Miyagi Prefecture

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Miyagi Prefecture
Japanese: 宮城県
Miyagi-ken
Map of Japan with Miyagi highlighted
Capital Sendai
Region Tōhoku
Island Honshū
Governor Yoshihiro Murai
Area (rank) 7,285.16 km² (17th)
 - % water 0.3%
Population  (December 1, 2010)
 - Population 2,337,513 (15th)
 - Density 320.86 /km²
Districts 10
Municipalities 36
ISO 3166-2 JP-04
Website www.pref.miyagi.jp/
english/
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Miyagi bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii)
 - Tree Japanese zelkova
(Zelkova serrata)
 - Bird Wild goose
 - Fish
Symbol of Miyagi Prefecture
Symbol of Miyagi Prefecture
TemplateDiscussion

Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県 Miyagi-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region of the island of Honshu.[1] The capital city is Sendai.[2]

Contents

History[change]

Miyagi Prefecture used to be part of Mutsu Province.[3] That province was in the northern part of Honshu. It was made from land taken from the indigenous Emishi. The province became the largest as it expanded to the north. The ancient capital was in modern Miyagi Prefecture.

During the Sengoku period various clans ruled different parts of the province. Date Masamune was a close ally of the Tokugawa. He established Sendai, which is now the largest town of the Tōhoku region.

In the Meiji period, four new provinces were created from parts of Mutsu: Rikuchū, Rikuzen, Iwaki, and Iwashiro. In 1871, Sendai Prefecture was formed. It was renamed Miyagi prefecture the following year.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami[change]

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and major tsunami hit Miyagi Prefecture. It caused major damage to the area.[4] The tsunami was about 10 meters high in parts of Miyagi Prefecture.[5]

Cities[change]

There are thirteen cities in Miyagi Prefecture:

Towns and villages[change]

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Marumori
Kami
Shikama
Shichikashuku
Zaō
Ōhira
Ōsato
Taiwa
Tomiya
Matsushima
Rifu
Shichigahama
Minamisanriku
Onagawa
Kawasaki
Murata
Ōgawara
Shibata
Misato
Wakuya

National Parks[change]

National Parks are established in about 23% of the total land area of the prefecture,[6] including

Economy[change]

Agriculture, fishing, and sake brewing are all important in Miyagi. As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 4.7% of Japan's rice, 23% of oysters, and 15.9% of saury fish.[8] But, manufacturing around Sendai is a larger part of the economy. The area produces electronics, appliances, and processed food.

Education[change]

University[change]

Transportation[change]

Train[change]

Airports[change]

Sight-seeing[change]

Sendai was the castle town of the daimyo Date Masamune. The remains of Sendai Castle are on a hill above the city.

Miyagi Prefecture has one of Japan's Three Great Views. Matsushima Bay is full of small islands with old pine trees on them. Many visitors come here every year and many artists have painted the islands.

The following are also noted as attractions:

  • Naruko Hot Spring
  • Rikuchu Coast
  • Okama Crater Lake
  • Zao Botanical Garden
  • Zao Hot Spring

Festivals and special event[change]

  • Aoba Festival, Suzume Dancing – May
  • Sendai Tanabata Festival – August 6 to 8
  • Sendai Pageant of Starlight – December
  • Shiogama Port Festival – July
  • Shiroishi Kokeshi Exhibition – May 3 to 5
  • Narugo Kokeshi Festival – September
Suzume Dancing Event in Aoba Festival
Aoba Festival of Sendai

Shrines and Temples[change]

Shigogama jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture. [9]

Related pages[change]

References[change]

  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Miyagi prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 648.
  2. Nussbaum, "Sendai" at p. 841.
  3. Nussbaum, "Mutsu" at p. 676.
  4. "Japan earthquake: Tsunami hits north-east," BBC. March 11, 2011; retrieved 2012-3-13.
  5. Williams, Martyn. "Report from Japan: Impact of Tsunami Devastates Nation's Northeast," Voice of America, March 11, 2011; retrieved 2012-3-13.
  6. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-14.
  7. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "Rikuchu Kaigan National Park"; retrieved 2012-3-19.
  8. Schreiber, Mark. "Japan's food crisis goes beyond recent panic buying," Japan Times, April 17, 2011; retrieved 2012-3-13.
  9. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2; retrieved 2012-3-13.

Other websites[change]

Coordinates: 38°21′N 140°58′E / 38.35°N 140.967°E / 38.35; 140.967