōita Prefecture is famous for itshot springs,particularly those in and around the city ofBeppu.The most well-known of Beppu's hot springs are known as theHells of Beppu.These "hells" are for viewing only and cannot be used for bathing.Beppu also has eight majorgeothermalhotspotsknown asBeppu Hattō( biệt phủ bát thang ).Within the city of Beppu, there are more than 150 individualonsenbathing facilities.

The city'sryokansand public onsen are amply supplied by the same volcanic source. WhenChiba Universityand Tokyo'sInstitute for Sustainable Energy Policiescompiled a list of prefectures meeting demands for reusable energy, Oita ranked number one with a 25.2% rate of self-sufficiency through the use of geothermal energy and hot spring heat.

The city ofBeppuis a busy passenger port with regular ferry links through the inland sea toOsakaand several other destinations, and offers a variety of cultural experiences. For instance, the public aquarium "Umi-tamago"on the shoreline outside Beppu features basketballingsea otters,performingarcher fish,and puzzle-solving octopuses, along with more naturalistic displays of freshwater and marine fish from around the world.

Yufuinis another popular destination for tourists. It is known for itsonsen,ryokan,Mount Yufu( do bố nhạc,Yufudake), and Lake Kinrin (Kim lân hồ,Kinrin-ko).

Another attraction isMount Takasaki Monkey Park,a park featuring two distinct troupes of wildJapanese macaquemonkeys that make regular visits to the feeding grounds. The reserve was initially established to prevent the monkeys from raiding the region's fruit crops, a behaviour that brought them into conflict with local farmers. The wild macaques can be observed up close in the park during the feeding sessions.

Other attractions of Ōita Prefecture include theSanriotheme parkHarmonyland,and the Hihokan Sex Museum, also located in Beppu. Previously, Mt. Hachimen was home toConcert on the Rock,a music festival held as an annual charity event which saw over 30 international acts performing over a weekend in June 2004. The event was held again in 2005 but has since been discontinued.

In 2017, the creators of Pokémon Go held an event from March 4 to 13 featuring newly spawned Pokémon Snorlax for players to check areas hit by the2016 Kumamoto earthquakesand help support the local economy.A US spokeswoman said that the game event would provide many opportunities for players to come and see the sights.The event followed a similar event that spawned Lapras in the Miyagi Prefecture in November 2016 in areas that were severely damaged by the2011 earthquake.Both events took place in the Kyushu region.

Media

• Oita Broadcasting System(OBS)
• Television Oita System(TOS)
• Oita Asahi Broadcasting(OAB)

Transport

Roads

Expressway and Toll Road

• Ōita Expressway
• Higashi Kyushu Expressway
• Usa Beppu Road
• Hinode Bypass
• Naka Kyushu Road

National Highway

• National Highway 10
• National Highway 57
• National Highway 197
• National Highway 210 (Kurume-Hita-Oita)
• National Highway 211 (Hita-Iizuka-Kitakyushu)
• National Highway 212 (Nakatsu-Hita-Aso)
• National Highway 213
• National Highway 217
• National Highway 326
• National Highway 386 (Hita-Asakura-Chikushino)
• National Highway 387
• National Highway 388
• National Highway 442
• National Highway 496
• National Highway 500
• National Highway 502

Railroads

• JR Kyushu
  • Nippō Main Line
  • Kyūdai Line
  • Hōhi Line
  • Hitahikosan Line

Airports

• Oita Airport

Ports

• Beppu Port, ferry route toOsaka,HiroshimaandYawatahama
• Oita Port, ferry route toKobe
• Saiki Port, ferry route toSukumo

Notable people

• Ōtomo Sōrin(1530–1587): The Otomo family ruled over theFunai Domain,which is present dayŌita City,in the 16th century. Funai was a very internationalized city which engaged in trade and exchange with other nations. Sōrin, the 21st leader of theŌtomo clan,embraced Western culture enthusiastically and invited the missionaryFrancis Xavierto the city to promote Christianity. Sōrin dreamed of creating a Christian nation; he was baptized and given the name "Don Francisco". Sōrin died inTsukumi.
• Miura Baien(September 1, 1723 – April 9, 1789): A scholar originally known as Susumu but called Baien after the name of his private school where he educated many scholars. Miura developed his own system of logic and wrote many works including his three famous words, Deep Words(Huyền ngữ,gengo),Redundant Words(Chuế ngữ,zeigo),and Bold Words(Cảm ngữ,kango).He also worked in a hospital and had a good knowledge ofastronomy.He hand made an astronomical globe that was passed down through many generations.He spent his entire life in Tominaga Village which is the present day area ofAkiTown inKunisakiCity. Miura Baien is considered one of Ōita's three sages along with Hoashi Banri and Hirose Tansō.
• Hoashi Banri(Phàm túc vạn lí,February 11, 1778 – July 30, 1852):Miura Baien's pupil who expanded his academic ability into many fields includingConfucianism,natural sciences, medicine and language. He taught himself Dutch to reference scientific publications for his eight-volume workKyuritsu,which was considered the top work of Western natural science in Japan at that time. In 1832 he was made Minister for the Feudal Lord to fix the financial problems of the Hiji clan.Banri Hoashi is considered one of Ōita's three sages along with Miura Baien and Hirose Tansō.
• Hirose Tansō(Quảng lại đạm song,May 22, 1782 – November 28, 1856):A Confucian scholar, poet and educator from a money-lending family in Hita. Ōita's current governorKatsusada Hiroseis a descendant of Tansō Hirose. In Edo period Japan, education was limited to samurai families and the rich. However, Hirose Tansō opened a school called Kangien(Hàm nghi viên)meaning "all are welcome" and admitted students regardless of social status, age, or education level. The school's methodology of a "self-administered work-study policy" is said to have had great influence on the modern day education system in Japan. Former Prime MinisterKiyoura Keigowas educated here, with other students who went on to become influential scholars, artists and politicians. The school remains were designated a historical site in 1932 and are a couple blocks from the original Hirose family house, now the Hirose Museum. There, Tansō Hirose and other family members’ works are on display, with other original Hirose artifacts, China dolls, tea ceremony utensils and more. Both are in Mameda Town, about a 10-minute walk fromHitaStation. Tansō Hirose is considered one of the Oita's three sages along with Miura Baien and Hoashi Banri. An asteroid called10009 Hirosetansodiscovered by theUniversity of Tokyoin 1977 was named after Tansō Hirose.
• Fukuzawa Yukichi(1834–1901): Founded Japan's oldest institute of higher education,Keio Universityin Tokyo. Fukuzawa Yukichi grew up in theNakatsudomain and is pictured on the 10,000 yen bill. He was influential in Japan's education system by promoting independence and self-reliance of the Japanese people at his classes asKeio-Gijuku University,known as present day Keio University, originally a school for Western studies. The university now educates in a range of fields and produces influential and prominent alumni.
• Hiroshi Nagahama(born 1970): Veterananimeindustry luminary who began his career in 1990 withMadhouse Studioas an animator and went on to directMushishi,Detroit Metal City,The Flowers of EvilandThe Reflection,as well as serving as art director ofRevolutionary Girl Utena.
• Yamamoto Tatsuo,once governor of theBank of Japanfrom 1898 to 1903, was from here.

References

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005).Japan encyclopedia.Cambridge:Harvard University Press.ISBN978-0-674-01753-5;OCLC58053128.
• Oita Prefectural Government Public Relations Division. (2006).Guide-O Oita Prefecture Guide Book.Saiki Printing Co.

External links

https://www.discover-oita.com