Niigata Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is a prefecture
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 located on the island 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...

 on the coast of the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...

. The capital is the city of Niigata
Niigata, Niigata
is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....

. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".

History

Until after 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...

, the area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province
Echigo Province
was an old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Today the area is part of Niigata Prefecture, which also includes the island which was the old Sado Province. This province was the northernmost part of the...

 and Sado Province
Sado Province
was a province of Japan until 1871; since then, it has been a part of Niigata Prefecture. It was sometimes called or . It lies on the eponymous Sado Island, off the coast of Niigata Prefecture ....

. During the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

, the Nagao clan, who were at times vassals to the Uesugi, ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata from Kasugayama Castle. The most notable member of the Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora, was later and better known as Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...

. He unified the leaders of Echigo Province and became its sole ruler. By taking the surname Uesugi, he also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively brought their realm under his control.

The city of Niigata is now the largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan. It was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry (naval officer)
Matthew Calbraith Perry was the Commodore of the U.S. Navy and served commanding a number of US naval ships. He served several wars, most notably in the Mexican-American War and the War of 1812. He played a leading role in the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854...

. It has since played an important role in trade with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

. A freighter from North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...

 visits Niigata once a month, in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country.

The Etsuzankai organization, led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka
Kakuei Tanaka
was a Japanese politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from 7 July 1972 to 22 December 1972 and from 22 December 1972 to 9 December 1974 respectively...

, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in the 1960s and 1970s. These included the Jōetsu Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...

 high-speed rail
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...

 line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo.

On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake
2004 Chuetsu earthquake
The occurred at 5:56 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2004 . The Japan Meteorological Agency has named it the Heisei 16 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake or The Mid Niigata Prefecture Earthquake of 2004...

 struck Niigata Prefecture and was measured at Shindo
Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale
The Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale is a seismic scale used in Japan and Taiwan to measure the intensity of earthquakes. It is measured in units of...

 6+ at Ojiya
Ojiya, Niigata
is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of July 16, 2003, the city has an estimated population of 40,342. The total area is 155.12 km².-History:*The city was founded on March 10, 1954....

.

On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm
Winter storm
A winter storm is an event in which the dominant varieties of precipitation are formed that only occur at low temperatures, such as snow or sleet, or a rainstorm where ground temperatures are low enough to allow ice to form...

 struck the prefecture and its neighbors. At least 71 people died and more than 1,000 were injured. Also in 2006, a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged homes and caused casualties in the maritime areas of Niigata Prefecture, especially near Sado Island
Sado, Niigata
is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

.

On July 16, 2007, another earthquake hit the area.

Niigata Prefecture hosts the Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan...

, an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort. The three-day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians. It is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005.

Geography

Niigata Prefecture stretches about 240 km along the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...

, from the southwest to the northeast, with a coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado Island
Sado, Niigata
is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

.

Because of the way it is shaped, Niigata Prefecture is often called "small Honshū." It could be placed in either the Hokuriku
Hokuriku region
The is located in the northwestern part of Honshū, the main island of Japan. It lies along the Sea of Japan within the Chūbu region. It is almost equivalent to Koshi Province and Hokurikudō area in pre-modern Japan....

 or the Kōshin'etsu, both of which are considered parts of the Chūbu region
Chubu region
The is the central region of Honshū, Japan's main island. Chūbu has a population estimate of 21,886,324 as of 2008.Chūbu, which means "central region", encompasses nine prefectures : Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, Yamanashi, and often Mie.It is located directly...

.

The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas: Jōetsu
Joetsu
Jōetsu may refer to:*A city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan;*A geographical region within Niigata Prefecture, Japan that consists of the cities of Jōetsu, Itoigawa and Myōkō; or...

 in the south, Chūetsu
Chuetsu
is the name of an area in central Niigata Prefecture. The word chūetsu is an abbreviation for central Echigo Province.It is an important rice-growing region...

 in the center, Kaetsu in the north, and Sado Island
Sado, Niigata
is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

. The mouth of the Shinano River
Shinano River
The Shinano River is the longest and largest river in Japan. It flows from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture. It is called the Chikuma River in Nagano Prefecture....

, the longest river in Japan, is located in Niigata Prefecture.

Cities

There are 20 cities in Niigata Prefecture:
  • Agano
    Agano, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of April 1, 2011, it has an area of 192.72 km² and a population of 46,056 with 13,794 households, and a population density of 239.00 persons per km².-History:...

  • Gosen
    Gosen, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 56,965 and a density of 382.89 persons per km². The total area is 351.87 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1954...

  • Itoigawa
    Itoigawa, Niigata
    is a city located in rustic southern Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 48,653 and the density of 65.2 persons per km². The total area is 746.24 km².The city was founded on June 1, 1954...

  • Jōetsu
    Joetsu, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 205,521, with 72,982 households and a population density of 211.15 persons per km². The total area is 973.32 km²....

  • Kamo
    Kamo, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata, Japan, roughly halfway between the two larger cities of Nagaoka and Niigata.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 32,422 and the density of 242.55 persons per km². The total area is 133.67 km². It was founded on March 10, 1954.Kamo is a popular...

  • Kashiwazaki
    Kashiwazaki, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....

  • Minamiuonuma
    Minamiuonuma, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 584.82 km² and a population of 62,733 .-History:*The city was established on November 1, 2004 in a merger of the towns Muikamachi and Yamato, both from Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata.*On October 1, 2005, the town of Shiozawa...

  • Mitsuke
    Mitsuke, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 43,289 and the density of 555.56 persons per km². The total area is 77.92 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954.-External links:* in Japanese...

  • Murakami
    Murakami, Niigata
    is a city located in northern Niigata, Japan.On April 1, 2008, the city merged with the towns of Sanpoku and Arakawa, and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi, all from Iwafune District....

  • Myōkō
  • Nagaoka
    Nagaoka, Niigata
    is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...

  • Niigata
    Niigata, Niigata
    is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....

     (prefectural capital, divided into eight wards
    Wards of Japan
    A is a subdivision of one of the cities of Japan that is large enough to have been designated by government ordinance. Wards are used to subdivide each city designated by government ordinance...

