Kuma District, Kumamoto

Kuma (球磨郡, Kuma-gun) is a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

Location of Kuma District in Kumamoto Prefecture

In 2003 the district had an estimated population of 64,552 and a density of 48.64 persons per square kilometer. The total area is 1,327.16 km².

History

Economy

Kuma District is noted for its many shōchū distilleries.^[1]

Culture

A local tradition in Kuma District (as well as other neighboring areas in Kumamoto Prefecture) is the sakazuki (さかずき). At social settings such as a party one presents one's empty cup to a friend to hold, into which one then pours some beverage for the friend to drink. After the friend finishes the drink he returns the glass and fills it with more of the beverage.^[2]

Language

The local dialect is called Kuma-ben. For example, the Japanese word for hot (熱い) is pronounced "atsui" in standard Japanese, but "ats-ka" or "nuka" in Kuma-ben. ^{[citation needed]}

Towns and villages

Merger

On April 1, 2003 the town of Menda, and the villages of Fukada, Ōkaharu, Sue and Ue merged to form the new town of Asagiri.

References

32°16′N 130°53′E / 32.27°N 130.88°E / 32.27; 130.88

[1] About Kuma Shōchū (in English)

[2] "だんだんな -田舎暮らしと車と商売- 「さかずき」という風習".

[1]

[2]