Iwate Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is the second largest prefecture
of Japan after Hokkaido
. It is located in the Tōhoku region
of Honshū
island and contains the island's easternmost point. The capital is Morioka
. Iwate has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido. Famous attractions include the Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi
, including Chūson-ji
and Mōtsū-ji
with their treasures, Fujiwara no Sato, a movie lot and theme park in Esashi Ward, Oshu City
, Tenshochi, a park in Kitakami City
known for its big, old cherry trees and Morioka Castle in Morioka City
.
visited and wrote about Iwate in the journey described in Oku no Hosomichi
. Hiraizumi in particular inspired him.
see also – List of people from Iwate
, the area of Iwate prefecture was part of Mutsu Province
.
Iwate Prefecture was created in 1876 in the aftermath of the Boshin Civil War
which heralded the beginning of the Meiji Restoration
. While the entire island of Honshū was claimed by the Japanese, or Yamato, government from earliest times as a sort of divine right or manifest destiny, the imperial forces were unable to occupy any part of what would become Iwate until 802 when two powerful Emishi
leaders, Aterui
and More, surrendered at Fort Isawa.
The area now known as Iwate Prefecture was inhabited by the Jomon
people who left their artifacts throughout the prefecture. For example a large number of burial pits from the Middle Jomon Period (2,800 – 1,900 BC) have been found in Nishida. Various sites from the Late Jomon Period (1,900 – 1,300 BC) including Tateishi, Makumae and Hatten contain clay figurines, masks and ear and nose shaped clay artifacts. The Kunenbashi site in Kitakami City has yielded stone "swords", tablets and tools as well as clay figurines, earrings and potsherds from the Final Jomon Period (1,300 – 300 BC).
The earliest mention of a Japanese presence dates to about 630 when the Hakusan Shrine was said to have been built on Mt. Kanzan in what is now Hiraizumi. At this time various Japanese traders, hunters, adventurers, priests and criminals made their way to Iwate. In 712 the province of Mutsu
, containing all of Tohoku
, was divided into Dewa Province
, the area west of the Ou Mountains
and Mutsu Province. In 729 Kokuseki-ji Temple was founded in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City by the itenerant priest Gyōki
.
Little is known about relations between these Japanese frontiersmen and the native Emishi
but in 776 they took a turn for the worse when large forces of the Yamato army invaded Iwate attacking the Isawa and Shiwa tribes in February and November of that year. More fighting occurred the next and following years but mostly in Dewa and the area south of present day Iwate prefecture. This situation continued until March of 787 when the Yamato army suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Sufuse Village in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City. There the Emishi leaders More and Aterui
leading a large cavalry force trapped the Yamato infantry and pushed them into the Kitakami River where their heavy armour proved deadly. Over 1,000 soldiers drowned that day. The Japanese general Ki no Asami Kosami was "rebuked" by the Emperor Kammu
when he returned to Kyoto.
Since the Japanese could not win on the battlefield they resorted to other means to conquer the Emishi. Trade for superior quality iron wares and sake made the Emishi dependant on the Japanese for these valuable goods. Bribes were offered to the Emishi leaders in the form of Japanese citizenship and rank if they would defect. Finally a campaign of burning crops and kidnapping the Emishi women and children and relocating them to Western Japan was adopted. Many a stout warrior gave up the fight to join his family again.
In 801 Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
bagan a new campaign against the Isawa Emishi having moderate success. Finally on 15 April 802 the Emishi leaders More and Aterui surrendered with some 500 warriors. The captives were taken to Kyoto for an audience with the emperor and beheaded at Moriyama in Kawachi Province against the wishes of General Sakanoue. This act of cruelty enraged the Emishi leading to another twenty or more years of fighting.
After the surrender numerous forts were built on the Chinese model along the Kitakami River. In 802 Fort Isawa was built in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City, in 803 Fort Shiwa was built in what is now Morioka City and in 812 Fort Tokutan was built also in Morioka.
on the west is generally formed by the highest points of the Ou Mountains
. Aomori Prefecture
is to the north and Miyagi Prefecture
is to the south.
The Ou mountains on the west still contain active volcanoes such as Mt. Iwate (at 2,038 meters the highest point in the prefecture) and Mt. Kurikoma (1,627 meters). But the Kitakami Mountains running through the middle of the prefecture from north to south are much older and have not been active for thousands of years. Mt. Hayachine (1,917 meters) lies at the heart of the Kitakami range.