     (-ku))
  • Kita-ku
    Kita-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The ward was created on April 1, 2007 when Niigata became a government-designated city. It is composed of the Niigata City north district and the former city of Toyosaka....

    Higashi-ku
    Higashi-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The ward was created on April 1, 2007 when Niigata became a government-designated city.-Geography:...

    Chūō-ku
    Chuo-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. It comprises much of the city center.The area comprises the old city as well as the Sonoki, Nuttari, Toyano and the Yamagata districts...

    Kōnan-ku
    Konan-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata, Niigata. It is composed of the Sonoki, Ryoukawa and Oeyama parts of old Niigata City, and the towns of Kameda and Yokogoshi that became a part of Niigata City in 2005.-External links:* *...

    Akiha-ku
    Akiha-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The ward was created on April 1, 2007 when Niigata became a government-designated city. It is composed of the former city of Niitsu and the former town of Kosudo.-External links:* *...

    Nishi-ku
    Nishi-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The ward was created on April 1, 2007 when Niigata became a government-designated city.-External links:* *...

    Minami-ku
    Minami-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The ward was created on April 1, 2007 when Niigata became a government-designated city. It is composed of the former city of Shirone and the former villages of Ajikata and Tsukigata....

    Nishikan-ku
    Nishikan-ku, Niigata
    is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The ward was created on April 1, 2007 when Niigata became a government-designated city ....

    • Ojiya
      Ojiya, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of July 16, 2003, the city has an estimated population of 40,342. The total area is 155.12 km².-History:*The city was founded on March 10, 1954....

    • Sado
      Sado, Niigata
      is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

    • Sanjō
      Sanjo, Niigata
      is a city located in central part of Niigata, Japan. The city has a Jōetsu Shinkansen stop at Tsubame-Sanjō Station.- Geography :Sanjō is located in the center of Niigata prefecture. It is about 2 hours from Tokyo by way of the Jōetsu Shinkansen or 4 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and Hokuriku...

    • Shibata
      Shibata, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 103,101 and the density of 194 persons per km². The total area is 532.82 km².The city was founded on January 1, 1947....

    • Tainai
      Tainai, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2005, it has an area of 265.18 km² and a population of 33,309.-History:The city was established on September 1, 2005 as a result of the merger between the town of Nakajō and the village of Kurokawa, both from Kitakanbara District...

    • Tōkamachi
      Tokamachi, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of November 31, 2010, the new city has an estimated population of 60,164. The total area of the new city is 589.92 km², including the post-Creation undefined boundary areas....

    • Tsubame
      Tsubame, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954 by merging with 4 towns and villages. Nearly 52 years later on March 20, 2006, the old Tsubame merged with Bunsui and Yoshida from Nishikanbara District to form the new city of Tsubame....

    • Uonuma
      Uonuma, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 946.93 km² and a population of 41,894 .It is famous for its rice – the koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma is the most sought-after and most expensive rice in Japan...


    Towns and villages

    The towns and villages in each district
    Districts 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...

     are:
    • Higashikanbara District
      Higashikanbara District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of March 31, 2006, the district has an estimated population of 15,169 and a density of 15.92 persons per km²...

    Aga
    Aga, Niigata
    is a town located in Higashikanbara District, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 952.88 km² and a population of 13,865 as of April 1, 2008...

    • Iwafune District
      Iwafune District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the district has an estimated population of 7,137. The total area is 309.47 km².The district currently has two villages.* Awashimaura* Sekikawa...

    Awashimaura
    Awashimaura, Niigata
    is a village located on Awashima Island, in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the village has an estimated population of 438 and a density of 44.42 persons per km². The total area is 9.86 km²....

    Sekikawa
    Sekikawa, Niigata
    is a village located in Iwafune District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 7,135 and a density of 23.81 persons per km². The total area is 299.61 km².-External links:*...

    • Kariwa District
      Kariwa District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of April 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 4,836 and a density of 184.02 persons per km². The total area is 26.28 km²....

    Kariwa
    Kariwa, Niigata
    is a village located in Kariwa District, Niigata, Japan.As of March 31, 2007, the village has a population of 4,997 and a density of 190.14 persons per km²...

    • Kitakanbara District
      Kitakanbara District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan. As of April 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 13,528. The total area is 37.99 km². The district has one town: Seirō.- History :...

    Seirō
    Seiro, Niigata
    is a town located in Kitakanbara District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 13,474 and a density of 354.67 persons per km². The total area is 37.99 km².-External links:*...

    • Minamikanbara District
      MinamiKanbara District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.When the district was formed back in the Meiji Period, the district covered the cities of Sanjō and Mitsuke, the town of Tagami, and parts of Kamo and the northern part of Nagaoka....

    Tagami
    Tagami, Niigata
    is a town located in Minamikanbara District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 13,565 and a density of 426.98 persons per km². The total area is 31.77 km².-External links:*...

    • Minamiuonuma District
      Minamiuonuma District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 72,908 and a density of 77.41 persons per km². The total area is 941.82 km².- Mergers :...

    Yuzawa
    Yuzawa, Niigata
    is an onsen town located in Minamiuonuma District in the mountains of the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, Japan.-Demographics:...

    • Nakauonuma District
      Nakauonuma District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of April 1, 2005, the district has a population of 11,754. The area is now 372.80 km².The district has one village*Tsunan-History:...

    Tsunan
    Tsunan, Niigata
    is a town located in Nakauonuma District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had a population of 11,933 and a density of 70.08 persons per km². The total area is 170.28 km....

    • Nishikanbara District
      Nishikanbara District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of March 20, 2006, the district has an estimated population of 8,537. The total area is 25.22 km².- Towns and villages :On March 20, 2006, the towns of Bunsui and Yoshida merged with the former city of Tsubame...

    Yahiko
    Yahiko, Niigata
    is a village in Nishikanbara District, Niigata, Japan.It is the only village left in its district after the two towns from the same district merged into the city of Tsubame on March 20, 2006. Yahiko lies on the south side of Mt. Yahiko. This mountain and nearby Mt...

    • Santō District
      Santo District, Niigata
      is a district located in Niigata, Japan.- History :* Before the Edo Period, Santō District was part of the now-defunct Koshi District.* On April 1, 2005 the towns of Koshiji and Mishima merged into the city of Nagaoka....

