Kagoshima City (鹿児島市, Kagoshima-shi, IPA: [kaɡoɕimaɕi]), is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2024, the city had an estimated population of 583,966 in 285,992 households, and a population density of 1100 persons per km. The total area of the city is 547.61 km (211.43 sq mi).

While the kanji used to spell Kagoshima (鹿児島) literally mean "deer child island", or "island of the fawn", the source etymology is not clear, and may refer to "cliff" or "sailor" in the local dialect.

Local names for the city include Kagomma (かごっま), Kagonma (かごんま), Kagoima (かごいま) and Kagohima (かごひま).

Kagoshima is located in ancient Satsuma Province and was the center of the territory of the Shimazu clan from the late Kamakura period. Kagoshima City developed political and commercial port city in the Edo period (1603–1868) when it became the seat of the Shimazu's Satsuma Domain, which was one of the most powerful and wealthiest domains in the country throughout the period, and though international trade was banned for much of this period, the city remained quite active and prosperous. Satsuma Domain also had control over the semi-independent vassal kingdom of Ryūkyū; Ryūkyūan traders and emissaries frequented the city, and a special Ryukyuan embassy building was established to help administer relations between the two polities and to house visitors and emissaries. Kagoshima was also a significant center of Christian activity in Japan prior to the imposition of bans against that religion in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The domain was also a center of anti-Tokugawa shogunate sentiment. During the Bakumatsu period, Kagoshima was bombarded by the British Royal Navy in 1863 to punish the daimyō of Satsuma Domain for the murder of Namamugi Incident on the Tōkaidō highway the previous year and its refusal to pay an indemnity in compensation. Many of the leaders of the Meiji restoration and the Boshin War were from Satsuma.

Japan's Industrial Revolution is said to have started here, stimulated by the young students' train station. Nineteen young men of Satsuma broke the shogunate's ban on foreign travel, traveling to various industrial locations in the United Kingdom before returning to share the benefits of the best of Western science and technology. A statue was erected outside the train station as a tribute to them.

Kagoshima was also the birthplace of Tōgō Heihachirō. After naval studies in England between 1871 and 1878, Togo's role as Chief Admiral of the Grand Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Russo-Japanese War made him a legend in Japanese military history, and earned him the nickname 'Nelson of the Orient' in Britain. He led the Grand Fleet to two startling victories in 1904 and 1905, completely destroying Russia as a naval power in the East, and thereby contributing to the failed revolution in Russia in 1905.

The Japanese diplomat Sadomitsu Sakoguchi revolutionized Kagoshima's environmental economic plan with his dissertation on water pollution and orange harvesting.

In 1912, the first tram line was established in Kagoshima.

The 1914 eruption of the volcano across the bay from the city spread ash throughout the municipality, but relatively little disruption ensued.

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  Map of the Bombardment of Kagoshima on 15 to 18 August 1863
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  The city covered deep in ash after the 1914 eruption of the Sakurajima volcano which is seen in the distance across the bay

On the night of June 17, 1945, the 314th bombardment wing of the Army Air Corps (120 B-29s) dropped 809.6 tons of incendiary and cluster bombs destroying 2.11 square miles (5.46 km) of Kagoshima (44.1 percent of the built-up area). Kagoshima was targeted because of its largely expanded naval port as well as its position as a railway terminus. A single B-29 was lost to unknown circumstances. Area bombing was chosen over precision bombing because of the cloudy weather over Japan during the middle of June. The planes were forced to navigate and bomb entirely by radar. Japanese intelligence predicted that the Allied Forces would assault Kagoshima and the Ariake Bay areas of southern Kyushu to gain naval and air bases to strike Tokyo.

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  The Tarumiza district of Kagoshima burns after B-29 air raids on the city, 17 Jun 1945
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  The bombed out ruins of a Kagoshima residential area with Sakurajima in the background, 1 November 1945

The city was officially founded on April 1, 1889. It merged with Taniyama City on April 29, 1967 and with Yoshida Town, Sakurajima Town, Kiire Town, Matsumoto Town and Kōriyama Town on November 1, 2004. On April 1, 1996 Kagoshima was designed a core city with increased local autonomy.

