Having become an ordinance-designated city on April 1st 2012, Kumamoto City has gained increased
authority and financial resources and will be able to further establish our reputation as a city that makes the
best of its characteristics. We aim to create a citizen-oriented “Waku-Waku City Kumamoto”. Waku-Waku
can mean both “exciting” and also “to spring out of” or “to well up” in Japanese. We use this expression to
celebrate our pure ground water and also to convey our wish to become a more exciting city, which is our
ideal “Liveable Community”.