    Izumozaki
    Izumozaki, Niigata
    is a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,565 and a density of 125.39 persons per km². The total area is 44.38 km².-External links:*...


    Agriculture, forestry and fishing

    The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata is second only to Hokkaidō
    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...

     in rice output. The area around Uonuma
    Uonuma, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 946.93 km² and a population of 41,894 .It is famous for its rice – the koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma is the most sought-after and most expensive rice in Japan...

     is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan.

    Rice-related industries are also very important to the prefectural economy. Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake, senbei
    Senbei
    are a type of Japanese rice crackers. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, usually savory but sometimes sweet. Senbei are often eaten with green tea as a casual snack and offered to visiting house guests as a courtesy refreshment....

    , mochi, and arare. In sake production, the prefecture comes third after Gunma
    Gunma Prefecture
    is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...

     and Kyoto
    Kyoto Prefecture
    is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....

     prefectures.

    The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp
    Carp
    Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...

     known as koi
    Koi
    or more specifically , are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens....

    .

    Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azalea
    Azalea
    Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...

    s and cut lilies in Japan, and is increasing production of cut flowers and flower bulbs. Along with Toyama Prefecture
    Toyama Prefecture
    is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources....

    , it produces the highest volume of tulip
    Tulip
    The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...

    s in the country.

    Mining and manufacturing

    Crude oil is produced in Niigata Prefecture, although Japan relies heavily on petroleum imported from other countries. Kerosene heater
    Kerosene heater
    A kerosene heater, also known as a paraffin heater, is a portable, unvented, kerosene-fueled, space-heating device. In the United States they are used mainly for supplemental heat or as a source of emergency heat during a power outage. In some countries, particularly in Japan, they are used as...

    s are also produced for use in the cold Niigata winters.

    Kinzan, on Sado Island
    Sado, Niigata
    is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

    , was an active gold mine until it was closed in 1989.

    Sanjō
    Sanjo, Niigata
    is a city located in central part of Niigata, Japan. The city has a Jōetsu Shinkansen stop at Tsubame-Sanjō Station.- Geography :Sanjō is located in the center of Niigata prefecture. It is about 2 hours from Tokyo by way of the Jōetsu Shinkansen or 4 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and Hokuriku...

     and Tsubame
    Tsubame, Niigata
    is a city located in Niigata, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954 by merging with 4 towns and villages. Nearly 52 years later on March 20, 2006, the old Tsubame merged with Bunsui and Yoshida from Nishikanbara District to form the new city of Tsubame....

     produce 9 percent of all the silverware made in Japan. The two cities are second after Osaka
    Osaka
    is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

     in the production of scissors
    Scissors
    Scissors are hand-operated cutting instruments. They consist of a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other when the handles opposite to the pivot are closed. Scissors are used for cutting various thin materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, thin...

    , kitchen knives
    Japanese kitchen knives
    There are a number of different types of Japanese kitchen knives. The most commonly used types in the Japanese kitchen are the deba bocho , the santoku hocho , the nakiri bocho and usuba hocho , and the tako hiki and yanagi ba .-Types of Japanese kitchen knives:There are...

    , and wrench
    Wrench
    A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning....

    es.

    Niigata Prefecture may have been the first area in Japan to produce knitted textiles
    Textile manufacturing
    Textile manufacturing is a major industry. It is based in the conversion of three types of fibre into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. These are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. Cotton remains the most important natural fibre, so is treated in depth...

    , although the earliest products may have been imported from China.

    The nuclear power plant
    Nuclear power plant
    A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.Nuclear power plants are usually...

     with the highest energy output in the world is located in the tiny village of Kariwa
    Kariwa, Niigata
    is a village located in Kariwa District, Niigata, Japan.As of March 31, 2007, the village has a population of 4,997 and a density of 190.14 persons per km²...

    .

    Demographics

    In 1885, Niigata was the most populous prefecture in Japan, beating even Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture
    Osaka Prefecture
    is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...

     in population . In the Census of 2003, Niigata ranked as the 14th most populous.

    As in the rest of Japan, Niigata's population shows signs of aging, particularly in the rural areas.

    Food

    Niigata is known for the following regional specialities:
    • Uonuma
      Uonuma, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 946.93 km² and a population of 41,894 .It is famous for its rice – the koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma is the most sought-after and most expensive rice in Japan...

       Koshihikari
      Koshihikari
      Koshihikari is a popular variety of rice cultivated in Japan as well as Australia and the United States.Koshihikari was first created in 1956, by combining 2 different strains of Nourin No.1 and Nourin No.22 at the Fukui Prefectural Agricultural Research Facility. It has become very popular now in...

       rice
    • Shoyu (soy sauce) and Yofu (western-style) katsudon
      Katsudon
      A katsudon is a popular Japanese food, a bowl of rice topped with a deep-fried pork cutlet, egg, and condiments. Variations include sauce katsudon , demi katsudon , shio katsudon , shōyu-dare katsudon , and miso katsudon A katsudon (カツ丼) is a popular Japanese food, a bowl of rice topped with a...

    • Shoyu sekihan
      Sekihan
      Sekihan , literally red rice, is a Japanese traditional dish. It is sticky rice steamed with azuki beans, which give a reddish color to the rice, hence its name....

    • Noppe stew
      Noppe
      is a traditional stew served throughout Japan. It has many different names depending on the region, but its most famous version is from Niigata, known as either Noppe, Noppei, or Noppe-jiru....

    • Wappa-meshi (seafood and rice steamed in a bamboo
      Bamboo
      Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....

       basket)
    • Sasa-dango
      Dango
      is a Japanese dumpling made from mochiko , related to mochi. It is often served with green tea.Dango are eaten year-round, but the different varieties are traditionally eaten in given seasons...

      (mochi balls filled with red bean paste
      Red bean paste
      Red bean paste or Azuki bean paste is a sweet, dark red bean paste originating from China. It is used in Chinese cuisine, Japanese confectionery, and Korean cuisine. It is prepared by boiling and mashing azuki beans and then sweetening the paste with sugar or honey...

