city, Kumamoto ken (prefecture), Kyushu, Japan. It is situated along the delta of the Kuma River, facing Yatsushiro Bay. The city developed around a Shintō shrine that was built during the Heian era (794–1185). It was a castle town and began the production of Yatsushiro pottery in the 16th century.

The city rapidly industrialized in the early 20th century. Factories producing cement, paper, rayon, and distilled beverages utilize the area's rich natural resources, which include water, timber, clay, and limestone. Yatsushiro has a fishing and commercial port that was enlarged in 1956 and is located at the junction of the Kagoshima and Hisatsu railway lines. Pop. (2005) 136,886.