Island (pop., 2001 est.: 13,454,000), southernmost of Japan's four main islands.
Located off the eastern coast of Asia, it is separated from Honshu to the north by the Shimonoseki Strait and from Shikoku to the east by the Bungo Strait. The island, with an area of 14,177 sq mi (36,719 sq km), is mountainous; several famous peaks rise 5,0006,000 ft (1,5251,980 m) high, including Mount Aso . Its chief cities include Fukuoka and Kitaky 016B; sh 016B; . It was the first part of the Japanese empire opened to foreigners in the 19th century.