Morioka, Iwate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Morioka City**
**盛岡市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Iwate prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	886.47 km²
Population (as of 2005)
Total	300,740
Density	588/km²
Location	39°41′N 141°09′E
Symbols
Tree	Katsura
Flower	Rabbitear iris
Symbol of Morioka City
Morioka City City Hall
Mayor	Hiroaki Tanifuji
Address	〒020-8530 Morioka-shi, Uchimaru 12-2
Phone number	019-651-4111
Official website: www.city.morioka.iwate.jp

Coordinates: 39°41′N 141°09′E

Morioka (盛岡市, Moriokashi^?) is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 287,672 and the density of 588.11 persons per km². The total area is 489.15 km².

The city was founded on April 1, 1889.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Transportation
4 Food
5 Temples and Shrines
6 Culture
7 Twinnings
8 Notable persons
9 External links

[edit] History

Morioka is in the territory inhabited by the Emishi people in ancient times. The general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, who was ordered to conquer the Emishi, built Shiwa Castle here in 803, and the region gradually was brought under imperial control.

At the end of the Heian period, Morioka was under the control of the Ōshū Fujiwara Clan based in Hiraizumi, to the south of Morioka. The clan was destroyed by shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the Kudo Clan replaced it. During the Muromachi period, the Nambu Clan, based in Sannohe to the north, expanded its territory and built Kozukata Castle here. Kozukata changed its name to Morioka in the 17th century.

In the Boshin War, Morioka made a pro-shogunate alliance with Aizu, and fought against the imperial force.

[edit] Geography

Morioka is located in Kitakami Basin. The Kitakami River, the longest river in Tohoku, runs through the city. Beautiful Mount Iwate is to the northwest of the city.

Kitakami River	KitakamiRiver and Iwate Mountain	Bank (Iwate Ginko)	Rock-Breaking Cherry Tree
castle	park	Sansa Odori festival	Sansa Odori festival

[edit] Transportation

Morioka Station was the original northern terminal of Tohoku Shinkansen. The line was extended to Hachinohe in 2002, but the station has kept its significant role in the traffic of northern Tohoku. Akita Shinkansen also branches off at the station.

[edit] Food

Morioka attracts tourists with local noodles such as jajamen, reimen, and wankosoba. Brewing is also a thriving industry of the city. Nambu Senbei, a type of rice cracker, is considered a local delicacy.

[edit] Temples and Shrines

Hoonji is a temple which was originally built at Sannohe by the 13th lord of the Nambu Clan, Moriyuki, in 1394, and brought to Morioka by the 27th lord, Toshinao. It was considered the head temple among the 280 operated by the Nambu Clan. its notable feature is the Rakando (Statues Hall), built in 1735 and rebuilt in 1858. It's central statue Rushana-butsu is reported to be made by Kodo-daishi. Within the Rakando 500 Rakans, ('holy people who deserve other's offerings') which were made in Kyoto and later brought to Morioka, rest on a series of 5 rows of shelves that stretch around the room. Today it is known as a Zen training temple for monks.

Mitsuishi temple (literally, 'three rocks'), has three large rocks on the grounds with shackles around them to represent the story of 'Oni no tegata', which is a legend explaining the origin of the name of Iwate prefecture. According to the legend, there was once a devil who often tormented and harassed the local people. When the people prayed to the spirits of Mitsuishi for protection, the devil was immediately shackled to the rocks and made to promise never to trouble the people again. As a sign of this promise, the devil left a handprint on one of the rocks, thus giving rise to the name Iwate, literally meaning ‘rock hand’. Even now after a rainfall it is said that the devil’s hand print can still be seen.

[edit] Culture

The Iwate Museum of Art in Morioka displays works by three notable local artists, Tetsugoro Yorozu, Shunsuke Matsumoto and Yasutake Funakoshi, as well as holding exhibitions on national and international themes.