      , seasoned with mugwort
      Artemisia vulgaris
      Artemisia vulgaris is one of several species in the genus Artemisia which have common names that include the word mugwort. This species is also occasionally known as Felon Herb, Chrysanthemum Weed, Wild Wormwood, Old uncle Henry, Sailor's Tobacco, Naughty Man, Old Man or St...

       and wrapped in bamboo
      Bamboo
      Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....

       leaves)
    • Poppo-yaki (steamed bread flavored with brown sugar)
    • Hegi-soba (soba
      Soba
      is the Japanese name for buckwheat. It is synonymous with a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, and in Japan can refer to any thin noodle . Soba noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup...

       from the Uonuma
      Uonuma, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 946.93 km² and a population of 41,894 .It is famous for its rice – the koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma is the most sought-after and most expensive rice in Japan...

       and Ojiya
      Ojiya, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of July 16, 2003, the city has an estimated population of 40,342. The total area is 155.12 km².-History:*The city was founded on March 10, 1954....

       areas, which uses a special kind of seaweed)
    • "Tsubame
      Tsubame, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954 by merging with 4 towns and villages. Nearly 52 years later on March 20, 2006, the old Tsubame merged with Bunsui and Yoshida from Nishikanbara District to form the new city of Tsubame....

      -Sanjō
      Sanjo, Niigata
      is a city located in central part of Niigata, Japan. The city has a Jōetsu Shinkansen stop at Tsubame-Sanjō Station.- Geography :Sanjō is located in the center of Niigata prefecture. It is about 2 hours from Tokyo by way of the Jōetsu Shinkansen or 4 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and Hokuriku...

       ramen
      Ramen
      is a Japanese noodle dish. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as , , kamaboko, green onions, and occasionally corn...

      " (ramen made using thick udon
      Udon
      is a type of thick wheat-flour noodle of Japanese cuisine.Udon is usually served hot as noodle soup in its simplest form as kake udon, in a mildly flavoured broth called kakejiru which is made of dashi, soy sauce , and mirin. It is usually topped with thinly chopped scallions...

      -style noodles)
    • Tochio
      Tochio, Niigata
      was a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1954.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 23,855 and the density of 116.41 persons per km²...

       aburage
      Aburage
      is a Japanese food product made from soybeans. It is produced by cutting tofu into thin slices and deep frying first at 110~120 °C then at 180~200 °C again. Abura-age is often used to wrap , and is added to miso soup. It is also added to udon noodle dishes which are called kitsune-udon because of...

      (aburaage is called "aburage" in Tochio)
    • Kirazu (dishes using okara
      Okara (food)
      Okara or Soy Pulp is a white or yellowish pulp consisting of insoluble parts of the soybean which remain in the filter sack when pureed soybeans are filtered in the production of soy milk...

      )
    • Kakinomoto (edible chrysanthemums)
    • Kanzuri (a special seasoning from Myōkō made by leaving chili peppers exposed on snow, then adding flour, salt and yuzu
      Yuzu
      The yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...

      )
    • Yasuda yogurt

    Niigata in popular culture

    • Snow Country
      Snow Country
      is the first full-length novel by the Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata. The novel established Kawabata as one of Japan's foremost authors and became an instant classic.- Name :...

      ( 1947): a novel by Nobel laureate
      Nobel Prize in Literature
      Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...

       Yasunari Kawabata
      Yasunari Kawabata
      was a Japanese short story writer and novelist whose spare, lyrical, subtly-shaded prose works won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968, the first Japanese author to receive the award...

       set in Yuzawa
      Yuzawa, Niigata
      is an onsen town located in Minamiuonuma District in the mountains of the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, Japan.-Demographics:...

    • "Niigata Snow": a track on the LP Aida, released by Derek Bailey in 1980
    • Kura
      Kura (film)
      -Awards:19th Japan Academy Prize* Best Actress - Yūko Asano...

      : a film and TV series (1995) based on the 1993 book by Tomiko Miyao, an award winning period piece about a Niigata family and its sake brewery
    • Blue
      Blue (manga)
      is a manga by Kiriko Nananan that was serialized in the alternative manga magazine COMIC Are!; the tankōbon was released on April 24, 1997. The English version, published by Fanfare/Ponent Mon, was released on March 15, 2006...

       (1996): a manga
      Manga
      Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

       about high school girls, set in Niigata City, adapted as a film in 2001
    • Whiteout: an action film based on a novel published in 1995
    • My Mother is a Tractor: A Life in Rural Japan (2006), a memoir by Nicholas Klar, written when he was based in Itoigawa
      Itoigawa, Niigata
      is a city located in rustic southern Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 48,653 and the density of 65.2 persons per km². The total area is 746.24 km².The city was founded on June 1, 1954...

       in Niigata Prefecture

    Tourism and sports

    Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing
    Skiing
    Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....

     and going to onsen
    Onsen
    An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...

    , especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa
    Yuzawa, Niigata
    is an onsen town located in Minamiuonuma District in the mountains of the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, Japan.-Demographics:...

    .

    Sado Island
    Sado, Niigata
    is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

     off the west coast of Niigata is accessible via ferry (taking one to two and a half hours) from Naoetsu or Niigata City
    Niigata, Niigata
    is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....

    .

    Professional sports clubs include Albirex Niigata
    Albirex Niigata
    is a Japanese J. League Division 1 association football team. Despite the club's relative youth, only joining the J. League in 1999, Albirex are one of Japan's best supported teams. In 2003, while still playing in the second tier of Japanese football , Albirex attracted the best average crowd in...

    , a J-League Division 1 Soccer Club, and Niigata Albirex BB
    Niigata Albirex BB
    , formally Niigata Albirex Basketball, is a Japanese basketball club. It is based in Niigata City and plays its games chiefly in the Niigata City gym and Toki Messe.- Outline :...

    , a BJ (Basketball Japan) League team.

    Festivals

    • Murakami Taisai – July 6-7
    • Iwafune Taisai – October 18-19, in Murakami
    • Niigata Festival – August
    • Niigata General Dancing Event -September 21-25
    • Shirone Kite
      Kite
      A kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...

       Festival – June
    • Sanjo Kite Festival – June
    • Nagaoka Festival (with fireworks) – August
    • Tokamachi Winter Festival – February
    • Niigata Tanrei Sake-no-Jin - March

    University

    • Niigata University
      Niigata University
      is a national university in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1949 and has its major origins in Niigata Medical College and in Niigata Higher School . It is one of the largest Japanese national universities on the Sea of Japan.The university comprises nine faculties and...

