Yamagata
(2002 est. pop. 1.2 million). Yamagata Prefecture is situated in the northeast of Japan's island of Honshu. Covering 9,326 square kilometers, its primary geographical features are the Ou, Dewa, and Asahi mountain ranges, with level areas located along the Mogami River (Mogamigawa). Yamagata is bordered by the Sea of Japan and by Akita, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Niigata prefectures. Once part of Dewa Province, it assumed its present name and borders in 1876.
The prefecture's capital is Yamagata city, which flourished during the Edo period (1600/1603–1868) as a castle town and post station known for producing beni, a precious crimson safflower dye used to color handspun silk fabric. Today the city is home to Yamagata University. The prefecture's other important cities are Yonezawa, Tsuruoka, Sakata, and Tendo.
Once the land of the aboriginal Ezo people, the region was ruled by the northern Fujiwara family beginning in the Heian period (794–1185) and then by a series of warlords who controlled smaller domains. Still comparatively rural, Yamagata is one of Japan's greatest rice producers and its many orchards grow cherries and other fruit. The main industries include sake brewing, food processing, textiles, woodworking, cast-iron goods, small machines, and chemicals. Visitors are drawn to the prefecture's Zaozan skiing area, scenic mountain parks, and many hot spring resorts.
Further Reading
"Yamagata Prefecture." (1993) Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Tokyo: Kodansha.
This is the complete article, containing 220 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
