Iwate Prefecture (岩手県 Iwate-ken)

Capital	Morioka
Region	Tohoku
Island	Honshū
Governor	Takuya Tasso
Area	15,278.40 km² (2nd)
- % water	0.1%
Population  (November 1, 2006)
- Population	1,374,530 (30th)
- Density	90 /km²
Districts	11
Municipalities	36
ISO 3166-2	JP-03
Website	www.pref.iwate.jp/english/
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Paulownia tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
- Tree	Nanbu red pine (Pinus densiflora)
- Bird	Green pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Symbol of Iwate Prefecture

Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwate-ken^?) is located in the Tohoku region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is Morioka. Image File history File links Map_of_Japan_with_highlight_on_03_Iwate_岩手県.svg‎ File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Morioka (盛岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan. ... Map of the regions of Japan. ... Tohoku region, Japan The Tōhoku region (東北地方; Tōhoku-chihō) is a geographical area of Japan. ... The four main islands of Japan are: Hokkaidō HonshÅ« KyÅ«shÅ« Shikoku Okinawa is the fifth largest island except the disputed northern territories, and is the smallest island which has a prefectural capital. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Notes: 1 km² References National Governers Association (Japanese) See also Politics of Japan Prefectures of Japan List of Japanese prefectures by population ISO 3166-2 codes for Japan Categories: Japanese prefectures ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Notes: ¹ as of 2000 References National Governors Association (Japanese) See also Politics of Japan Prefectures of Japan List of Japanese prefectures ranked by area ISO 3166-2 codes for Japan Categories: Japanese prefectures ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article is about the Japanese municipality system. ... ISO 3166-2 codes for Japan cover 47 prefectures. ... Species Between 6-17 species, including: Paulownia catalpifolia Paulownia elongata Paulownia fargesii Paulownia fortunei Paulownia kawakamii Paulownia taiwaniana Paulownia tomentosa Paulownia is a genus of between 6-17 species (depending on taxonomic authority) of plants in the monogeneric family Paulowniaceae, related to and sometimes included in the Scrophulariaceae. ... For other uses, see Pine (disambiguation). ... Species The genus Phasianus in the Pheasant family consists of (perhaps) a single species () with thirty subspecies recognised, twenty-nine on the Asian mainland and one on the island of Taiwan off the southern coast of China. ... Iwate prefectural symbol (source: ja. ... Tohoku region, Japan The Tōhoku region (東北地方; Tōhoku-chihō) is a geographical area of Japan. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Morioka (盛岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan. ...

History

Iwate was historically part of Mutsu Province. It was only brought into the empire around 800. Mutsu (陸奥国; -no kuni) is an old province of Japan, which today composes Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefectures and the city of Kazuno and the town of Kosaka in Akita prefecture. ... Events December 25, Rome, coronation of Charles the Great (Charlemagne) as emperor by Pope Leo III. Celtic monks begin work on the Book of Kells on the Island of Iona. ...

In the Jōmon period it was an area abundant in fishing and hunting. There were also Emishi settlements in the Kitakami Basin until the end of the eighth century when the Nara authorities penetrated deeply into Iwate, with Fort Shiwa, to the north of present day Morioka, constructed in 803. Characters for Jōmon (Cord marks). The Jomon period ) is the time in Japanese pre-history from about 10,000 BC to 300 BC. Most scholars agree that by around 40,000 BC glaciation had connected the Japanese islands with the Asian mainland. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Morioka (盛岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan. ...

Geography

Map of Iwate Prefecture.

Iwate faces the Pacific Ocean to the east, and borders Aomori Prefecture on the north, Akita Prefecture on the west, and Miyagi Prefecture on the south. The prefecture has mountains in the west, north and east, with the valley of the Kitakami River running from north to south through the center of the province and including the capital. The coast is very rugged, with little in between the mountains and the sea. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 734 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (981 × 801 pixels, file size: 33 KB, MIME type: image/png) Map of Iwate Prefecture, Japan. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 734 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (981 × 801 pixels, file size: 33 KB, MIME type: image/png) Map of Iwate Prefecture, Japan. ... Aomori Prefecture ) is located in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. ... Akita Prefecture ) is located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Japan. ... Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県; Miyagi-ken) is located in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island, Japan. ... The Kitakami river as it flows through Morioka. ...

Cities

Thirteen cities are located in Iwate Prefecture:

Hachimantai (八幡平市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Hanamaki (花巻市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Ichinoseki (一関市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Kamaishi (釜石市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Kitakami (北上市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Kuji (久慈市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Miyako (宮古市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Morioka (盛岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan. ... Ninohe (二戸市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Ōfunato (大船渡市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... ÅŒshÅ« (奥州市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. ... Rikuzentakata (陸前高田市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Tōno (遠野市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ...

Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district: The district (郡; gun) was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States. ...

Higashiiwai (東磐井郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Fujisawa (藤沢町; -chou) is a town located in Higashiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Isawa (胆沢郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Kanegasaki (金ヶ崎町; -chou) is a town located in Isawa District, Iwate, Japan. ... Iwate (岩手郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Iwate-machi (岩手町) is a town located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan, 40° latitude. ... Kuzumaki (葛巻町; -machi) is a town located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan. ... Shizukuishi (雫石町; -chou) is a town located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan. ... Takizawa (滝沢村; -mura) is a village located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan. ... Kamihei (上閉伊郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Kesen (気仙郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Sumita (住田町; -chou) is a town located in Kesen District, Iwate, Japan. ... Kunohe (九戸郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Karumai (軽米町; -machi) is a town located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan. ... Kunohe (九戸村; -mura) is a village located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan. ... Noda (野田村; -mura) is a village located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan. ... About The Town Categories: Towns in Iwate Prefecture | Japan geography stubs ... Ninohe (二戸郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Ichinohe (一戸町; -machi) is a town located in Ninohe District, Iwate, Japan. ... Nishiiwai (西磐井郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Hiraizumi (平泉町; -chou) is a town located in Nishiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Shimohei (下閉伊郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Fudai (普代村; -mura) is a village located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan. ... Iwaizumi (岩泉町; -chou) is a town located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan. ... Kawai (川井村; -mura) is a village located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan. ... Tanohata (田野畑村; -mura) is a village located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan. ... Categories: Towns in Iwate Prefecture | Japan geography stubs ... Shiwa (紫波郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Shiwa (紫波町; -chou) is a town located in Shiwa District, Iwate, Japan. ... Yahaba (矢巾町; -chou) is a town located in Shiwa District, Iwate, Japan. ... Waga (和賀郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Nishiwaga (西和賀町; -cho) is a town located in Waga District, Iwate, Japan. ...

Mergers

(as of March 6, 2006) is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Main article: Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan

• On June 6, 2005 the town of Taro and village of Niisato from Shimohei District merged with the former city of Miyako to create the new city of Miyako.

• On September 1, 2005 the towns of Ashiro and Nishine and the village of Matsuo from Iwate District merged, forming the city of Hachimantai.

• On September 20, 2005, the new city of Ichinoseki was created out from the former city of Ichinoseki and the municipalities of Daito, Higashiyama, Senmaya, Kawasaki, Murone (first 5 municipalities are from Higashiiwai District), and Hanaizumi from Nishiiwai District.

• On October 1, 2005 the village of Miyamori from Kamihei District and the former city of Tono merged to form the new city of Tono.

• On November 1, 2005 the town of Yuda and village of Sawauchi from Waga District merged forming the town of Nishiwaga.

• On January 1, 2006 the towns of Ishidoriya and Ohasama (from Hienuki District) and the town of Towa (from Waga District) merged with the city of Hanamaki to become the new city of Hanamaki. Hienuki District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

• On January 1, 2006 the city of Ninohe and the town of Joboji from Ninohe District merged to become the new city of Ninohe.

• On January 1, 2006 the village of Ōno and the town of Taneichi (both from Kunohe District) merged into the town of Hirono.

• On January 10, 2006 the village of Tamayama from Iwate District merged into the city of Morioka.

• On February 20, 2006 the cities of Esashi and Mizusawa and the municipaltites of Maesawa, Isawa and Koromogawa from Isawa District merged to form the new city of Ōshū.

• On March 6, 2006 the village of Yamagata from Kunohe District merged with the old city of Kuji to form the new city of Kuji.

