an island of SW Japan: the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, with over 300 surrounding small islands; coalfield and chemical industries. Chief cities: Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and Nagasaki. Pop: 14 786 000 (2002 est). Area: 35 659 sq km (13 768 sq miles)
Kyushu in American English
(ˈkjuˈʃu; kiˈuʃu)
one of the four main islands of Japan, south of Honshu: 16,276 sq mi (42,155 sq km); chief city, Nagasaki