Besides these two mountain ranges and the rugged coastline, the prefecture is characterized by the Kitakami River which flows from north to south between the Ou and Kitakami mountain ranges. It is the fourth longest river in Japan and the longest in Tohoku. The basin of the Kitakami is large and fertile providing room for the prefecture's largest cities, industrial parks and farms.
In the past Iwate has been famous for its mineral wealth especially in the form of gold, iron, coal and sulfur but these are no longer produced. There is still an abundance of hot water for onsen, or hot springs, which is the basis of a thriving industry. The forests of the prefecture are another valuable resource. Before World War II the forests were mainly composed of beech but since then there has been a huge swing towards the production of faster growing Japanese cedar. Recently, though, there has been a push to restore the original beech forests in some areas.
:
As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 3.9% of Japan's beef and 14.4% of broiler chickens. In 2009, 866 tons of dolphins and whales were harvested off the coast of Iwate, accounting for more than half of Japan's total catch of 1,404 tons.
The earliest census records date from 1907 when the population of Iwate stood at 770,406 with 389,490 males and 380,916 females. This is also the only census to record more males than females.
In 1935 Iwate's population surpassed a million reaching 1,095,793.
In 1985 the population of the prefecture reached its all-time high before or since at 1,433,611.
The census of 1950 saw the most births in the prefecture with 45,968 reported. Since then there has been an almost steady decline to 10,344 births in 2007. The greatest number of deaths were reported in 1945 with a total of 32,614. The number of deaths declined steadily until 1980 when the fewest deaths were recorded, 9,892. Since then the number of deaths has increased gradually to 14,774 in 2007.
Thanks to improvements in medicine the number of infants dying at birth has declined from a high of 4,246 in 1950 to just 332 in 2007.
The number of marriages in the prefecture has also declined from a high of 13,055 in 1950 to an all-time low of 6,354 in 2007.
On 13 July 869, a magnitude 8.6 earthquake
struck off the coast of Iwate.
On 14 November 1230 volcanic activity was reported.
On 2 December 1611 a magnitude 8.1 earthquake and tsunami were reported to have killed over 3,000 horses and people.
In 1662 Morioka and its suburbs were hit by a large flood leaving 1,000 dead.
Volcanic activity was reported on Mt. Iwate on 23 March 1686 and 14 April 1687.
On 13 May 1717 The Hanamaki area was struck with a magnitude 7.6 earthquake opening cracks in the ground everywhere. There was also widespread destruction of houses and shops.
In Nanbu-han alone, 49,594 people starved to death in the famine of 1755.
Severe famines continue from 1783 to 1787 and again from 1832 to 1838.
Cholera outbreaks occurred in August, 1879 in Miyako and Kuji.
In July, 1882, a cholera outbreak in Kamaishi left 302 dead and warnings about drinking water were posted throughout the prefecture.
In April, 1884 there was another outbreak of cholera in Kamaishi.
In September, 1886 cholera outbreaks throughout Iwate left 312 dead.
On 15 June 1896 at 7:32 am a magnitude 8.5 earthquake
struck offshore. The ensuing tsunami sent waves onto the coast of Iwate at Yoshihama, in what is now Sanriku town, reaching 24 meters in height. 18,158 people died in Iwate alone while some 10,000 homes were destroyed. Fishermen fishing the ocean about 20 miles offshore felt nothing, then returning home the next morning found the shore littered with their homes and the bodies of their loved ones.
In September, 1899 dysentery spread throughout the prefecture killing 2,070 people.
There was a widespread crop failure due to violent storms in September, 1902. Only 32,900 tons of rice were produced in Iwate, just 30% of the previous year's harvest.
In 1905 there was again a massive crop failure due to heavy rain and cold leading to famine in 1906. People were reduced to eating straw, acorns and roots.
In 1919 Nishi-Iwate erupted.
On 3 March 1933 a magnitude 8.1 earthquake
struck offshore killing 3,008 people and destroying 7,479 homes. This is the fifth worst earthquake in Japan since 1923.
Small explosions shook Mt. Iwate throughout 1934 and 1935.
In August, 1957 there was volcanic activity on Mt. Kurikoma.
There was volcanic activity on Mt. Akita-Komagatake from September to December, 1970 with lava flows visible from Morioka.
In 2003, earthquakes struck on 26 May (M7.0 off the coast of Kessennuma, Miyagi Prefecture), 25 July (three jolts of M5.5, 6.2 and 5.3 in southern Iwate) and 26 September (M8.3 in Hokkaido but strongly felt in Iwate).