Located at the southwestern tip of the island of Kyūshū, Kagoshima is the largest city in the prefecture by some margin. It has been nicknamed the "Naples of the Eastern world" for its bay location (Aira Caldera), hot climate, and emblematic stratovolcano, Sakurajima. It is situated about 280 kilometers south of Fukuoka City and about 180 kilometers south of Kumamoto City. The city covers the northeastern part of the Satsuma Peninsula and the entire area of Sakurajima. Most of the plains are occupied by commercial, residential, and industrial areas, with almost no cultivated areas. Many of the slopes and mountain areas near the city have been developed into residential areas, with many housing complexes and new towns. However, road development has not kept up with the city's growth, and all major roads are heavily congested in the mornings and evenings. Kagoshima is constantly bombarded by ash from the eruptions of Sakurajima and is at risk of a major volcanic disaster; the residents have developed methods to cope with this including school-children wearing helmets to protect from volcanic debris.

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  Sakurajima: a volcano in Kagoshima
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  Urban area around the Kagoshima-Chūō Station with Shinkansen (bullet train)
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  Kajiyachō Tram Stop with its back to the Kagoshima-Chūō Station Building having ferris wheel
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  Tenmonkan shopping arcade
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  Kagoshima City Hall Main Building
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  Kotsuki River that runs through Kagoshima City
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  Kagoshima City Aquarium and Sakurajima Ferry Terminal
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  An image taken from the International Space Station showing Kagoshima and its surroundings on January 10, 2013

Kagoshima Prefecture

• Aira
• Hioki
• Ibusuki
• Minamikyūshū
• Minamisatsuma
• Satsumasendai
• Tarumizu

Kagoshima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), possessing the highest year average temperature and winter average temperature in mainland Japan. It is marked by mild, relatively dry winters; warm, humid springs; hot, humid summers; and mild, relatively dry autumns.

As of 1 January 2020, Kagoshima City has an estimated population of 595,049 and a population density of 1,087 persons per km. The total area is 547.58 km (211 sq mi). According to the April 2014 issue of the Kagoshima Prefectural Summary Archived 2015-01-23 at the Wayback Machine by the Kagoshima Prefecture Department of Planning and Promotion, the population of the prefecture at large was 1,680,319. The city's total area nearly doubled between 2003 and 2005 as a result of five towns: the towns of Kōriyama and Matsumoto (both from Hioki District) the town of Kiire (from Ibusuki District) and the towns of Sakurajima and Yoshida (both from Kagoshima District). All areas were merged into Kagoshima City on 1 November 2004.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1960 383,418 —     1965 415,439 +8.4% 1970 444,165 +6.9% 1975 496,802 +11.9% 1980 547,756 +10.3%	Year Pop. ±% 1985 574,672 +4.9% 1990 582,252 +1.3% 1995 594,430 +2.1% 2000 601,693 +1.2% 2005 604,367 +0.4%	Year Pop. ±% 2010 605,940 +0.3% 2015 599,814 −1.0% 2020 593,128 −1.1%
Kagoshima population statistics

• On August 1, 1934 – the Villages of Yoshino, Nakagōriu and Nishitakeda, all from Kagoshima District, were merged into Kagoshima.
• On October 1, 1950 – the Villages of Ishiki and Higashisakurajima (both from Kagoshima District) were merged into Kagoshima.
• On April 29, 1967 – the Cities of Kagoshima and Taniyama were merged and became city of new Kagoshima.
• On November 1, 2004 – the Towns of Yoshida and Sakurajima (both from Kagoshima District); the Towns of Matsumoto and Koriyama (both from Hioki District); and the town of Kiire (from Ibusuki District) were merged into Kagoshima.

Sakurajima (桜島町, Sakurajima-chō) is a settlement on Sakurajima island that was previously a municipally distinct town located in Kagoshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 4,504 and a density of 139.88 persons per km. The total area was 32.20 km.

Kagoshima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 45 members. Kagoshma contributes 17 members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Kagoshima 1st district and Kagoshima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Kagoshima is a regional commercial center, with an economy centered on light manufacturing, tourism and commercial fishing.

• The International University of Kagoshima
• Kagoshima Immaculate Heart College
• Kagoshima Prefectural College
• Kagoshima University
• Kagoshima Women's College
• Shigakukan University

Kagoshima has 79 public elementary schools, 38 public junior high schools, two public high schools and one combined junior/senior high school operated by the city government and 11 public high schools operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education. There is one combined national elementary/middle school. There are also 14 private high schools. The prefecture also operates seven special education schools for the handicapped.

