Fukushima Prefecture

Prefectures of Japan Fukushima

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[1] Fukushima Prefecture has a population of 1,848,257 (as of 1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 13,783 square kilometres (5,322 sq mi). Fukushima Prefecture borders Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture to the north, Niigata Prefecture to the west, Gunma Prefecture to the southwest, and Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture to the south.

Fukushima is the capital and Iwaki is the largest city of Fukushima Prefecture, with other major cities including Kōriyama, Aizuwakamatsu, and Sukagawa.[2] Fukushima Prefecture is located on Japan’s eastern Pacific coast at the southernmost part of the Tōhoku region, and is home to Lake Inawashiro, the fourth-largest lake in Japan. Fukushima Prefecture is the third-largest prefecture of Japan (after Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture) and divided by mountain ranges into the three regions of Aizu, Nakadōri, and Hamadōri.

Prefectures of Japan Fukushima

Fukui Prefecture   福井県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	福井県
• Rōmaji	Fukui-ken
Flag Symbol
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Island	Honshū
Capital	Fukui
Subdivisions	Districts: 7, Municipalities: 17
Government
• Governor	Tatsuji Sugimoto
Area
• Total	4,190.49 km2 (1,617.96 sq mi)
Area rank	34th
Population  (June 1, 2017)
• Total	778,943
• Rank	43rd
• Density	185.95/km2 (481.6/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-18
Website	www.pref.fukui.jp/english/
Symbols   Bird Dusky thrush (Turdus naumanni)   Flower Fukushima Prefecture   福島県 Tree Prefecture   Japanese transcription(s)    • Japanese 福島県    • Rōmaji Fukushima-ken   Flag Symbol     Country  Japan   Region Tōhoku   Island Honshu   Capital Fukushima (city)   Subdivisions Districts: 13, Municipalities: 59   Government      • Governor Masao Uchibori   Area      • Total 13,783.90 km2 (5,321.99 sq mi)   Area rank 3rd   Population  (1 June 2019)    • Total 1,848,257    • Rank 20th    • Density 130/km2 (350/sq mi)   ISO 3166 code JP-07   Website www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp     Symbols Bird Narcissus flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) Flower Nemotoshakunage (Rhododendron brachycarpum) Tree Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata)

Prehistory

The keyhole-shaped Ōyasuba Kofun is the largest kofun in the Tohoku region. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 2000.[3]

History

Prefectures of Japan Fukushima

See also: Historic Sites of Fukushima Prefecture

Classical and feudal period

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was part of what was known as Mutsu Province.[4]

The Shirakawa Barrier and the Nakoso Barrier were built around the 5th century to protect ‘civilized Japan’ from the ‘barbarians’ to the north. Fukushima became a Province of Mutsu after the Taika Reforms were established in 646.[5]

In 718, the provinces of Iwase and Iwaki were created, but these areas reverted to Mutsu some time between 722 and 724.[6]

The Shiramizu Amidadō is a chapel within the Buddhist temple Ganjō-ji in Iwaki. It was built in 1160 and it is a National Treasure. The temple, including the paradise garden is an Historic Site.[7]Contemporary period

This region of Japan is also known as Michinoku and Ōshū.

The Fukushima Incident, a political tumult, took place in the prefecture after Mishima Michitsune was appointed governor in 1882.
2011 earthquake and subsequent disasters

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the resulting Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster caused significant damage to the prefecture, primarily but not limited to the eastern Hamadōri region.
Earthquake and tsunami
Main article: 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

On Friday, March 11, 2011, 14:46 JST, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture. Shindo measurements throughout the prefecture reached as high as 6-upper in isolated regions of Hama-dōri on the eastern coast and as low as a 2 in portions of the Aizu region in the western part of the prefecture. Fukushima City, located in Naka-dōri and the capital of Fukushima Prefecture, measured 6-lower.[8]

Following the earthquake there were isolated reports of major damage to structures, including the failure of Fujinuma Dam[9] as well as damage from landslides.[10] The earthquake also triggered a massive tsunami that hit the eastern coast of the prefecture and caused widespread destruction and loss of life.