At 8:43 am on 14 June 2008 Iwate was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake
. The epicenter was about 8 km underground in Ichinoseki City. 13 deaths were reported and massive landshifts occurred in Northern Miyagi and Southern Iwate.
On Friday, 11 March 2011, an earthquake measured at 9.0
by the US Geological service hit this area, triggering a large tsunami and extensive damage. The highest run up of water has been measured at over 38 meters. The disaster destroyed 9,672 of the prefecture's fishing vessels, damaged 108 of 111 ports, wiped-out nearly all of the prefecture's fish processing centers, and caused ¥371.5 billion in damage to the prefecture's fishing industry.
(JR East) which operates two high-speed shinkansen
lines in the prefecture and seven local rail lines. The Tōhoku Shinkansen
has stations at Ichinoseki, Oshu, Kitakami, Hanamaki, Morioka, Iwate Town and Ninohe. The Akita Shinkansen
starts at Morioka Station and connects to locations in Akita Prefecture.
JR East operates passenger and freight trains on the Tōhoku Main Line or Tōhoku-honsen in Iwate but sold the track north of Morioka to the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line in 2002. The two lines share track with JR still running freight trains and some passenger trains over IGR track and IGR running occasional passenger trains as far south as Hanamaki. There is a large JR freight yard and maintenance facility in Yahaba.
Local lines include the Ofunato Line, the Kitakami Line, the Kamaishi Line, the Tazawako Line, the Yamada Line and the Hanawa Line.
Other lines include the Sanriku Railway which operates two lines along the coast, the North Rias Line and the South Rias Line.
, Hachinohe Expressway
, Akita Expressway
, Kamaishi Expressway
National Highways – 4
, 45, 46, 106
, 107, 281
, 282
, 283
, 284
, 340
, 342
, 343
, 346
, 395
, 396
, 397
, 455
, 456
, 457
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
of Japan after Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. It is located in the Tōhoku region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
island and contains the island's easternmost point. The capital is Morioka
Morioka, Iwate
is the capital city of Iwate Prefecture, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 300,740 and a population density of 588.11 persons per km². The total area is 489.15 km²....
. Iwate has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido. Famous attractions include the Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi
Hiraizumi, Iwate
is a town located in Nishiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. It was the home of the Hiraizumi Fujiwaras for about 100 years in the late Heian era and most of the following Kamakura period. At the same time it served as the de facto capital of Oshu, an area containing nearly a third of the Japanese land...
, including Chūson-ji
Chuson-ji
Chūson-ji is a Buddhist temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku . The Tendai sect claims that the temple was founded in 850 by Ennin, the third chief abbot of the sect, but most scholars believe that Chūson-ji was founded by Fujiwara no...
and Mōtsū-ji
Motsu-ji
Mōtsū-ji （毛越寺）refers to the Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in Hiraizumi and to the historic area surrounding it containing the ruins of two older temples, Enryū-ji （圓隆寺） and Kashō-ji（嘉祥寺）in a Jōdo garden. The current temple was built in the 18th century and bears no relation to the ancient...
with their treasures, Fujiwara no Sato, a movie lot and theme park in Esashi Ward, Oshu City
Oshu, Iwate
is the second largest city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan with a population of 127,804.The city was founded on February 20, 2006, as the result of a merger between the cities of Esashi and Mizusawa, the towns of Maesawa and Isawa and the village of Koromogawa from Isawa District...
, Tenshochi, a park in Kitakami City
Kitakami, Iwate
is a city located in Iwate Prefecture on the main island of Japan.- History :The first city of Kitakami was founded on April 1, 1954.The current and the second city of Kitakami was founded on April 1, 1991 when the first city merged with the villages of Ezuriko and Waga .- Sightseeing :The city is...
known for its big, old cherry trees and Morioka Castle in Morioka City
Morioka, Iwate
is the capital city of Iwate Prefecture, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 300,740 and a population density of 588.11 persons per km². The total area is 489.15 km²....
.