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tarō (田老町; -chou) is a town located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan. ... Niisato (新里村; -mura) is a village located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan. ... Shimohei (下閉伊郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Miyako (宮古市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Miyako (宮古市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ashiro (安代町; -chou) is a town located in Iwate District, Japan. ... Nishine (西根町; -chou) is a town located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan. ... Matsuo (松尾村; -mura) is a village located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan. ... Iwate (岩手郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Hachimantai (八幡平市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ichinoseki (一関市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Ichinoseki (一関市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Daitō (大東町; -chou) is a town located in Higashiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Higashiyama (東山町; -chou) is a town located in Higashiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Senmaya (千厩町; -chou) is a town located in Higashiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Kawasaki (川崎村; -mura) is a village located in Higashiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Murone (室根村; -mura) is a village located in Higashiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Higashiiwai (東磐井郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Hanaizumi (花泉町; -machi) is a town located in Nishiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ... Nishiiwai (西磐井郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Miyamori (宮守村; -mura) is a village located in Kamihei District, Iwate, Japan. ... Kamihei (上閉伊郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Tōno (遠野市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Tōno (遠野市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yuda (湯田町; -machi) is a town located in Waga District, Iwate, Japan. ... Sawauchi (沢内村; -mura) is a village located in Waga District, Iwate, Japan. ... Waga (和賀郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Nishiwaga (西和賀町; -cho) is a town located in Waga District, Iwate, Japan. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ishidoriya (石鳥谷町; -chou) is a town located in Hienuki District, Iwate, Japan. ... Ōhasama (大迫町; -machi) is a town located in Hienuki District, Iwate, Japan. ... Hienuki (稗貫郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Tōwa (東和町; -chou) is a town located in Waga District, Iwate, Japan. ... Waga (和賀郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Hanamaki (花巻市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Hanamaki (花巻市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Hienuki (稗貫郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ninohe (二戸市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Jōbōji ) was a town located in Ninohe District, Iwate, Japan. ... Ninohe (二戸郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Ninohe (二戸市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ÅŒno ) is a village located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan. ... Consolidation: On April 1st, 2005, Taneichi town will consolidate with Ohno town to form Hirono town. ... Kunohe (九戸郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... About The Town Categories: Towns in Iwate Prefecture | Japan geography stubs ... is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tamayama (玉山村; -mura) is a village located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan. ... Iwate (岩手郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Morioka (盛岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan. ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Esashi (江刺市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Mizusawa (水沢市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Maesawa (前沢町; -chou) is a town located in Isawa District, Iwate, Japan. ... Isawa (胆沢町; -chou) is a town in Isawa District, Iwate, Japan. ... Koromogawa (衣川村; -mura) is a village located in Isawa District, Iwate, Japan. ... Isawa (胆沢郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... ÅŒshÅ« (奥州市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yamagata (山形村; -mura) is a village located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan. ... Kunohe (九戸郡; -gun) is a district located in Iwate, Japan. ... Kuji (久慈市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ... Kuji (久慈市; -shi) is a city located in Iwate, Japan. ...

Economy

Iwate's industry is concentrated around Morioka and specializes in semconductor and communication manufacturing. Morioka (盛岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan. ...

Demographics

Culture

Of the several theories about the origin of the name ‘Iwate’, the most well known tale, 'Oni no tegata,' is that associated with Mitsuishi Shrine in Morioka. (The Mitsuishi, literally ‘three rocks’, are said to have been thrown down into Morioka by an eruption of Mt Iwate.) According to the legend, there was once a devil who often tormented and harassed the local people. When the people prayed to the spirits of Mitsuishi for protection, the devil was immediately shackled to the rocks and made to promise never to trouble the people again. As a sign of this promise the devil left a handprint on one of the rocks, thus giving rise to the name Iwate, literally meaning ‘rock hand’. Even now after a rainfall it is said that the devil’s hand print can still be seen.

Poet and author Kenji Miyazawa was born in Iwate and lived much of his life there. Kenji Miyazawa , 27 August 1896 - 21 September 1933) was a poet and author of childrens literature in early Showa period Japan. ...

Bashō

Bashō visited and wrote about Iwate in the journey described in Oku no Hosomichi. Hiraizumi in particular inspired him. A statue of Bashō in Hiraizumi, Iwate. ... Statue of Bashō at ChÅ«sonji, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture Oku no Hosomichi (Japanese: 奥の細道, meaning Narrow Road to Oku [the Deep North]) is a major work by Matsuo Bashō. Oku no Hosomichi was written based on a journey taken by Bashō in the late spring of 1689. ... Hiraizumi (平泉町; -chou) is a town located in Nishiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. ...

Tourism

Prefectural symbols

Genera Ithaginis Catreus Rheinartia Crossoptilon Lophura Argusianus Pucrasia Syrmaticus Chrysolophus Phasianus † See also partridge, quail Pheasants are a group of large birds in the order Galliformes. ... Binomial name Pinus densiflora The Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) has a home range that includes Japan, Korea, northeastern China (eastern Jilin) and the extreme southeast of Russia (southern Primorsky Krai). ... For other uses, see Salmon (disambiguation). ...

References

• (Japanese) Japanese Wikipedia
• Yiengpruksawan, M.H. Hiraizumi: Buddhist Art and Regional Politics in Twelfth Century Japan, Harvard University Asia Center, Cambridge MA, 1998

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Iwate Prefecture

• (English) Official Iwate Prefecture homepage

Iwate Prefecture
Cities
Hachimantai | Hanamaki | Ichinoseki | Kamaishi | Kitakami | Kuji | Miyako | Morioka (capital) | Ninohe | Ofunato | Ōshū | Rikuzentakata | Tono
Districts
Higashiiwai | Isawa | Iwate | Kamihei | Kesen | Kunohe | Ninohe | Nishiiwai | Shimohei | Shiwa | Waga
See also: Towns and villages by district edit

Coordinates: 39°29′N, 141°19′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...