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'''Kyushu''' (Kyūshū, 九州) is one of the principal [[Japanese]] islands together with [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]] and [[Shikoku]]. Kyushu is located southwest of the main island Honshu.  

'''Kyushu''' (Kyūshū, 九州) is one of the principal [[Japanese]] islands together with [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]] and [[Shikoku]]. Kyushu is located southwest of the main island Honshu.  

F<i></i>ukuoka is its most important city. Kumamoto is a major city on Kyushu's west coast with a population of 650,000.  

F''''ukuoka is its most important city. Kumamoto is a major city on Kyushu's west coast with a population of 650,000.  

As one of Japan's closest port cities to the Asian mainland, Nagasaki has played a prominent role in foreign trade relations for many centuries and was the most important of only a very few ports open to restricted numbers of foreign traders during Japan's period of isolation.  

As one of Japan's closest port cities to the Asian mainland, Nagasaki has played a prominent role in foreign trade relations for many centuries and was the most important of only a very few ports open to restricted numbers of foreign traders during Japan's period of isolation.  

In August 1945, [[Nagasaki]] became the second city after [[Hiroshima]] to be destroyed by an atomic bomb. The bomb forced Japan to surrender.

In August 1945, [[Nagasaki]] became the second city after [[Hiroshima]] to be destroyed by an atomic bomb. The bomb forced Japan to surrender.

Kyushu is the birthplace of Japanese porcelain. <ref> [http://www.welcomekyushu.com/ Kyushu Tourism ] </ref>

Kyushu is the birthplace of Japanese porcelain.<ref>[http://www.welcomekyushu.com/ Kyushu Tourism ]</ref>

==History==

==History==

==History==  

==History==  

[[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]'s system of centralized feudalism (Bakuhan) came to Chikugo province in 1573. Tachibana, who had checked the northward advance of the Shimazu clan until Hideyoshi's forces arrived, was enfeoffed with four districts of Chikugo in 1574 as a reward. Hideyoshi supplied considerable support to Tachibana whose power base was initially unstable. Tachibana reciprocated by remaining loyal to Hideyoshi up through the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, participating in the two expeditions to Korea in 1595 and 1598 and becoming Daimyo (lord) of all Chikugo. Tachibana's lands, however, were gradually confiscated over the next 14 years and turned over to Tanaka Yoshimasa. His regime, however, collapsed in 1621.  

[[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]'s system of centralized feudalism (Bakuhan) came to Chikugo province in 1573. Tachibana, who had checked the northward advance of the Shimazu clan until Hideyoshi's forces arrived, was enfeoffed with four districts of Chikugo in 1574 as a reward. Hideyoshi supplied considerable support to Tachibana whose power base was initially unstable. Tachibana reciprocated by remaining loyal to Hideyoshi up through the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, participating in the two expeditions to Korea in 1595 and 1598 and becoming Daimyo (lord) of all Chikugo. Tachibana's lands, however, were gradually confiscated over the next 14 years and turned over to Tanaka Yoshimasa. His regime, however, collapsed in 1621.  

In 1571, the Japanese government opened a port in Nagasaki for trading with Portuguese ships. After that, many western goods were introduced into Nagasaki. <ref>[http://www.nagasaki-tabinet.com/mlang/english/guide/history.php Nagasaki] </ref>

In 1571, the Japanese government opened a port in Nagasaki for trading with Portuguese ships. After that, many western goods were introduced into Nagasaki.<ref>[http://www.nagasaki-tabinet.com/mlang/english/guide/history.php Nagasaki]</ref>

Industrialization began in the 1860s, with the building of the first cotton textile factory in Kagoshima, Kyushu, in 1867.  

Industrialization began in the 1860s, with the building of the first cotton textile factory in Kagoshima, Kyushu, in 1867.