Kyushu

Island (pop., 2004 est.: 14,780,000), southernmost of Japan's four main islands. Located off the eastern coast of Asia, it is separated from Honshu to the north by the Shimonoseki Strait and from Shikoku to the east by the Bungo Strait. The island, with an area of 14,183 sq mi (36,733 sq km), is mountainous; several famous peaks rise some 5,000–6,000 ft (1,500–2,000 m) high, including Mount Aso. Its chief cities include Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. It was the first part of the Japanese empire opened to foreigners in the 19th century.