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Fukushima Prefecture

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**Fukushima Prefecture (福島県 *Fukushima-ken*)**

Capital	Fukushima (city)
Region	Tōhoku
Island	Honshū
Governor	Yūhei Sato
Area	13,782.54 km² (3^rd)
- % water	0.9%
Population (January 1, 2003)
- Population	2,119,218 (17^th)
- Density	154 /km²
Districts	13
Municipalities	61
ISO 3166-2	JP-07
Website	www.pref.fukushima.jp/ index_e.html
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Nemotoshakunage (Rhododendron brachycarpum)
- Tree	Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata)
- Bird	Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina)
Symbol of Fukushima Prefecture

Map of Fukushima Prefecture.

Fukushima Prefecture (福島県, Fukushima-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Fukushima.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Culture
6 Tourism
7 Prefectural symbols
8 Notes
9 References
10 External links

History

In the 4th century, Fukushima was incorporated into the Yamato Province, Japan's first unified nation. 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.^[1] The province of Fukushima was conquered by Prince Subaru in 1293. This region of Japan is also known as Michinoku and Ōshū.

Geography

Fukushima is the southernmost prefecture of Tōhoku region, and the closest to Tokyo. It is divided by mountain ranges into three regions called (from west to east) Aizu, Nakadōri, and Hamadōri. The coastal Hamadōri region lies on the Pacific Ocean and is the flattest and most temperate region, while the Nakadōri region is the agricultural heart of the prefecture and contains the capital, Fukushima City. The mountainous Aizu region has scenic lakes, lush forests, and snowy winters.

Cities

Thirteen cities are located in Fukushima Prefecture:

Aizuwakamatsu
Date
Fukushima (capital)
Iwaki
Kitakata
Koriyama
Minamisoma

Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

‡ Scheduled to be dissolved following mergers.

Mergers

On November 1, 2004, the former village of Kitaaizu from the former Kitaaizu District (dissolved by this merger) merged into the (expanded) city of Aizuwakamatsu.
On March 1, 2005, the towns of Funehiki, Ogoe, Takine, and Tokiwa and village of Miyakoji, all from Tamura District, merged to create the new city of Tamura.
On April 1, 2005, the town of Naganuma and the village of Iwase from Iwase District merged into the city of Sukagawa.
On October 1, 2005, the towns of Aizuhongō and Aizutakada and the village of Niitsuru, all from Ōnuma District, merged to create the new town of Aizumisato.
On November 1, 2005, the town of Kawahigashi from Kawanuma District merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu.
On November 7, 2005, the city of Shirakawa and the villages of Higashi, Omotegō and Taishin from Nishishirakawa District merged to create the city of Shirakawa.
On December 1, 2005, the city of Nihonmatsu and the towns of Adachi, Iwashiro and Towa (all from Adachi District) merged into the city of Nihonmatsu.
On January 1, 2006, the towns of Date, Hobara, Ryozen, Tsukidate and Yanagawa from Date District merged to create the city of Date.
On January 1, 2006, the city of Haramachi and the towns of Kashima and Odaka from Soma District merged to create the city of Minamisoma.
On January 4, 2006, the city of Kitakata, the towns of Shiokawa and Yamato and the villages of Atsushiokanou and Takasato (all from Yama District) merged into the city of Kitakata.
On March 20, 2006, the town of Tajima and the villages of Tateiwa, Ina and Nangou (all from Minamiaizu District) merged to form the new town of Minamiaizu.
On January 1, 2007, the town of Motomiya and the village of Shirasawa (both from the Adachi District) merged to form the new city of Motomiya.

Future mergers

The towns of Kawamata and Iino from the Date District are scheduled to be annexed by the city of Fukushima on July 1, 2008. However the assembly of Kawamata voted to object to the merger on September 15, 2006, which may lead to the cancellation of this merger.

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. The capital region has a strong industry in software and electronics.

Demographics

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.

Tourism

Aizuwakamatsu Castle

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. 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). The area is popular with hikers and skiers. Kitakata is well known for its distinctive Kitakata ramen (Chinese noodles) and well-preserved traditional storehouse buildings, while Ouchijuku in the town of Shimogo retains numerous thatched buildings from the Edo Period.

Prefectural symbols

Notes

^ Takeda T., page 10.

References

Takeda, Toru; Hishinuma, Tomio & Oguma et al. (July 7, 2001), Fukushima - Today & Tomorrow, Aizu-Wakamatsu City: Rekishi Shunju Publishing Co., ISBN 4-89757-432-3