Outline of Saga Prefecture

Prefectural Flag In the design of this flag the flower of a camphor tree is used to symbolize prosperous Saga Prefecture. (Designated in December 1968)

Prefectural Bird (Magpie) Also called "kachigarasu", magpies inhabit mainly the Saga Plains. This bird was designated as a natural treasure in 1923 and it also became a protected bird. (Designated in May 1965)

Prefectural Tree (Camphor Tree) The camphor tree in Kawago (Wakaki, Takeo City) is the biggest in the prefecture, with a root circumference of 33 m and an estimated age of more than 3,000 years. (Designated in September 1966)

Prefectural Flower(Flower of Camphor Tree) Flowers of camphor trees bloom in May. They come in lovely white or light yellow colors with a diameter of 3-4 mm. (Designated in March 1954)

History

The origin of the name of "Saga" is mentioned in the chronicle called "Chikuzen Fudoki", as "Yamatotakerunomikoto, a legendary hero, on his visit to Saga, saw camphor trees growing thick and said that this country should be called 'Sakaeno KuniiProsperous Countryj'. Then, the area was called 'Sakaeno Miyako (Prosperous City)', and came to be called 'Sagagun'@afresh." After the Meiji Restoration, the Chinese characters for Saga were revised to their present ones due to an administrative notification issued by the new local government. Presently there are 10 cities and 13 towns in the prefecture.

Location

Saga prefecture is located in the north west of Kyushu Island and is bounded on the east by Fukuoka Prefecture and on the west by Nagasaki Prefecture. It faces the Genkai Sea on the north and the Ariake Sea on the south.
While it is approximately 900 km to Tokyo and 500 km to Osaka in a beeline,
it is only 200 km to the Korean Peninsula.