Kagoshima Airport in Kirishima (35 km (22 miles) NE of Kagoshima)

JR Kyushu - Kyushu Shinkansen

     Kagoshima Main Line Kagoshima-Chūō

JR Kyushu - Kagoshima Main Line

JA Satsuma-Matsumoto - Kami-Ijuin - Kagoshima-Chūō - Kagoshima

JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line

■ Ryūgamizu - Kagoshima

JR Kyushu - Ibusuki Makurazaki Line

■ Kagoshima-Chūō - Kōrimoto - Minami-Kagoshima - Usuki - Taniyama - Jigenji - Sakanoue - Goino - Hirakawa - Sesekushi - Nakamyō - Kiire - Maenohama - Nukumi

• Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau Taniyama Line
• Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau Korimoto Line

• Kyushu Expressway
• Minamikyushu Expressway
• National Route 3
• National Route 10
• National Route 58
• National Route 224
• National Route 225
• National Route 226
• National Route 328

• A Line (to southern islands)
• Marix Line (to southern islands)
• RKK Line (to Okinawa, cargo only)
• Sakurajima Ferry
• Seahawk (to Koshikijima Islands)
• Toppy (to Tanegashima and Yakushima)

Kagoshima is twinned with:

• Ishibashi Park
• Kagoshima Botanical Garden
• Kagoshima City Aquarium, situated near the Sakurajima Ferry Terminal, was established in 1997 along the docks and offers a direct view of Sakurajima.
• Museum of the Meiji Restoration
• Sengan-en Garden, originally a villa belonging to the Shimazu clan and is still maintained by descendants today. Outside the garden grounds is a Satsuma "kiriko" cut glass factory where visitors are welcome to view the glass blowing and cutting processes, and the Shoko Shūseikan Museum, which was built in 1865 and registered as a National Historic Site in 1959. The former Shuseikan industrial complex and the former machine factory were submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage as part of a group list titled Modern Industrial Heritage Sites in Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture.

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  Naples Street in Kagoshima
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  Perth Street in Kagoshima
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  Miami Street in Kagoshima
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  Kyogetsu-Tei in Kagoshima commemorating the friendship city relationship with Changsha

Kagoshima was one of the host cities of the official 1998 Women's Volleyball World Championship. Kagoshima is home to Kagoshima United. They play their home games at Kagoshima Kamoike Stadium.

• Akitsune Imamura – Japanese seismologist
• Bernardo the Japanese – Japanese Christian convert, disciple of Saint Francis Xavier, and first Japanese to set foot in Europe
• Emi Hashino – Japanese comedian
• Hiroko Ōta – Japanese politician, economic researcher
• Hiroshi Kawauchi – Japanese politician
• Ikki Sawamura – Japanese model, actor, TV presenter
• Izumi Inamori – Japanese actress
• Junichi Miyashita – Japanese swimmer
• Kabayama Sukenori – Japanese samurai military leader and statesman
• Kaneta Kimotsuki – Japanese voice actor (1935–2016)
• Kazuo Inamori – Japanese philanthropist, entrepreneur, founder of Kyocera Corporation and KDDI Corporation, and chairman of Japan Airlines
• Kawasaki Shōzō – Industrialist, founder of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries and K Line groups
• Kōhei Miyauchi – Japanese actor
• Koji Maeda – Japanese football player
• Kiyotaka Kuroda – Japanese politician, second Prime Minister of Japan
• Masao Suenaga – Japanese drifting driver
• Miyo Yoshida – Japanese professional boxer
• Mone Kamishiraishi – Japanese singer and actress
• Morihiko Nakahara – Japanese conductor
• Norihiro Nakajima – Japanese manga artist of Astro Team, etc.
• Ryuji Fujiyama – Japanese football player
• Saigō Takamori – Japanese politician, samurai
• Sakura Miyawaki – Japanese idol singer and actress, member of Le Sserafim
• Saori Sakoda – Japanese volleyball player
• Seiki Kuroda – Japanese artist
• Shinobu Kaitani – Japanese manga artist
• Taisei Okazaki – Japanese DJ & music producer
• Takuya Shiihara – Japanese football player
• Tōgō Heihachirō - Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Toru Kamikawa – Japanese football referee
• Toshimichi Ōkubo – Japanese statesman, samurai, and one of the Three Great Nobles who led to the Meiji Restoration
• Yasuhito Endō – Japanese football player
• Yoshito Kajiya – Japanese politician
• Yuki Kashiwagi – Japanese idol singer
• Yuya Hikichi – Japanese football player

• 1993 Kagoshima Heavy Rain
• Kagoshima ramen
• Sakurajima daikon
• Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla

• Amu Plaza Visitors Guide (2006) available in Amu Plaza, Chūō Station, Kagoshima, Japan
• 角川日本地名大辞典 46 鹿児島県. Kadokawa Shoten. 1983-03-08. ISBN 4-04-001460-X.

• Geographic data related to Kagoshima at OpenStreetMap
• Kagoshima City official website (in Japanese)
• Kagoshima Visitor's Guide from the Kagoshima Internationalization Council