Name
There are several theories about the origin of the name ‘Iwate’, but the most well known is the tale, 'Oni no tegata,' which is associated with the Mitsuishi or "Three Rocks" Shrine in Morioka. These 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 these rocks and forced to make a promise never to trouble the people again. As a seal of his oath the devil made a handprint on one of the rocks, thus giving rise to the name Iwate, literally ‘rock hand’. Even now after a rainfall it is said that the devil’s hand print can still be seen there.Culture
BashōMatsuo Basho
, born , then , was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as a master of brief and clear haiku...
visited and wrote about Iwate in the journey described in Oku no Hosomichi
Oku no Hosomichi
, translated alternately as The Narrow Road to the Deep North and The Narrow Road to the Interior, is a major work by the Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō considered "one of the major texts of classical Japanese literature."...
. Hiraizumi in particular inspired him.
see also – List of people from Iwate
History
Until the Meiji RestorationMeiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, the area of Iwate prefecture was part of Mutsu Province
Mutsu Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
.
Iwate Prefecture was created in 1876 in the aftermath of the Boshin Civil War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
which heralded the beginning of the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. While the entire island of Honshū was claimed by the Japanese, or Yamato, government from earliest times as a sort of divine right or manifest destiny, the imperial forces were unable to occupy any part of what would become Iwate until 802 when two powerful Emishi
Emishi
The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...
leaders, Aterui
Aterui
was the most prominent chief of the Isawa band of Emishi in northern Japan. The Emishi were an indigenous peoples of North Japan, who were considered hairy barbarians by their Japanese conquerors....
and More, surrendered at Fort Isawa.
The area now known as Iwate Prefecture was inhabited by the Jomon
Jomon period
The is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14,000 BC to 300 BC.The term jōmon means "cord-patterned" in Japanese. This refers to the pottery style characteristic of the Jōmon culture, and which has markings made using sticks with cords wrapped around them...
people who left their artifacts throughout the prefecture. For example a large number of burial pits from the Middle Jomon Period (2,800 – 1,900 BC) have been found in Nishida. Various sites from the Late Jomon Period (1,900 – 1,300 BC) including Tateishi, Makumae and Hatten contain clay figurines, masks and ear and nose shaped clay artifacts. The Kunenbashi site in Kitakami City has yielded stone "swords", tablets and tools as well as clay figurines, earrings and potsherds from the Final Jomon Period (1,300 – 300 BC).
The earliest mention of a Japanese presence dates to about 630 when the Hakusan Shrine was said to have been built on Mt. Kanzan in what is now Hiraizumi. At this time various Japanese traders, hunters, adventurers, priests and criminals made their way to Iwate. In 712 the province of Mutsu
Mutsu Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
, containing all of Tohoku
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
, was divided into Dewa Province
Dewa Province
is an old province of Japan, comprising modern-day Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture, except for the city of Kazuno and the town of Kosaka. It was sometimes called .-Historical record:...
, the area west of the Ou Mountains
Ou Mountains
The are a mountain range in the Tōhoku region of Honshū, Japan. The range is the longest range in Japan and stretch south from the Natsudomari Peninsula of Aomori Prefecture to the Nasu volcanoes at the northern boundary of the Kantō region. Though long, the range is only about wide...
and Mutsu Province. In 729 Kokuseki-ji Temple was founded in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City by the itenerant priest Gyōki
Gyoki
was a Japanese Buddhist priest of the Nara period, born in Ōtori county, Kawachi Province , to family of Korean Baekje descent. Gyōki became a monk at Asuka-dera temple in Nara at the age of 15, and studied under master Dōshō as one of his first pupils. Gyōki studied Yogacara , a core doctrine of...
.
Little is known about relations between these Japanese frontiersmen and the native Emishi
Emishi
The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...
but in 776 they took a turn for the worse when large forces of the Yamato army invaded Iwate attacking the Isawa and Shiwa tribes in February and November of that year. More fighting occurred the next and following years but mostly in Dewa and the area south of present day Iwate prefecture. This situation continued until March of 787 when the Yamato army suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Sufuse Village in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City. There the Emishi leaders More and Aterui
Aterui
was the most prominent chief of the Isawa band of Emishi in northern Japan. The Emishi were an indigenous peoples of North Japan, who were considered hairy barbarians by their Japanese conquerors....
leading a large cavalry force trapped the Yamato infantry and pushed them into the Kitakami River where their heavy armour proved deadly. Over 1,000 soldiers drowned that day. The Japanese general Ki no Asami Kosami was "rebuked" by the Emperor Kammu
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
when he returned to Kyoto.
