Saga Prefecture

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Saga Prefecture (佐賀県 Saga-ken)
Map of Japan with Saga highlighted
Capital Saga
Region Kyūshū
Island Kyūshū
Governor Yasushi Furukawa
Area (rank) 2,439.58 km² (42nd)
 - % water 1.7%
Population  (February 1, 2008)
 - Population 858,603 (42nd)
 - Density 352 /km²
Districts 6
Municipalities 20
ISO 3166-2 JP-41
Website www.pref.saga.lg.jp/
at-contents/gaikoku/
english.html
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Camphor blossom (Cinnamomum camphora)
 - Tree Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
 - Bird Black-billed magpie (Pica pica)
Symbol of Saga Prefecture
Symbol of Saga Prefecture

Saga Prefecture (佐賀県 Saga-ken?) is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita. The capital is the city of Saga.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Kyūshū's smallest prefecture, Saga is located on the northwest corner of the island, bordered by the Genkai Sea and the Tsushima Strait to the north and the Ariake Sea to the south. Saga's proximity to mainland Asia has made it an important gateway for the transmission of culture and trade throughout Japanese history. Largely rural outside of the two largest cities of Saga and Karatsu, agricultural and forested lands comprise over 68% of the total prefectural land area.

[edit] Geographical features

[edit] Plains

  • Saga Plains

[edit] Mountains

  • Sefuri Mountains, Tara Mountains
  • Mount Kyōga (1,076 m, the highest point in Saga), Mount Sefuri (1,056 m), Tenzan (1,046 m), Taradake (996 m ), Mount Ihara (962 m), Kinzan (957 m), Raizan (955 m), Mount Hagane (900 m)

[edit] Rivers and lakes

  • Chikugo River (15.5 km in Saga), Kase River (57.5 km), Matsuura River (45.3 km), Rokkaku River (43.6 km)
  • Hokuzan Dam, Kase River Dam

[edit] Seas

[edit] Peninsulas

  • Higashimatsuura Peninsula, part of Kitamatsuura Peninsula

[edit] Islands

  • Genkai Sea: Takashima, Kashiwajima, Ogawajima, Kakarajima, Matsushima, Madarajima, Kabeshima, Mukushima
  • Ariake Sea: Okinoshima

[edit] Land use

Total area: 2439.31 km² ,

  • Forest, rough lands: 49.2% - 1/3 of the national average.
    • Forested area: 1096.9 km² - From 2000, 42nd in the country.
  • Arable land: 39.1% - 2 times the national average.
  • Residential: 6.8% - 1.4 times the national average.
  • Other: 4.9% - Roughly the same as the national average.

[edit] History

A reconstruction of a Yayoi period building at the Yoshinogari site.
A reconstruction of a Yayoi period building at the Yoshinogari site.

In ancient times the area composed by Nagasaki Prefecture and Saga Prefecture was called Hizen Province. The current name dates from the Meiji Restoration. Rice farming culture has prospered here since ancient times, and vestiges can be seen at the ruins of Nabatake in Karatsu and the Yoshinogari site in Yoshinogari.

[edit] Feudal period

From the Kamakura period to the Muromachi period it is thought that over 100 feudal clans existed. Also exerting great influence during this time was a samurai clan operating along the Genkai Sea called the Matsuratō. Upon entering the Sengoku period, the Ryūzōji clan expanded their control to include all of Hizen and Chikugo Provinces, and part of Higo and Chikuzen Provinces. After the death of daimyo Takanobu Ryūzōji, Naoshige Nabeshima took control of the political situation, and by 1607 all of the Ryūzōji clan's domain was under the control of the Nabeshima clan.

Saga Castle (Shachi gate)
Saga Castle (Shachi gate)

In the Edo period this area was called the Saga Domain (佐賀藩 Saga-han), and it included three sub-domains: the Hasunoike, Ogi and Kashima Domains. Also within the current borders of Saga Prefecture during this time were the Karatsu Domain (唐津藩 Karatsu-han) and two territories of the Tsushima-Fuchū Domain (対馬府中藩 Tsushimafuchū-han). Saga Domain and its sub-domains continued to be ruled by the Nabeshima clan, its various illegitimate family lineages and members of the former Ryūzōji clan, and politically the area was relatively stable. However, the cost of defending Nagasaki was increasing and, difficult from the start, the financial situation was worsened by the great Kyōhō famine and the Siebold Typhoon of 1828. Nevertheless, due to the large area of reclaimed land from the Ariake Sea arable land was able to increase significantly and by the 1840s the annual koku of Saga Domain increased to about 670,000, twice that of 200 years before.

