Iwate Prefecture
Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwate-ken) is a prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is on the island of Honshu.[1] The capital city is Morioka.[2]
Iwate
岩手県 | |
|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | |
| • Romaji | Iwate-ken |
 Flag  Symbol | |
 Location of Iwate in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 39°42′12″N 141°9′9″E / 39.70333°N 141.15250°ECoordinates: 39°42′12″N 141°9′9″E / 39.70333°N 141.15250°E | |
| Country |  Japan |
| Region | Tohoku |
| Island | Honshu |
| Capital | Morioka |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Takuya Tasso |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15,278.40 km2 (5,899.02 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 2nd |
| Population (1 Oct 2010) | |
| • Total | 1,330,530 |
| • Rank | 30th |
| • Density | 87/km2 (230/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-03 |
| Prefectural flower | Paulownia tree (Paulownia tomentosa) |
| Prefectural tree | Nanbu red pine (Pinus densiflora) |
| Prefectural bird | Green pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) |
| Number of districts | 10 |
| Number of municipalities | 33 |
| Website | www |
History Edit
The area of Iwate was part of Mutsu Province.[3]
In 1869, Mutsu was split into five new provinces: Rikuōku,[4] Rikuchū,[4] Rikuzen,[4] Iwashiro[1] and Iwaki.[5] The first three of these together known as the "Three Riku", or Sanriku.[6]
The new provinces were abolished in July 1871.[7]
In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. Maps of Japan and Mutsu Province were changed in the 1870s.[3]
Geography Edit
Iwate is the second largest prefecture after Hokkaido.[1]
The prefecture is in the Tōhoku region of Honshū island. It has the island's easternmost point.[8] The eastern coastline faces the Pacific Ocean. Iwate shares its northern border with Aomori Prefecture. The western border meets Akita Prefecture. Its southern border is shared with Miyagi Prefecture.
Cities Edit
National Parks Edit
National parks cover about 5% of the total land area of the prefecture.[9] They include:
Shrines and temples Edit
Tsutsukowake jinja is the main Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) of the prefecture.[12]
The Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi include Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji. Hiraizumi was added to the World Heritage List in June 2011.[13]
Related pages Edit
References Edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 661. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 780. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 790. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 408. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Nippon-Kichi, "Saw-tooth Sanriku Coastline". Retrieved 2012-1-12.
- ↑ Japan-i, Sanriku Coastline/Kamaishi Daikannon Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-1-12.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 970. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture". Retrieved 2012-3-13.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of the Environment, "Towada-Hachimantai National Park" Archived 2006-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-3-19.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of the Environment, "Rikuchu Kaigan National Park" Archived 2006-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-3-19.
- ↑ "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-1-17.
- ↑ "World Heritage Hiraizumi". Retrieved 2013-07-10.
Other websites Edit
- http://www.pref.iwate.jp/info.rbz?ik=1&nd=4334 Archived 2012-01-19 at the Wayback Machine; (in Japanese)