Since the Japanese could not win on the battlefield they resorted to other means to conquer the Emishi. Trade for superior quality iron wares and sake made the Emishi dependant on the Japanese for these valuable goods. Bribes were offered to the Emishi leaders in the form of Japanese citizenship and rank if they would defect. Finally a campaign of burning crops and kidnapping the Emishi women and children and relocating them to Western Japan was adopted. Many a stout warrior gave up the fight to join his family again.
In 801 Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
was a general and shogun of the early Heian Period of Japan. He was the son of Sakanoue no Karitamaro.-Military career:Serving Emperor Kammu, he was appointed shogun and given the task of conquering the Emishi , a people native to the north of Honshū, which he subjugated...
bagan a new campaign against the Isawa Emishi having moderate success. Finally on 15 April 802 the Emishi leaders More and Aterui surrendered with some 500 warriors. The captives were taken to Kyoto for an audience with the emperor and beheaded at Moriyama in Kawachi Province against the wishes of General Sakanoue. This act of cruelty enraged the Emishi leading to another twenty or more years of fighting.
After the surrender numerous forts were built on the Chinese model along the Kitakami River. In 802 Fort Isawa was built in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City, in 803 Fort Shiwa was built in what is now Morioka City and in 812 Fort Tokutan was built also in Morioka.
Geography
Iwate faces the Pacific Ocean to the east with sheer, rocky cliffs along most of the shoreline interrupted by a few sandy beaches. The border with Akita PrefectureAkita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
on the west is generally formed by the highest points of the Ou Mountains
Ou Mountains
The are a mountain range in the Tōhoku region of Honshū, Japan. The range is the longest range in Japan and stretch south from the Natsudomari Peninsula of Aomori Prefecture to the Nasu volcanoes at the northern boundary of the Kantō region. Though long, the range is only about wide...
. Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
is to the north and Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
is to the south.
The Ou mountains on the west still contain active volcanoes such as Mt. Iwate (at 2,038 meters the highest point in the prefecture) and Mt. Kurikoma (1,627 meters). But the Kitakami Mountains running through the middle of the prefecture from north to south are much older and have not been active for thousands of years. Mt. Hayachine (1,917 meters) lies at the heart of the Kitakami range.
Besides these two mountain ranges and the rugged coastline, the prefecture is characterized by the Kitakami River which flows from north to south between the Ou and Kitakami mountain ranges. It is the fourth longest river in Japan and the longest in Tohoku. The basin of the Kitakami is large and fertile providing room for the prefecture's largest cities, industrial parks and farms.
In the past Iwate has been famous for its mineral wealth especially in the form of gold, iron, coal and sulfur but these are no longer produced. There is still an abundance of hot water for onsen, or hot springs, which is the basis of a thriving industry. The forests of the prefecture are another valuable resource. Before World War II the forests were mainly composed of beech but since then there has been a huge swing towards the production of faster growing Japanese cedar. Recently, though, there has been a push to restore the original beech forests in some areas.
Cities
Thirteen cities are located in Iwate Prefecture:
|
Morioka, Iwate is the capital city of Iwate Prefecture, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 300,740 and a population density of 588.11 persons per km². The total area is 489.15 km².... (capital) Ninohe, Iwate is a city located in Iwate, Japan.On January 1, 2006, the existing city of Ninohe merged with the neighboring town of Jōbōji and formed a new city still named Ninohe. The new city's population is estimated to be 30,407, with a total area of 420.31 km²... Ofunato, Iwate is a coastal city located in Iwate, Japan.It was founded on April 1, 1952.On November 15, 2001, the town of Sanriku, from Kesen District, was merged into Ōfunato.... Oshu, Iwate is the second largest city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan with a population of 127,804.The city was founded on February 20, 2006, as the result of a merger between the cities of Esashi and Mizusawa, the towns of Maesawa and Isawa and the village of Koromogawa from Isawa District... Rikuzentakata, Iwate is a city in Iwate, Japan.In the quinquennial census of 2010, the city had a population of 23,302 . With a total area of 232.29 km² the density is 100 persons per km². The city was founded on January 1, 1955. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused extensive damage to the city.- Politics... Tono, Iwate is a city located in Iwate, Japan. The city of Tōno lies near the center of Iwate Prefecture in the floodplain of the Sarugaishi River. It is known as "The City of Folklore" for its rural nature, its preservation of traditional culture and especially for the collection of folktales, Tōno... |
Towns and villages
Towns and villages in each districtDistricts of Japan
The 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, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
:
|
Karumai, Iwate is a town located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,304 and a population density of 46.00 persons per km². The total area is 245.74 km².-External links:*... Kunohe, Iwate is a village located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan. It has borders with Ninohe City and Karumai Town to the north, Kuzumaki Town to the south, Ichinohe Town to the west and Kuji City to the east.... Noda, Iwate is a village located in Kunohe District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 4,967 and a population density of 61.45 persons per km². The total area is 80.83 km².-External links:*... Hirono, Iwate is the northernmost Pacific municipality in Kunohe District, Iwate Prefecture, Honshū island, Japan. As of August 31, 2011 the town has a population of 19,070.-History:...