    • Niigata Prefectural University
    • Niigata University of International and Information Studies
      Niigata University of International and Information Studies
      is a private university in Niigata, Niigata, Japan. It was established in 1994....

    • Niigata Sangyo University
      Niigata Sangyo University
      is a private university in Kashiwazaki, Niigata, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1947. It was chartered as a junior college in 1950 and became a four-year college in 1988.-External links:*...

       (Niigata Industrial University)
    • Niigata University of Health and Welfare
      Niigata University of Health and Welfare
      is a private university in Niigata, Niigata, Japan. It was established in 2001....

    • Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences
    • Niigata Seiryou University
    • Niigata Institute of Technology
      Niigata Institute of Technology
      is a private university in Kashiwazaki, Niigata, Japan. It was established in 1995.-External links:*...

    • Niigata University of Management
      Niigata University of Management
      is a private university in Kamo, Niigata, Japan. It was established in 1994.-External links:*...

    • Niigata College of Nursing
      Niigata College of Nursing
      thumb|Niigata College of Nursing is a public university at Joetsu, Niigata, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1977, and it was chartered as a university in 2002.-External links:*...

    • Nippon Dental University
    • Nagaoka University
      Nagaoka University
      is a private university in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1905. It was chartered as a junior college in 1973 and became a four-year college in 2001.-External links:*...

    • Nagaoka Institute of Design
      Nagaoka Institute of Design
      is a private university in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan. It was established in 1994.-External links:*...

    • International University of Japan
      International University of Japan
      The is a private university located in Minami-Uonuma city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.IUJ is the first, and one of the few Japanese universities which run their courses entirely in English. It was founded in 1982, primarily with the aim of providing a platform for delegates from all over the...

    • Keiwa Gakuen University
      Keiwa College
      is a private university in Shibata, Niigata, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1967. It opened as a college in 1991.-External links:*...


    Railroad

    • JR East
      • Joetsu Shinkansen
        Joetsu Shinkansen
        The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...

      • Shinetsu Line
      • Hakushin Line
        Hakushin Line
        The is a Japanese railway line that runs between and stations in the cities of Niigata and Shibata in Niigata Prefecture. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company network.-Basic data:*Operators, distances:...

      • Yahiko Line
        Yahiko Line
        The is a Japanese rail line operated by East Japan Railway Company which runs between Sanjo City and Yahiko Village in Niigata Prefecture. The line shares its name with both Yahiko Village and nearby Mt. Yahiko....

      • Echigo Line
        Echigo Line
        The is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company which connects the cities of Kashiwazaki and Niigata in Niigata Prefecture, Japan...

      • Joetsu Line
        Joetsu Line
        The is a major rail line in Japan. Part of the JR East system, it runs from Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, to Miyauchi Station in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, linking the northwestern Kantō region and the Sea of Japan coast of the Chūbu region...

      • Uetsu Line
      • Banetsu West Line
      • Tadami Line
        Tadami Line
        The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It connects Aizu-Wakamatsu Station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima with Koide Station in Uonuma, Niigata.-Services:...

      • Iiyama Line
        Iiyama Line
        The is a railway line in Japan linking Toyono Station in Nagano, Nagano Prefecture and Echigo-Kawaguchi Station in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. It is operated by East Japan Railway Company .- Stations :-External links:*...

      • Yonesaka Line
        Yonesaka Line
        The is a rail line in Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company system, it runs from Yonezawa Station in Yamagata Prefecture to Sakamachi Station in Niigata Prefecture...

    • JR West
      • Hokuriku Line
      • Oito Line
        Oito Line
        The is a railway line which runs from Matsumoto Station in Nagano Prefecture to Itoigawa Station in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.There are two operators on the line: East Japan Railway Company operates the section south of Minami-Otari Station in Otari, Nagano Prefecture, and West Japan Railway...

    • Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line
      Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line
      The is a Japanese railway line in Niigata Prefecture, between Muikamachi, Minamiuonuma and Saigata, Jōetsu. This is the only railway line operates. The construction as Japanese National Railways line begun in 1968, finally completed as the third sector line in 1997.Unlike most other third sector...


    Expressway

    • Kanetsu Expressway
    • Joshinetsu Expressway
    • Hokuriku Expressway
      Hokuriku Expressway
      The ,The ,The ,(abbreviated as , is a 4-laned national expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company and Central Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:...

    • Banetsu Expressway
    • Nihonkai Expressway

    National Highway

    • Route 7 (Niigata-Shibata-Murakami-Sakata
      Sakata, Yamagata
      is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2006, the city has an estimated population of 116,883 and the population density of 193.92 persons per km². The total area is 602.74 km².-History:The city was founded on April 1, 1933...

      -Akita
      Akita, Akita
      is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan.As of June 11, 2005, with the merger of the former Kawabe District , the city has an estimated population of 323,310 and density of...

      -Noshiro-Hirosaki-Aomori
      Aomori, Aomori
      is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...

      )
    • Route 8 (Niigata-Nagaoka-Kashiwazaki-Joetsu-Toyama
      Toyama
      Toyama may refer to:* Toyama Prefecture, Japan* Toyama, Toyama, the capital city of the prefecture* Toyama, Shinjuku, the town of Tokyo Metropolis*Kataller Toyama, the capital city's professional football club* Tōyama, a Japanese surname...

      -Kanazawa
      Kanazawa, Ishikawa
      is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...

      -Fukui
      Fukui
      Fukui is a Japanese name meaning "fortunate" or it can mean "one who is from the Fukui prefecture". It may refer to:- Places :* Fukui Prefecture** Fukui, Fukui - the city of the same name in the prefecture...

      -Tsuruga-Hikone-Kusatsu, Shiga
      Kusatsu, Shiga
      is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on October 15, 1954, and as of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 123,690 and the density of 1,820 persons per km². The total area is 67.92 km².- Overview :...

      )
    • Route 17 (Nagaoka-Ojiya-Shibukawa-Takasaki-Kumagaya-Saitama
      Saitama, Saitama
      ' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...

