Amakusa

Amakusa (天草), which means "Heaven's Grass," is a series of islands belonging to Japan, off the west coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan. The largest island of the Amakusa group is Shimoshima, which is 26.5 miles long and 13.5 miles in extreme width (42.6 km × 21.7 km). It is situated at 32°20'N, 130°E, separated from the rest of Kumamoto Prefecture by the Yatsushiro Sea.

It has no high mountains, but its surface is very hilly—four of the peaks rise to a height of over 1,500 feet (460 m). The population resorts to the terrace system of cultivation to cope with the lack of flat, arable land.

Amakusa, along with the neighboring Shimabara Peninsula, became the site of a Christian rebellion in the 17th century. Following the rebellion, those Christians who survived continued to practice their faith in secret, despite persecution.

Amakusa produces a little coal and fine kaolin, which was largely used in former times by the potters of Hirado and Satsuma Province. Many kilns remain on the islands today, and pottery is still an export. Hidenoshin Koyama, who built Thomas Blake Glover's House in Glover Garden, came from this island.

At present, the islands are organized as Amakusa District, Amakusa City, and Kami-amakusa City, all of which are under the administration of Kumamoto Prefecture.

Coordinates: 32°24′N 130°07′E / 32.4°N 130.117°E / 32.4; 130.117

Read more about Amakusa:  Transport