Ichinohe, Iwate is a town located in Ninohe District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 16,028 and a population density of 53.41 persons per km². The total area is 300.11 km².-External links:*...
Hiraizumi, Iwate is a town located in Nishiiwai District, Iwate, Japan. It was the home of the Hiraizumi Fujiwaras for about 100 years in the late Heian era and most of the following Kamakura period. At the same time it served as the de facto capital of Oshu, an area containing nearly a third of the Japanese land... |
Fudai, Iwate is a village located in Shimohei District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It is a mountainous community situated on the Sanriku Coast along the Pacific Ocean. The southern part of the village, an area called Kurosaki , includes a part of the Rikuchu Kaigan National Park... Iwaizumi, Iwate is a town located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 12,145 and a population density of 12.23 persons per km². The total area is 992.90 km²... Tanohata, Iwate is a village located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 4,271 and a population density of 27.34 persons per km². The total area is 156.19 km².-External links:*... Yamada, Iwate is a town located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 20,413 and a population density of 77.49 persons per km². The total area is 263.44 km²....
Shiwa, Iwate is a town located in Shiwa District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 33,744 and a population density of 141.17 persons per km². The total area is 239.03 km².-External links:*... Yahaba, Iwate is a town located in Shiwa District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 26,842 and a population density of 398.96 persons per km². The total area is 67.28 km².-External links:*...
Nishiwaga, Iwate is a town located in Waga District, Iwate, Japan. The town was founded on November 1, 2005 from the merger of the town of Yuda and the village of Sawauchi. This merger occurred under pressure from the national government of Japan and in the face of steady but significant depopulating trends in Yuda... |
Economy
Iwate's industry is concentrated around Morioka and specializes in semiconductor and communications manufacturing.As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 3.9% of Japan's beef and 14.4% of broiler chickens. In 2009, 866 tons of dolphins and whales were harvested off the coast of Iwate, accounting for more than half of Japan's total catch of 1,404 tons.
Demographics
The current population of Iwate as of 1 October 2007 is 1,363,702 consisting of 651,730 males and 711,972 females.The earliest census records date from 1907 when the population of Iwate stood at 770,406 with 389,490 males and 380,916 females. This is also the only census to record more males than females.
In 1935 Iwate's population surpassed a million reaching 1,095,793.
In 1985 the population of the prefecture reached its all-time high before or since at 1,433,611.
The census of 1950 saw the most births in the prefecture with 45,968 reported. Since then there has been an almost steady decline to 10,344 births in 2007. The greatest number of deaths were reported in 1945 with a total of 32,614. The number of deaths declined steadily until 1980 when the fewest deaths were recorded, 9,892. Since then the number of deaths has increased gradually to 14,774 in 2007.
Thanks to improvements in medicine the number of infants dying at birth has declined from a high of 4,246 in 1950 to just 332 in 2007.
The number of marriages in the prefecture has also declined from a high of 13,055 in 1950 to an all-time low of 6,354 in 2007.
Natural disasters
In 839 a meteorite fell from the sky in Dewa Province causing a large number of peasants in the area of Fort Isawa to desert.On 13 July 869, a magnitude 8.6 earthquake
869 Sanriku earthquake and tsunami
The struck the area around Sendai in the northern part of Honshu on 9 July 869 . The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 8.6 on the surface wave magnitude scale...
struck off the coast of Iwate.
On 14 November 1230 volcanic activity was reported.
On 2 December 1611 a magnitude 8.1 earthquake and tsunami were reported to have killed over 3,000 horses and people.
In 1662 Morioka and its suburbs were hit by a large flood leaving 1,000 dead.
Volcanic activity was reported on Mt. Iwate on 23 March 1686 and 14 April 1687.
On 13 May 1717 The Hanamaki area was struck with a magnitude 7.6 earthquake opening cracks in the ground everywhere. There was also widespread destruction of houses and shops.