      -Nihonbashi
      Nihonbashi
      , or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...

       of Tokyo)
    • Route 18 (Joetsu-Myoko-Nagano-Komoro
      Komoró
      Komoró is a village in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 1415 people ....

      -Karuizawa-Takasaki)
    • Route 49 (Niigata-Aizuwakamatsu-Koriyama-Iwaki
      Iwaki
      -Places:*Iwaki, Fukushima: a city in Japan.*Iwaki, Akita: a town in Japan.*Iwaki Province: an old province of Japan.*Iwaki : a volcano on the Japanese island of Honshū....

      )
    • Route 113
    • Route 116
    • Route 117
    • Route 148
    • Route 252
    • Route 253
    • Route 289
    • Route 290
    • Route 291
    • Route 292
    • Route 345
    • Route 350 (Sado Island)
    • Route 351
    • Route 352
    • Route 353
    • Route 402
    • Route 403
    • Route 404
    • Route 405
    • Route 459
    • Route 460

    Port

    • Niigata Port – Ferry route to Sado Island, Tsuruga, Akita, Otaru and Tomakomai, with International Container hub port
    • Ryotsu Port – Ferry route to Niigata
    • Ogi Port
    • Naoetsu Port

    Prefectural symbols

    Prefectural website

    Politics and military

    • Hachirō Arita
      Hachiro Arita
      was a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for three terms. He is believed to have originated the concept of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.- Biography :...

       (1884–1965), foreign minister, from Sado Island
      Sado, Niigata
      is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

      .
    • Kita Ikki
      Kita Ikki
      was a Japanese author, intellectual and political philosopher who was active in early-Shōwa period Japan.-Background:Born on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, Ikki Kita’s real name was Kita Terujirō...

       (1883–1937), nationalist author and intellectual, from Sado Island
      Sado, Niigata
      is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

      .
    • Honma Masaharu World War II lieutenant-general executed by the United States by war crimes committed in the Philippines
      Philippines
      The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

      .
    • Isoroku Yamamoto
      Isoroku Yamamoto
      was a Japanese Naval Marshal General and the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II, a graduate of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and a student of Harvard University ....

       (1884–1943), commander of the Japanese Imperial Navy, from Nagaoka
      Nagaoka, Niigata
      is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...

      .
    • Kakuei Tanaka
      Kakuei Tanaka
      was a Japanese politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from 7 July 1972 to 22 December 1972 and from 22 December 1972 to 9 December 1974 respectively...

       (1918–1993), prime minister, from Urasa, Minamiuonuma.
    • Hisashi Owada
      Hisashi Owada
      is a former Japanese diplomat and a judge on the International Court of Justice, and currently serves as its President, having been elected to this post in 2009.-Early life:Hisashi Owada was born in Shibata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. After earning a B.A...

       (born 1932), diplomat and father of Crown Princess Masako, from Shibata
      Shibata, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 103,101 and the density of 194 persons per km². The total area is 532.82 km².The city was founded on January 1, 1947....

      .
    • Makiko Tanaka
      Makiko Tanaka
      is a Japanese politician, the daughter of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka.Tanaka attended high school at Germantown Friends School in the United States and graduated from Waseda University...

       (born 1944), first female foreign minister, from Kashiwazaki
      Kashiwazaki, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....

      . Currently, a DPJ
      Democratic Party of Japan
      The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...

       politician.

    Arts and culture

    • Ryōkan
      Ryokan
      was a quiet and eccentric Sōtō Zen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit. Ryōkan is remembered for his poetry and calligraphy, which present the essence of Zen life.-Early life:...

       (1758–1831), Zen
      Zen
      Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...

       Buddhist monk and poet, from Izumozaki
      Izumozaki, Niigata
      is a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,565 and a density of 125.39 persons per km². The total area is 44.38 km².-External links:*...

      .
    • Inoue Enryō
      Inoue Enryo
      , Japanese, Buddhist philosopher, educator, and nationalist; one of the most influential Buddhists of the Meiji era. Ordained as a priest in his father's Jodo Shinshu Ōtani branch 眞宗大谷派. Graduated with a doctorate from Tokyo Imperial University in 1896 focusing mainly on Western philosophy...

       (1858–1919), Buddhist philosopher, from Nagaoka
      Nagaoka, Niigata
      is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...

      .
    • Yaichi Aizu (1881–1956), poet, calligrapher
      Calligraphy
      Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...

       and historian, from Niigata City.
    • Fubō Hayashi (1900–1935), novelist from Sado Island
      Sado, Niigata
      is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

      .
    • Ango Sakaguchi
      Ango Sakaguchi
      was a Japanese novelist and essayist. His real name was Heigo Sakaguchi .-History:From Niigata, Sakaguchi was one of a group of young Japanese writers to rise to prominence in the years immediately following Japan's defeat in World War II...

       (1906–1955), novelist and essayist, from Niigata City.
    • Haruo Minami
      Haruo Minami
      Haruo Minami was an enka singer in postwar Japan.He was born Bunji Kitazume in Nagaoka, Niigata...

       (1923–2001), enka
      Enka
      is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...

       singer, from Nagaoka
      Nagaoka, Niigata
      is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...

      .
    • Kimio Yanagisawa
      Kimio Yanagisawa
      is a Japanese manga artist born on September 26, 1948 in Gosen-shi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. His real name is pronounced the same way, but is written as . He graduated from Niigata Prefectural Muramatsu High School two years prior to Yoshifumi Kondō...

       (born 1948), manga
      Manga
      Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

       artist, from Gosen
      Gosen, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 56,965 and a density of 382.89 persons per km². The total area is 351.87 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1954...

      .
    • Tetsuo Harada
      Tetsuo Harada
      is a Japanese artist based in France, well-known for his monumental direct carving sculptures on granite and marble. In the nineties he came to public recognition with his "Earth Weaving" theme, binding nations in fraternity with granite rings...

       (born 1949 Niitsu-shi), Sculptor working in Paris France.
    • Yoshifumi Kondō
      Yoshifumi Kondo
      was a Japanese animator who worked for Studio Ghibli in his last years. He was born in Gosen, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. He worked as an animation director on Anne of Green Gables, Sherlock Hound, Kiki's Delivery Service, Only Yesterday and Princess Mononoke...

       (1950–1998), animator, from Gosen
      Gosen, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 56,965 and a density of 382.89 persons per km². The total area is 351.87 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1954...

