Fukuoka Ken

Capital:	Fukuoka City	Size:	4,961 km2
Population :	4,895,201	Density:	987 people/km2
Cities:	23	Churches:	P 273, C 37
With 1 church:	5	Church per pop.:	1:17,931
Towns/Villages:	74	Worship attendance:	9,317
With no churches:	49	Attendance/church:	34
With 20,000 pop. & no churches:	5	Missionaries:	72

Geography

Fukuoka is located on the north side of Kyushu. Its northeastern section faces the Sea of Suo. On the north is the Sea of Hibiki, and the northwest the Sea of Genkai. The southeast borders Oita and Mt. Hiko, the south Kumamoto at the Chikuhi mountain range, and the southwest Saga at the Seburi mountain chain. The intricate Tsukushi mountain region surrounds the Tsukuba, Fukuoka and Nogata Plains. Other flat lands include some plains along the shoreline and small basins. The northern area has the typical climate found along the Sea of Japan, and the south enjoys the weather from the Inland Sea. As a whole, the climate is mild.

Industry & Economy

Even though agricultural production and the percentage of people engaged in agriculture are the smallest in Kyushu, the Chikugo Plain produces good yields of rice, barley, vegetables, and fruits. The forestry and fishing industries are about the national average. The Chikuho coal mines have helped the North Kyushu region become one of the nation's four major industrial districts. Despite the fact that there has been a decrease in the demand for coal, the economy of North Kyushu is still thriving because of the manufacturing industry.

Cultural Background

Some of the major ancient civilizations of Japan originated in Fukuoka. After the establishment of the Yamato Government, its local governmental agency was located here to maintain a direct connection with the main authority. Because of this historic background, the people of Fukuoka are sophisticated, openhearted, and less discriminatory against outsiders. Its closeness to the Asian mainland has brought many people to Fukuoka. It is presently home to 280,000 foreign people, more than any other prefecture in western Japan. One downside to this high number of outsiders is the fact that the population of Fukuoka is constantly fluctuating.

Religious Milieu

Many shrines with ancient traditions and festivals can be found in Fukuoka, Iike the Munakata, Miyajidake, Kashiigu, and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrines. The number of famous Buddhist temples is very limited, but a large number of Buddhist followers reside here. The Kirishitan influence was felt early, but was not welcomed by the local lords and many people were martyred. When the ban on Christianity was lifted, the Catholic church first began its ministry by locating and identifying the hidden Kirishitan. A number of Protestant groups work in this area, Ied by the early ministry of the Japan Baptist Convention (Renmei).

The Mission

On Kyushu Island, only Fukuoka and Kumamoto are experiencing population growth especially in their major cities. The number of churches per population is the highest on the island, and yet is well below the national average. An aggressive ministry is strongly needed, especially in the five towns where the population exceeds 20,000 people and there are no churches. That makes more than 130,000 people with no access to a church!