In Nanbu-han alone, 49,594 people starved to death in the famine of 1755.
Severe famines continue from 1783 to 1787 and again from 1832 to 1838.
Cholera outbreaks occurred in August, 1879 in Miyako and Kuji.
In July, 1882, a cholera outbreak in Kamaishi left 302 dead and warnings about drinking water were posted throughout the prefecture.
In April, 1884 there was another outbreak of cholera in Kamaishi.
In September, 1886 cholera outbreaks throughout Iwate left 312 dead.
On 15 June 1896 at 7:32 am a magnitude 8.5 earthquake
1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake
The 1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake was highly destructive, generating one of the most devastating tsunamis in Japanese history, destroying about 9,000 homes and causing at least 22,000 deaths. This magnitude 7.2 event occurred at 19:32 on June 15, 1896...
struck offshore. The ensuing tsunami sent waves onto the coast of Iwate at Yoshihama, in what is now Sanriku town, reaching 24 meters in height. 18,158 people died in Iwate alone while some 10,000 homes were destroyed. Fishermen fishing the ocean about 20 miles offshore felt nothing, then returning home the next morning found the shore littered with their homes and the bodies of their loved ones.
In September, 1899 dysentery spread throughout the prefecture killing 2,070 people.
There was a widespread crop failure due to violent storms in September, 1902. Only 32,900 tons of rice were produced in Iwate, just 30% of the previous year's harvest.
In 1905 there was again a massive crop failure due to heavy rain and cold leading to famine in 1906. People were reduced to eating straw, acorns and roots.
In 1919 Nishi-Iwate erupted.
On 3 March 1933 a magnitude 8.1 earthquake
1933 Sanriku earthquake
The was a major earthquake whose associated tsunami caused widespread damage to towns on the Sanriku coast of the Tōhoku region of Honshū, Japan on March 2, 1933.-History:The epicenter of the 1933 Sanriku earthquake was located offshore,...
struck offshore killing 3,008 people and destroying 7,479 homes. This is the fifth worst earthquake in Japan since 1923.
Small explosions shook Mt. Iwate throughout 1934 and 1935.
In August, 1957 there was volcanic activity on Mt. Kurikoma.
There was volcanic activity on Mt. Akita-Komagatake from September to December, 1970 with lava flows visible from Morioka.
In 2003, earthquakes struck on 26 May (M7.0 off the coast of Kessennuma, Miyagi Prefecture), 25 July (three jolts of M5.5, 6.2 and 5.3 in southern Iwate) and 26 September (M8.3 in Hokkaido but strongly felt in Iwate).
At 8:43 am on 14 June 2008 Iwate was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake
2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake
The 2008 Iwate earthquake on June 14, 2008 mainly struck mid Tōhoku region, northeastern Honshū, Japan. Japan Meteorological Agency officially named this earthquake ....
. The epicenter was about 8 km underground in Ichinoseki City. 13 deaths were reported and massive landshifts occurred in Northern Miyagi and Southern Iwate.
On Friday, 11 March 2011, an earthquake measured at 9.0
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
by the US Geological service hit this area, triggering a large tsunami and extensive damage. The highest run up of water has been measured at over 38 meters. The disaster destroyed 9,672 of the prefecture's fishing vessels, damaged 108 of 111 ports, wiped-out nearly all of the prefecture's fish processing centers, and caused ¥371.5 billion in damage to the prefecture's fishing industry.
Tourism
- Chūson-jiChuson-jiChūson-ji is a Buddhist temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku . The Tendai sect claims that the temple was founded in 850 by Ennin, the third chief abbot of the sect, but most scholars believe that Chūson-ji was founded by Fujiwara no...
- Mōtsū-jiMotsu-jiMōtsū-ji （毛越寺）refers to the Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in Hiraizumi and to the historic area surrounding it containing the ruins of two older temples, Enryū-ji （圓隆寺） and Kashō-ji（嘉祥寺）in a Jōdo garden. The current temple was built in the 18th century and bears no relation to the ancient...
- Muryōkō-ji
- Takadachi-gikei-dō
- Iwate Park
- Morioka Hashimoto Museum of Art
- Ryūsen Cave
- Tōno City Museum
Rail
Iwate is served by the East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) which operates two high-speed shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
lines in the prefecture and seven local rail lines. The Tōhoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
has stations at Ichinoseki, Oshu, Kitakami, Hanamaki, Morioka, Iwate Town and Ninohe. The Akita Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
The is a Mini-shinkansen high-speed rail line in Japan. Serving the Kantō and Tōhoku Regions of the country, it links Tokyo and Akita in Akita prefecture with direct service. From Tokyo to Morioka in Iwate prefecture, it operates on the Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks. From there to Ōmagari, it uses the...
starts at Morioka Station and connects to locations in Akita Prefecture.