      .
    • Keiko Yokozawa
      Keiko Yokozawa
      , born September 2, 1952 in Niigata, Japan, is a Japanese seiyū.She is most known for the roles of Dorami , Mami Sakura , Benio Hanamura , and Sheeta -External links:...

       (born 1952), seiyu
      Seiyu
      Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...

      , from Niigata City.
    • Bin Shimada
      Bin Shimada
      is a Japanese voice actor. He is currently affiliated with the talent management firm Aoni Production.-References:* Nakagami, Yoshikatsu et al. "You're Under Arrest: Full Throttle". Newtype USA. pp. 48–49.-External links:...

       (born 1954), seiyu, from Niigata City.
    • Kazuyuki Sekiguchi
      Kazuyuki Sekiguchi
      plays the bass guitar for Southern All Stars. As a solo artist, he has played ukulele; he is a fan of Hawaiian music. For nearly twenty years, Sekiguchi has worked with Akira Sakuma in the Momotaro Dentetsu video game series as a music producer....

       (born 1955), bass player for the rock group Southern All Stars
      Southern All Stars
      , also known by the abbreviations or SAS, is a Japanese pop/rock band that formed in the mid 1970s.The band is composed of Keisuke Kuwata , Yuko Hara , Kazuyuki Sekiguchi , Hiroshi Matsuda and Hideyuki "Kegani" Nozawa...

      , from Agano.
    • Yukari Nozawa
      Yukari Nozawa
      ' is a Japanese actress and voice actress who is affiliated with Seinenza Theater Company.-TV Anime:*A Spirit of the Sun *AD Police *Master Keaton *Scrapped Princess *Seven of Seven...

       (born 1957), actor and seiyu.
    • Rumiko Takahashi
      Rumiko Takahashi
      is a Japanese manga artist.Takahashi is one of the wealthiest individuals, and the most affluent manga artists in Japan. The manga she creates are popular worldwide, where they have been translated into a variety of languages...

       (born 1957), manga artist, from Niigata City.
    • Hajime Watanabe (born 1957), animator
      Animator
      An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...

      .
    • Shuichi Shigeno
      Shuichi Shigeno
      is a Japanese manga author famous for the anime and manga Initial D. Shigeno has also created Bari Bari Densetsu, Dopkan, and Tunnel Nuketara Sky Blue all prior to the manga that would make him famous in 1995...

       (born 1958), manga artist, from Tōkamachi
      Tokamachi, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of November 31, 2010, the new city has an estimated population of 60,164. The total area of the new city is 589.92 km², including the post-Creation undefined boundary areas....

      .
    • Makoto Kobayashi (born 1958), manga artist, from Niigata City.
    • Motoei Shinzawa
      Motoei Shinzawa
      is a Japanese manga artist born June 10, 1958 in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.His debut manga was Sannen Kimen-gumi, published in Weekly Shōnen Jump beginning in 1980. After Sannen ended in 1982, he began publishing Highschool! Kimen-gumi, also in Weekly Shōnen Jump, until 1987...

       (born 1958), manga artist, from Kashiwazaki
      Kashiwazaki, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....

      .
    • Ken Watanabe
      Ken Watanabe
      is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. To English-speaking audiences he is known for playing tragic hero characters, such as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in Letters from Iwo Jima and Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu in The Last Samurai, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best...

       (born 1959), stage, TV and film actor, from Niigata
      Uonuma, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 946.93 km² and a population of 41,894 .It is famous for its rice – the koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma is the most sought-after and most expensive rice in Japan...

      .
    • Yōko Sōmi (born 1965), seiyu.
    • Kazuya Tsurumaki
      Kazuya Tsurumaki
      Kazuya Tsurumaki is a Japanese anime director. He was born on February 2, 1966 in the city of Gosen, located in the Niigata Prefecture.He is the protegé of Hideaki Anno, and a longtime animator at Gainax...

       (born 1966), animator, from Gosen
      Gosen, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 56,965 and a density of 382.89 persons per km². The total area is 351.87 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1954...

      .
    • Akiko Yajima
      Akiko Yajima
      , born May 4, 1967, is a Japanese voice actress from Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture.-Anime:*Battle Athletes Victory *Berserk *The Big O *Blood+...

       (born 1967), seiyu, from Kashiwazaki
      Kashiwazaki, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....

      .
    • Hiroki Yagami
      Hiroki Yagami
      is a Japanese manga artist. In 2007, he won the 31st Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen manga for Dear Boys Act II.-Works:* Futari ni Omakase* Dear Boys** Dear Boys The Early Days** Dear Boys Act II** Dear Boys Act III* G-Taste-References:...

       (born 1967), manga artist, from Kashiwazaki
      Kashiwazaki, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....

      .
    • Kazuto Nakazawa
      Kazuto Nakazawa
      is a Japanese character designer and director of numerous anime series and video games who also goes by the pseudonym . His directorial work includes Parasite Dolls, the anime sequence in Kill Bill volume 1, and the Moondrive segment of Genius Party Beyond...

       (born 1968), animator.
    • Takeshi Obata
      Takeshi Obata
      is a Japanese manga artist. He works as the artist in collaboration with a writer. He has also mentored several manga artists, including Kentaro Yabuki of Black Cat fame, Nobuhiro Watsuki of Rurouni Kenshin and Busou Renkin, and Yusuke Murata of Eyeshield 21.He originally became noticed in 1985...

       (born 1969), manga artist, from Niigata City.
    • Etsushi Ogawa
      Etsushi Ogawa
      is a Japanese manga artist . He graduated from Keio University with a degree in economics. He is most famous for the manga Chūka Ichiban, which was made into an anime.In 2007, he won the 31st Kodansha Manga Award for children's manga for Tenshi no Frypan....

       (born 1969), manga artist.
    • Rumi Kasahara
      Rumi Kasahara
      Rumi Kasahara is a seiyū. She is currently represented by Aoni Production.-Selected Voice Roles:*Chrono in Ah! My Goddess The Movie*Alia in the Mega Man X series...

       (born 1970), seiyu, from Itoigawa
      Itoigawa, Niigata
      is a city located in rustic southern Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 48,653 and the density of 65.2 persons per km². The total area is 746.24 km².The city was founded on June 1, 1954...