In the two years following the earthquake, 1,817 residents of Fukushima Prefecture had either been confirmed dead or were missing as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.[11]Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
Three of the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi overheated, causing meltdowns that led to explosions, which released large amounts of radioactive material into the air.[12]Main article: Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

In the aftermath of the earthquake and the tsunami that followed, the outer housings of two of the six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma exploded followed by a partial meltdown and fires at three of the other units. Many residents were evacuated to nearby localities due to the development of a large evacuation zone around the plant. Radiation levels near the plant peaked at 400 mSv/h (millisieverts per hour) after the earthquake and tsunami, due to damage sustained. This resulted in increased recorded radiation levels across Japan.[13] On April 11, 2011, officials upgraded the disaster to a level 7 out of a possible 7, a rare occurrence not seen since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.[14] Several months later, officials announced that although the area nearest the melt down were still off limits, areas near the twenty kilometer radial safe zone could start seeing a return of the close to 47,000 residents that had been evacuated.[15]

Cities

Thirteen cities are located in Fukushima Prefecture:

Name		Area (km2)	Population	Map
Rōmaji	Kanji
Aizuwakamatsu	会津若松市	382.97	119,232
Date	伊達市	265.12	59,625
Fukushima (capital)	福島市	767.72	287,357
Iwaki	いわき市	1,232.02	337,765
Kitakata	喜多方市	554.63	46,269
Kōriyama	郡山市	757.2	322,996
Minamisōma	南相馬市	398.58	53,462
Motomiya	本宮市	88.02	30,401
Nihonmatsu	二本松市	344.42	54,013
Shirakawa	白河市	305.32	59,393
Sōma	相馬市	197.79	34,631
Sukagawa	須賀川市	279.43	75,753
Tamura	田村市	458.3	35,702

Cityscape

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Name		Area (km2)	Population	District	Type	Map
Rōmaji	Kanji
Aizubange	会津坂下町	91.59	15,159	Kawanuma District	Town
Aizumisato	会津美里町	276.33	20,092	Ōnuma District	Town
Asakawa	浅川町	37.43	6,315	Ishikawa District	Town
Bandai	磐梯町	59.77	3,533	Yama District	Town
Furudono	古殿町	163.29	5,149	Ishikawa District	Town
Futaba	双葉町	51.42	0 6,093 (recorded)	Futaba District	Town
Hanawa	塙町	211.41	8,369	Higashishirakawa District	Town
Hinoemata	檜枝岐村	390.46	556	Minamiaizu District	Village
Hirata	平田村	93.42	5,935	Ishikawa District	Village
Hirono	広野町	58.69	4,755	Futaba District	Town
Iitate	飯舘村	230.13	1,408 5,946 (recorded)	Sōma District	Village
Inawashiro	猪苗代町	394.85	13,810	Yama District	Town
Ishikawa	石川町	115.71	15,511	Ishikawa District	Town
Izumizaki	泉崎村	35.43	6,265	Nishishirakawa District	Village
Kagamiishi	鏡石町	31.3	12,272	Iwase District	Town
Kaneyama	金山町	293.92	1,972	Ōnuma District	Town
Katsurao	葛尾村	84.37	1,387	Futaba District	Village
Kawamata	川俣町	127.7	12,917	Date District	Town
Kawauchi	川内村	197.35	1,861	Futaba District	Village
Kitashiobara	北塩原村	234.08	2,697	Yama District	Village
Koori	桑折町	42.97	11,679	Date District	Town
Kunimi	国見町	37.95	8,843	Date District	Town
Miharu	三春町	72.76	17,471	Tamura District	Town
Minamiaizu	南会津町	886.47	15,158	Minamiaizu District	Town
Mishima	三島町	90.81	1,590	Ōnuma District	Town
Nakajima	中島村	18.92	5,031	Nishishirakawa District	Village
Namie	浪江町	223.14	1,238 17,114 (recorded)	Futaba District	Town
Naraha	楢葉町	103.64	6,784	Futaba District	Town
Nishiaizu	西会津町	298.18	6,090	Yama District	Town
Nishigō	西郷村	192.06	20,351	Nishishirakawa District	Village
Ōkuma	大熊町	78.71	2,578 11,505 (recorded)	Futaba District	Town
Ono	小野町	125.11	9,636	Tamura District	Town
Ōtama	大玉村	79.44	8,781	Adachi District	Village
Samegawa	鮫川村	131.34	3,081	Higashishirakawa District	Village
Shimogō	下郷町	317.04	5,517	Minamiaizu District	Town
Shinchi	新地町	46.7	8,152	Sōma District	Town
Shōwa	昭和村	209.46	1,236	Ōnuma District	Village
Tadami	只見町	747.56	4,117	Minamiaizu District	Town
Tamakawa	玉川村	46.67	6,497	Ishikawa District	Village
Tanagura	棚倉町	159.93	13,827	Higashishirakawa District	Town
Ten-ei	天栄村	225.52	5,258	Iwase District	Village
Tomioka	富岡町	68.39	1,489	Futaba District	Town
Yabuki	矢吹町	60.4	16,955	Nishishirakawa District	Town
Yamatsuri	矢祭町	118.27	5,702	Higashishirakawa District	Town
Yanaizu	柳津町	175.82	3,304	Kawanuma District	Town
Yugawa	湯川村	16.37	3,051	Kawanuma District	Village

