Kyushu's largest city still evokes memories of Japan's early exchanges with neighboring nations Map of the Kyushu region Facing the Genkainada Sea and sitting in the middle of the semicircular Fukuoka Plain, Fukuoka is Kyushu's foremost city - the core of its political, economic and cultural activities. In the old days it was divided into two sections by the Nakagawa River: the east area called "Hakata" was a town inhabited by Hakata merchants while the west, "Fukuoka," served as a castle town for the feudal Kuroda family. In 1889, the areas were merged and Fukuoka City was born. The name Hakata still remains however, as the name of Fukuoka's main train station. The city fans out from Hakata station in a westward direction and Nakasu, between the Nakagawa and Hakatagawa Rivers, becomes a neon illuminated entertainment district at night. The business district on the opposite side of the Nakagawa River, the area also called Fukuoka, is lined with office buildings and restaurants and slightly further west lie the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. The moat of the castle has long since been redeveloped into a park named Ohori Park. In the past, the port city of Hakata served as one of the nation's few gateways for foreign culture because of its proximity to China and the Korean Peninsula. Further into the past, Yayoi period inhabitants flourished in and around the area - a fact evidenced by numerous historical remains and cultural relics being discovered. Today though Fukuoka is the home of skyscrapers, a "Seaside Area" facing Hakata Bay represents the city's most modern of districts with its artificial beach stretching along the coastline as contemporary office complexes that have appeared along the Hakatagawa River will transform the city's landscape in their own right for at least the next decade.

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Moji Minato Matsuri - Moji Port, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture - May 24th (Sat)-25th (Sun), 2008 Moji Minato Matsuri is a citizen's event held in the Mojiko-retro area of Kanmon Strait. Moji Port is said to be the birthplace of "banana no tatakiuri," or: banana hawkers selling bananas by shouting on the street. The banana no tatakiuri event, a stamp rally in the Mojiko-retro area and other events related to the port are scheduled for this weekend. An orientation cruise on a patrol vessel of the Japan Coast Guard is another event of interest but does need numbered tickets. For the main event however, a parade will feature bands playing music, a shagiri-tai dance, "Ms. Port Moji" (winner of the Moji beauty pageant) and disguised individuals performing atop cars. http://www.retro-mojiko.jp/news063.html (Japanese version only)

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