Around the middle of the 19th century, Naomasa Nabeshima strove to set right the domain's financial affairs, reduce the number of government officials, and encourage local industry such as Arita porcelain, green tea, and coal. Also, thanks to the proximity of the international port of Nagasaki, new technologies were introduced from overseas, such as the reverberatory furnace and models of steam locomotives.

After the Boshin war, many people from Saga Domain assisted in the Meiji Restoration. In the Meiji era the modernization of coal mines in Kishima and Higashimatsuura districts, among others, progressed bolstered by the construction of railroads.

[edit] Timeline

[edit] Municipalities

Map of Saga Prefecture showing municipal boundries.
Map of Saga Prefecture showing municipal boundries.

As of December 2004, Saga Prefecture consisted of 7 cities, 8 districts, 38 towns and 4 villages for a total of 49 municipalities. However, as a part of the Great Heisei Merger, the number of municipalities has decreased since January 1, 2005 . As of October 1, 2007, at the present, Saga has 10 cities, 6 districts and 10 towns for a total of 20 municipalities. On March 20, 2006 the village of Sefuri merged with the city of Kanzaki, leaving Saga with no more villages.

[edit] Cities

[edit] Towns

Tara
Genkai
Yoshinogari
Kohoku
Ōmachi
Shiroishi
Kamimine
Kiyama
Miyaki
Arita

[edit] Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Saga Prefecture

[edit] Metropolitan areas

  • Saga
    • Saga, Taku, Ogi, Kanzaki
  • Karatsu-Higashimatsuura
    • Karatsu, Genkai
  • Tosu
    • Tosu, Kamimine, Kiyama, Yoshinogari, Miyaki
  • Kitō
    • Takeo, Kashima, Ureshino, Shiroishi, Ōmachi, Kōhoku, Tara

[edit] Economy

Agriculture, forestry, and coastal fisheries form a large portion of the prefectural economy. Regional agricultural specialties include Saga beef, onions, and strawberries. The prefecture is the largest producer of mochigome (sticky rice) and greenhouse mandarin oranges in Japan.

According to 2002 figures, regional trade exports are focused primarily towards North America (29.3%), Western Europe (26.1%), and the Newly Industrializing Economies of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore (19.9%). Imports come principally from North America (40.6%), the ASEAN nations (23.3%), and the People's Republic of China (12.2%).

[edit] Banks

  • Bank of Saga
  • Saga Kyoei Bank

[edit] Education

[edit] Universities

[edit] Demographics

As of 2002, the census recorded a population 873,885 in Saga. Of these, 15.9% were aged 0-14, 62.7% were age 15-64, and 21.4% were over 65 years old. There were 3,596 foreigners (.4%) and 307 exchange students (.03%) living in the prefecture.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Air

[edit] Rail

Major stations in the prefecture include Saga Station, Tosu Station, Karatsu Station and Imari Station.

[edit] Road

[edit] Culture

Arita, Imari and Karatsu are famous for the beautiful porcelain that is created there. The top porcelain houses in the country are located in these areas, including Imaemon Porcelain, Genemon Porcelain and Fukagawa Porcelain.

[edit] Language

Saga-ben (Saga-dialect) is Saga's own variation of Japanese.

[edit] Festivals

[edit] Saga International Balloon Fiesta

The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is held at the beginning of November every year just outside of Saga City along the Kase River. This is a very popular event and attracts competitors from all over the world.

[edit] Karatsu Kunchi

The Karatsu Kunchi is held at the beginning of November in Karatsu City. This is Saga's most famous festival and attracts around 500,000 visitors every year.

[edit] Kashima Gatalympics

The Kashima Gatalympics is held every May in Hama Town, a part of Kashima City. This event involves playing a variety of sports in the mudflats of the Ariake Sea.

