This story was written by Saga Shimbun Study Abroad Program students Yurika Nakao, Yuta Kitagawa and Shota Tanaka, as a result of their Study Abroad Program Writing Course, before embarking on Further Education study in Australia in 2007 and onwards.
Introduction.
Saga prefecture is located in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. Its population is about 866,000. The main city is Saga-shi, with a population of 203,500.
The climate is generally mild, with just a little snow in winter, but a hot, humid summer.
Saga is mainly an agricultural area, famous for saga beef, mikan (mandarin oranges), rice and vegetables. Fishing is also important, especially squid from Yobuko, on the Japan Sea coast.
It is also recognized throughout Japan and some parts of the world for its high quality porcelain ceramics.
Saga is internationally well known for its annual international balloon festival, attracting contestants and visitors from all over the world. Eight hundred thousand people attended this event in 2005.