List of governors of Fukushima Prefecture (from 1947)

Kanichiro Ishihara (石原幹市郎) – April 12, 1947 to November 30, 1949
Sakuma Otake (大竹作摩) – January 28, 1950 to July 25, 1957
Zenichiro Sato (佐藤善一郎) – August 25, 1957 to March 23, 1964
Morie Kimura (木村守江) – May 16, 1964 to August 11, 1976

Isao Matsudaira (松平勇雄) – September 19, 1976 to September 18, 1988
Eisaku Satō (佐藤栄佐久) – September 19, 1988 to September 28, 2006
Yūhei Satō (佐藤 雄平) – November 12, 2006 to November 11, 2014
Masao Uchibori (内堀 雅雄) – November 12, 2014 to present

Economy

The coastal region traditionally specializes in fishing and seafood industries, and is notable for its electric and particularly nuclear power-generating industry, while the upland regions are more focused on agriculture. Thanks to Fukushima’s climate, various fruits are grown throughout the year. These include pears, peaches, cherries, grapes, and apples.[20] As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 20.6% of Japan’s peaches and 8.7% of cucumbers.[21][22]

Fukushima also produces rice, that combined with pure water from mountain run-offs, is used to make sake.[23] Some sakes from the region are considered so tasteful that they are served to visiting royalty and world leaders by hosts.[citation needed]

Lacquerware is another popular product from Fukushima. Dating back over four hundred years, the process of making lacquerware involves carving an object out of wood, then putting a lacquer on it and decorating it. Objects made are usually dishes, vases and writing materials.[24][25]

Culture

Legend has it that an ogress, Adachigahara, once roamed the plain after whom it was named. The Adachigahara plain lies close to the city of Fukushima.

Other stories, such as that of a large, strong, red cow that carried wood, influenced toys and superstitions. The Aka-beko cow is a small, red papier-mâché cow on a bamboo or wooden frame, and is believed to ease child birth, bring good health, and help children grow up as strong as the cow.

Another superstitious talisman of the region is the okiagari ko-boshi, or self-righting dharma doll. These dolls are seen as bringers of good luck and prosperity because they stand right back up when knocked down.

Miharu Koma are small, wooden, black or white toy horses painted with colorful designs. Depending upon their design, they may be believed to bring things like long life to the owner.

Kokeshi dolls, while less symbolic, are also a popular traditional craft. They are carved wooden dolls, with large round heads and hand painted bodies. Kokeshi dolls are popular throughout many regions of Japan, but Fukushima is credited as their birthplace.