[edit] Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival

The Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival is held for 3 days every year near the end of October. Located in Imari City, the festival is one of the three great fighting festivals in Japan. In the festival a crashing battle takes place between the two huge portable shrines, the Ara-mikoshi and the Danjiri. The name "Ton-Ten-Ton" represents the sound of drums used in the festival.

[edit] Sport

[edit] All Japan Inter High School Athletics Meet 2007

Starting on July, 28th 2007 is the All Japan Inter High School Athletics Meet which will be held throughout different locations within Saga Prefecture. The meet goes from July 28th until August 20th. More information can be found at Saga-Soutai Official Website.

  • Ph. (0952) 25-7335
  • Email: zenkokukoukousoutai@pref.saga.lg.jp

Access Map: Saga Map (in Japanese)

[edit] Sports Teams

Teams listed below are based in Saga Prefecture.

Football (soccer)

Volleyball

[edit] Tourism

Karatsu, with its fine castle, is a popular tourist destination in Saga. The remains of a Yayoi village in Yoshinogari also attract large numbers of sightseers. Another place to visit is Yūtoku Inari Shrine, one of Japans three biggest Inari shrines.

Karatsu Castle.
Karatsu Castle.

[edit] Famous people

  • Comedian and J-Pop singer Hanawa became famous for comically singing about Saga Prefecture and its oddities.
  • Comedian Masashi Tashiro was born in Saga Prefecture.
  • Musician Mukai Shutoku was born in Saga Prefecture before moving to Fukuoka Prefecture to pursue his career.
  • World War II fighter ace Saburo Sakai was born in Saga Prefecture.
  • Actress and J-Pop singer Yasuko Matsuyuki and her younger brother, J-Pop/Rock singer Yuna Katsuki (of Lazy Knack and RED) are from Saga city.[1]

[edit] The Seven Wise Men Of Saga

"The Seven Wise men of Saga" is the name given to these seven men from Saga, each of whom have made a significant contribution to the modernisation of Japan. Their contributions began in the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and continued into the Meiji Restoration. Even today, this era shines impressively in Saga's history.

  • Lord Naomasa Nabeshima, feudal lord of the Nabeshima clan, helped to bring about the development of Saga through introducing European technology and culture.
  • Sano Tsunetami founded the Japanese Red Cross.
  • Shima Yoshitake contributed to the exploration of Hokkaidō.
  • Soejima Taneomi served the roles of Diet member, Foreign Minister, Minister of Domestic Affairs and was well known for his Chinese Poetry and talented writing skills.
  • Ōki Takatō was Minister of Civil Affairs, Education and Legal Affairs, held the position of a Diet member and made considerable contributions to the establishment of the modern education system in Japan.
  • Eto Shimpei, also once a Minister of Legal Affairs, became a Diet member and created the foundation for Japan's judicial system.
  • Ōkuma Shigenobu served two terms as Prime Minister of Japan. He also established Waseda University.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Welcome To Saga; Published by the International Exchange Division, General Affairs Department, Saga Prefecture.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Shadow picture of Saga Prefecture Saga Prefecture
Flag of Saga Prefecture
Cities
Imari | Kanzaki | Karatsu | Kashima | Ogi | Saga (capital) | Takeo | Taku | Tosu | Ureshino
Districts and Towns
Fujitsu:  Tara Higashimatsuura:  Genkai Kanzaki:  Yoshinogari
Kishima:  Kōhoku | Ōmachi | Shiroishi Miyaki:  Kamimine | Kiyama | Miyaki Nishimatsuura:  Arita
  edit
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Regions and administrative divisions of Japan

Aichi · Akita · Aomori · Chiba · Ehime · Fukui · Fukuoka · Fukushima · Gifu · Gunma · Hiroshima · Hokkaidō · Hyōgo · Ibaraki · Ishikawa · Iwate · Kagawa · Kagoshima · Kanagawa · Kōchi · Kumamoto · Kyoto · Mie · Miyagi · Miyazaki · Nagano · Nagasaki · Nara · Niigata · Ōita · Okayama · Okinawa · Osaka · Saga · Saitama · Shiga · Shimane · Shizuoka · Tochigi · Tokushima · Tokyo · Tottori · Toyama · Wakayama · Yamagata · Yamaguchi · Yamanashi

Coordinates: 33°17′N, 130°10′E