JR East operates passenger and freight trains on the Tōhoku Main Line or Tōhoku-honsen in Iwate but sold the track north of Morioka to the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line in 2002. The two lines share track with JR still running freight trains and some passenger trains over IGR track and IGR running occasional passenger trains as far south as Hanamaki. There is a large JR freight yard and maintenance facility in Yahaba.
Local lines include the Ofunato Line, the Kitakami Line, the Kamaishi Line, the Tazawako Line, the Yamada Line and the Hanawa Line.
Other lines include the Sanriku Railway which operates two lines along the coast, the North Rias Line and the South Rias Line.
Road
Expressways – Tōhoku ExpresswayTohoku Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned by Japan Expressway Holding and Debt Repayment Agency and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Tōhoku refers to the Tōhoku region, the northernmost region on the island of Honshū....
, Hachinohe Expressway
Hachinohe Expressway
The is a 4-laned national expressway in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The expressway is officially referred to as the Tōhoku Jūkan Expressway Hachinohe Route....
, Akita Expressway
Akita Expressway
The is a national expressway in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The expressway begins at a junction with the Tōhoku Expressway in Iwate Prefecture and crosses into Akita Prefecture to the west. The route intersects the Yuzawa-Yokote...
, Kamaishi Expressway
National Highways – 4
Route 4 (Japan)
National Route 4 is a major highway in eastern Honshū, Japan. The longest of the ordinary highways in Japan, it originates in Chūō, Tokyo and stretches north for 743.6 km to the city of Aomori in Aomori Prefecture. From Saitama Prefecture to Iwate Prefecture, it parallels the Tōhoku...
, 45, 46, 106
Route 106 (Japan)
National Route 106 is a national highway of Japan connecting Miyako, Iwate and Morioka, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of 94.4 km ....
, 107, 281
Route 281 (Japan)
National Route 281 is a national highway of Japan connecting Morioka, Iwate and Kuji, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of 111.9 km ....
, 282
Route 282 (Japan)
National Route 282 is a national highway of Japan connecting Morioka, Iwate and Hirakawa, Aomori, with a total length of 124.4 km ....
, 283
Route 283 (Japan)
is a national highway connecting Kamaishi, Iwate and Hanamaki, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of 89.3 km .- Description :...
, 284
Route 284 (Japan)
National Route 284 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rikuzentakata, Iwate and Ichinoseki, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of 71.9 km ....
, 340
Route 340 (Japan)
National Route 340 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rikuzentakata, Iwate and Hachinohe, Aomori in Japan, with a total length of 253.1 km ....
, 342
Route 342 (Japan)
National Route 342 is a national highway of Japan connecting Yokote, Akita and Tome, Miyagi in Japan, with a total length of 148.9 km ....
, 343
Route 343 (Japan)
National Route 343 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rikuzentakata, Iwate and Ōshū, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of 65.1 km ....
, 346
Route 346 (Japan)
National Route 346 is a national highway of Japan connecting Aoba-ku, Sendai and Kesennuma, Miyagi in Japan, with a total length of 111.6 km ....
, 395
Route 395 (Japan)
National Route 395 is a national highway of Japan connecting Kuji, Iwate and Ninohe, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of 58.6 km ....
, 396
Route 396 (Japan)
is a national highway of Japan connecting Tōno, Iwate and Morioka, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of 58.7 km .-Description:...
, 397
Route 397 (Japan)
National Route 397 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ōfunato, Iwate and Yokote, Akita in Japan, with a total length of 137.8 km ....
, 455
Route 455 (Japan)
National Route 455 is a national highway of Japan connecting Morioka, Iwate and Iwaizumi, Iwate in Japan, with a total length of ....
, 456
Route 456 (Japan)
National Route 456 is a national highway of Japan connecting Morioka, Iwate and Motoyoshi, Miyagi in Japan, with a total length of 154.5 km ....
, 457
Route 457 (Japan)
National Route 457 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ichinoseki, Iwate and Shiroishi, Miyagi in Japan, with a total length of 173.9 km ....