Notable festivals and events

Sōma’s Nomaoi Festival (相馬野馬追, Sōma Nomaoi) is held every summer.[29]

The Nomaoi Festival horse riders dressed in complete samurai attire can be seen racing, chasing wild horses, or having contests that imitate a battle. The history behind the festival and events is over one thousand years old.[30]

Fukushima’s Waraji Festival (わらじまつり, Waraji Matsuri) is held on the first weekend of August[31]

During the Waraji Festival, a large (12-meter, 38-ft) straw sandal built by locals is dedicated to a shrine. There is also a traditional Taiwanese dragon dance, or Ryumai, performed by Taiwanese visitors.[32]

Aizuwakamatsu’s Aizu Festival (会津まつり, Aizu Matsuri) is held in late September[33]

The Aizu festival is a celebration of the time of the samurai. It begins with a display of sword dancing and fighting, and is followed by a procession of around five hundred people. The people in the procession carry flags and tools representing well-known feudal lords of long ago, and some are actually dressed like the lords themselves.[34]

Taimatsu Akashi Fire Festival

A reflection of a long ago time of war, the Taimatsu Akashi Festival consists of men and women carrying large symbolic torches lit with a sacred fire to the top of Mt. Gorozan. Accompanied by drummers, the torchbearers reach the top and light a wooden frame representing an old local castle and the samurai that lived there. In more recent years the festival has been opened up so that anyone wanting to participate may carry a small symbolic torch along with the procession.[35]

Iizaka’s Fighting Festival (けんか祭り, Kenka Matsuri) is held in October[36]Nihonmatsu’s Lantern Festival (提灯祭り, Chōchin Matsuri) is held from October 4 to 6[37]Nihonmatsu’s Chrysanthemum doll exhibition (二本松の菊人形, Nihonmatsu no Kiku Ningyō) is held from October 1 to November 23[38]Kōriyama City’s Uneme Festival (うねめ祭り）is held early August in honor of the legend of Princess Uneme. The festival features a large parade through the city center with thousands of contestants annually, with several festival floats and a giant taiko-drum.[39]Date City’s Ryozen Taiko Festival (霊山太鼓祭り) is held in August and features multiple troupes of taiko drum players as well as other musical and comedic performances.[40]

Education

Universities

Aizuwakamatsu
Aizu University
Fukushima
Fukushima Gakuin University
Fukushima Medical University
Fukushima University
Iwaki
Higashi Nippon International University
Iwaki Meisei University
Koriyama
Koriyama Women’s University
Nihon University – Koriyama campus
Ohu University

Tourism

Tsuruga castle, a samurai castle originally built in the late 14th century, was occupied by the region’s governor in the mid-19th century, during a time of war and governmental instability. Because of this, Aizuwakamatsu was the site of an important battle in the Boshin War, during which 19 teenage members of the Byakkotai committed ritual seppuku suicide. Their graves on Mt. Iimori are a popular tourist attraction.[23]

Kitakata is well known for its distinctive Kitakata ramen noodles and well-preserved traditional storehouse buildings, while Ōuchi-juku in the town of Shimogo retains numerous thatched buildings from the Edo period.

Mount Bandai, in the Bandai-Asahi National Park, erupted in 1888, creating a large crater and numerous lakes, including the picturesque ‘Five Coloured Lakes’ (Goshiki-numa). Bird watching crowds are not uncommon during migration season here. The area is popular with hikers and skiers. Guided snowshoe tours are also offered in the winter.[41]

The Inawashiro Lake area of Bandai-Asahi National Park is Inawashiro-ko, where the parental home of Hideyo Noguchi (1876–1928) can still be found. It was preserved along with some of Noguchi’s belongings and letters as part of a memorial. Noguchi is famous not only for his research on yellow fever, but also for having his face on the 1,000 yen note.[42]

The Miharu Takizakura is an ancient weeping higan cherry tree in Miharu, Fukushima. It is over 1,000 years old.

Food

Fruits. Fukushima is known as a “Fruit Kingdom”[43] because of its many seasonal fruits, and the fact that there is fruit being harvested every month of the year.[43] While peaches are the most famous, the prefecture also produces large quantities of cherries, nashi (Japanese pears), grapes, persimmons, and apples.