      .
    • Nobuhiro Watsuki
      Nobuhiro Watsuki
      is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.-Biography:...

       (born 1970), manga artist, from Nagaoka
      Nagaoka, Niigata
      is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...

      .
    • Kiriko Nananan
      Kiriko Nananan
      is a female Japanese manga artist. She is famous for her realistic josei work featuring understated artwork with a sense of detachment. In addition she has affiliated herself with the "La nouvelle manga" movement. Her first work was published in Garo in 1993. Two of her works have been made into...

       (born 1972), manga artist, from Tsubame
      Tsubame, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954 by merging with 4 towns and villages. Nearly 52 years later on March 20, 2006, the old Tsubame merged with Bunsui and Yoshida from Nishikanbara District to form the new city of Tsubame....

      .
    • Közi
      Közi
      Közi is a Japanese musician who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. Közi is best known as guitarist for the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. After the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, he joined the industrial rock act Eve of Destiny and also started a solo career...

       (born 1972), rock musician.
    • Daisuke Hirakawa
      Daisuke Hirakawa
      is a Japanese voice actor. He is sometimes mistaken for fellow voice actor Daisuke Namikawa, as their names only differ by one character when written in kanji. He is the official Japanese voice actor for Orlando Bloom. For some roles, he is also known as Hirai Tatsuya.- Career :At first, as he...

       (born 1973), seiyu.
    • Yoko Ishida
      Yoko Ishida
      is a Japanese singer, employed by Hyper Voice. She is known for having performed theme songs for anime shows such as Prétear, Ai Yori Aoshi and the Ah! My Goddess TV series, as well as for having sung for the Para Para Max CD series....

       (born 1973), singer, from Niigata City.
    • Daisuke Sakaguchi
      Daisuke Sakaguchi
      is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production.-Television animation:*Atashin'chi *Baccano! *Bamboo Blade *Black Jack *Bleach *Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo...

       (born 1973), seiyu, from Kashiwazaki
      Kashiwazaki, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....

      .
    • Hitomi Nabatame
      Hitomi Nabatame
      is a Japanese voice actress. She is affiliated with Ken Production. When voicing adult games, she is known as , , , or . She also sings opening themes for Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu under the name Miran Himemiya and Chocolate Rockers.-Anime:...

       (born 1976), seiyu, from Sado Island
      Sado, Niigata
      is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...

      .
    • Tatsuyuki Nagai
      Tatsuyuki Nagai
      is an anime director and member of the noted anime studio Sunrise. He made his full directorial debut with 2006's Honey and Clover II, after which he had directed 2007's Idolmaster: Xenoglossia and 2008's Toradora!...

       (born 1976), anime director.
    • Ryō Hirohashi
      Ryo Hirohashi
      is a Japanese voice actress represented by a talent agency Aoni Production. She originates from Nagaoka, Niigata and is a graduate of Ryukoku University...

       (born 1977), seiyu, from Nagaoka
      Nagaoka, Niigata
      is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...

      .
    • Ayana Sasagawa
      Ayana Sasagawa
      is a female Japanese voice actress.-References:...

       (born 1983), seiyu.
    • Makoto Ogawa
      Makoto Ogawa
      is a Japanese pop singer and actress best known as a former member of Morning Musume. She joined the group in August 2001 along with fellow fifth generation members Ai Takahashi, Risa Niigaki, and Asami Konno.Ogawa is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume....

       (born 1987) and Koharu Kusumi
      Koharu Kusumi
      , is a former J-pop singer and voice actress, and currently a model. She joined Morning Musume as the only seventh generation member and as the youngest soloist to debut in Hello! Project, being only twelve years old when she joined. Before she joined Morning Musume, she was the captain of her...

       (born 1992), members of pop girl-group Morning Musume
      Morning Musume
      , sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...

      , from, respectively, Kashiwazaki
      Kashiwazaki, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....

       and Nagaoka
      Nagaoka, Niigata
      is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...

      .

    Sports

    • Haguroyama Masaji
      Haguroyama Masaji
      Haguroyama Masaji was a sumo wrestler from Nakanokuchi, Niigata, Japan. He was the sport's 36th yokozuna. He was a yokozuna for a period of twelve years and three months dating from his promotion to that rank in May 1941 until his retirement in September 1953, which is an all-time record...

       (1914–1969), sumo wrestler
      Sumo
      is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...

       from Nakanokuchi, Niigata
      Nakanokuchi, Niigata
      was a village located in Nishikanbara District, Niigata, Japan.On March 21, 2005 Nakanokuchi, along with the towns of Kameda, Kosudo and Yokogoshi, all from Nakakanbara District, the town of Nishikawa, the villages of Ajikata, Iwamuro, Katahigashi and Tsukigata, all from Nishikanbara District, and...

       who was yokozuna for 12 years and three months; an all-time record.
    • Shohei Baba
      Shohei Baba
      was a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba. Baba, along with Antonio Inoki, became one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers of his era, with a popularity in Japan comparable to Hulk Hogan's in the United States of America...

       (1938–1999), professional wrestler, from Sanjō
      Sanjo, Niigata
      is a city located in central part of Niigata, Japan. The city has a Jōetsu Shinkansen stop at Tsubame-Sanjō Station.- Geography :Sanjō is located in the center of Niigata prefecture. It is about 2 hours from Tokyo by way of the Jōetsu Shinkansen or 4 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and Hokuriku...

      .
    • Sawao Kato
      Sawao Kato
      Sawao Kato is a Japanese gymnast and one of the most successful athletes of all time at the Olympic Games...

       (born 1946), winner of 12 Olympic medals in gymnastics
    • Killer Khan
      Killer Khan
      is a retired professional wrestler. Popularly known as Killer Khan, he was billed from Mongolia and had numerous high-profile matches with André the Giant in the World Wrestling Federation during the 1980s, including the first ever "stretcher match"...

       (born 1947), professional wrestler, from Tsubame
      Tsubame, Niigata
      is a city located in Niigata, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954 by merging with 4 towns and villages. Nearly 52 years later on March 20, 2006, the old Tsubame merged with Bunsui and Yoshida from Nishikanbara District to form the new city of Tsubame....

      .

    External links

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