Fukuyama

This is the former name of a town (Fukuyama-cho) in Aira-gun, central Kagoshima Prefecture. It currently occupies the southern tip of Kirishima City. The former Fukuyama-cho was incorporated as a town in 1929 (Showa 4). The town's name comes from the name of a village under the early modern Tojo system. In 2005 (Heisei 17), it merged with five other towns in the same county - Mizobe, Yokogawa, Makizono, Kirishima, and Hayato - and Kokubu City to form Kirishima City. The coast of Kagoshima Bay in the area of ​​former Fukuyama-cho is the northeastern wall of the Aira Caldera, a cliff about 300 meters high, and the top of the cliff behind it (Uwaba) is a hilly volcanic ash plateau. National Route 220 runs through the narrow coastal lowlands (Shitaba), and National Route 10 passes through Makinohara in the northern part of the plateau. In 1180 (Jisho 4), Minamoto no Munetsuna, the grandson of Minamoto no Sanmi Yorimasa, is said to have descended from this area and taken possession of Megurimura. In early modern times, it was under the direct control of the Shimazu clan, and was home to the domain's largest horse ranch, and also flourished as a gateway to the sea for Miyakonojo and the Soo district. The steep slopes are cultivated to grow mandarin oranges and loquats, and on the plateau vegetable gardens and beef cattle are thriving. One of the region's specialties is the brewing of natural black vinegar.

[Tara Shiraishi]

"Fukuyama Town Local History" (1978, Fukuyama Town)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鹿児島県中部、姶良郡(あいらぐん)にあった旧町名（福山町(ちょう)）。現在は霧島(きりしま)市の南端部を占める。旧福山町は1929年（昭和4）町制施行。町名は近世外城(とじょう)制下の郷名による。2005年（平成17）同郡溝辺(みぞべ)、横川(よこがわ)、牧園(まきぞの)、霧島、隼人(はやと)の5町及び国分(こくぶ)市と合併し霧島市となった。旧福山町域の鹿児島湾岸は姶良カルデラ北東壁で、約300メートルの断崖(だんがい)、背後の崖上（上場(うわば)）は丘陵性の火山灰台地である。狭隘(きょうあい)な海岸低地（下場(したば)）を国道220号が通じ、台地北部の牧之原(まきのはら)を国道10号が通る。1180年（治承4）源三位頼政(げんざんみよりまさ)の孫源宗綱(むねつな)が下向(げこう)、領有したと伝えられる廻村(めぐりむら)の地。近世は島津氏の直轄地で、藩最大の馬牧があり、都城(みやこのじょう)や曽於(そお)郡地方の海上の門戸としても栄えた。急斜面を開いてミカンやビワを栽培し、台地上では蔬菜(そさい)園芸、和牛肥育が盛ん。特産に天然黒酢の醸造がある。

［白石太良］

『『福山町郷土誌』（1978・福山町）』

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