Fukushima-Gyu is the prefecture’s signature beef. The Japanese Black type cattle used to make Fukushima-Gyu are fed, raised, and processed within the prefecture. Only beef with a grade of 2 or 3 can be labeled as “Fukushima-Gyu” (福島牛）[44]

Ikaninjin is shredded carrot and dried squid seasoned with soy sauce, cooking sake, mirin, etc. It is a local cuisine from the northern parts of Fukushima Prefecture. It is primarily made from the late autumn to winter in the household.[45]

Kitakata Ramen is one of the Top 3 Ramen of Japan, along with Sapporo and Hakata.[46] The base is a soy-sauce soup, as historically soy sauce was readily available from the many storehouses around the town. Niboshi (sardines), tonkotsu (pig bones) and sometimes chicken and vegetables are boiled to make the stock. This is then topped with chashu (thinly sliced barbeque pork), spring onions, fermented bamboo shoots, and sometimes narutomaki, a pink and white swirl of cured fish cake.[46]

Mamador is the prefecture’s most famous confection.[47] The baked good has a milky red bean flavor center wrapped in a buttery dough. The name means “People who drink mothers’ milk” in Spanish.[48] It is produced by the Sanmangoku Company.

Creambox is prefecture’s second famous confection. It is a sweet bread with a thick milk bread and white milk-flavored cream. It is sold in Koriyama City at many bakery and school purchases . The selling price is usually around 100 yen, and in some rare cases, the dough is round. Since it looks simple and does not change much from normal bread when viewed from above, some processing may be performed on the cream, there are things that put almonds or draw the character’s face with chocolate [49]

Sake. The Fukushima Prefecture Sake Brewers Cooperative is made up of nearly 60 sake breweries.[50] Additionally, the Annual Japan Sake Awards has awarded the prefecture the most gold prizes of all of Japan for four years running as of 2016.[51]

Transportation

Rail

AbukumaExpress
Abukuma Express Line
Aizu Railway
Aizu Line
Fukushima Transportation
Iizaka Line
JR East
Ban’etsu East Line
Ban’etsu West Line
Jōban Line
Suigun Line
Tadami Line
Tōhoku Line
Tōhoku Shinkansen
Yamagata Line
Yamagata Shinkansen
Yagan Railway
Kinugawa Line

Road
Expressways

Ban-etsu Expressway
Jōban Expressway
Tōhoku Expressway

National highways

National Route 4
National Route 6
National Route 13 (Fukushima-Yamagata-Shinjo-Yokote-Akita)
National Route 49
National Route 113 (Niigata-Murakami-Nagai-Nanyo-Shiroishi-Soma)
National Route 114
National Route 115 (Soma-Fukushima-Inawashiro)
National Route 118
National Route 121
National Route 252
National Route 288
National Route 289 (Niigata-Tsubame-Uonuma-Tadami-Shirakawa-Iwaki)
National Route 294
National Route 349 (Mito-Hitachiota-Iwaki-Tamura-Nihonmatsu-Date-Shibata)
National Route 352
National Route 399
National Route 400
National Route 401 (Niigata-Agano-Kitakata-Fukushima-Namie)
National Route 459

Ports

Onahama Port – International and domestic goods, container hub port in Iwaki

Airports

Fukushima Airport

Notable people

Junko Tabei, the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and the first woman to ascend all Seven Summits by climbing the highest peak on every continent
Takeshi Suzuki, an alpine skier and Paralympic athlete.
Yoshihide Muroya, an aerobatics pilot and race pilot
Toshiyuki Nishida, an actor best known for his fishing comedy series, Tsuribaka Nisshi (“The Fishing Maniac’s Diary”)
Wakatakakage Atsushi, a professional sumo wrestler competing in sumo’s top makuuchi division beginning in 2019.
Mazie K. Hirono, US Senator and former Lieutenant Governor for Hawaii, was born in Fukushima Prefecture in 1947, and moved to Hawaii in 1955[citation needed]Hideyo Noguchi, the doctor who contributed to knowledge in the fight against syphilis and yellow fever. The Japanese government created the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize in his honor. This was first awarded in May 2008[52]Seishiro Okazaki (January 28, 1890 – July 12, 1951) was a Japanese American healer, martial artist, and founder of Danzan-ryū jujitsu. Born in Kakeda, Date County in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, he immigrated to Hawaii in 1906[53]