Fukuoka

City on the north coast of Kyushu island, Japan, 110 km/68 mi northeast of Nagasaki, port and capital of Fukuoka prefecture; population (2005) 1,401,300. Industries include the manufacture of silk, ceramic dolls, marine products, printing, chemicals, and ship-building.

There is an airport, an institute of technology founded in 1909 and a university founded in 1911. The city grew out of the 7th century port of Hakata, which in 1889 amalgamated with the town which coalesced around Fukuoka castle (1601). There are numerous historical sites, which include tomb mounds (‘kofun’) and fortifications built to ward off 13th-century Mongol invasions. Nearby is the 10th century shrine of Dazaifu Temman-gu.