Yamaguchi Prefecture

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Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県 Yamaguchi-ken)
Map of Japan with Yamaguchi highlighted
Capital Yamaguchi
Region Chūgoku
Island Honshū
Governor Sekinari Nii
Area (rank) 6,110.94 km² (22nd)
 - % water 2.6%
Population  (February 2006)
 - Population 1,490,072 (25th)
 - Density 248 /km²
Districts 5
Municipalities 22
ISO 3166-2 JP-35
Website www.pref.yamaguchi.lg.jp/foreign/
english/index.html
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Bitter summer mandarin blossom (Citrus natsudaidai)
 - Tree Red pine tree (Pinus densiflora)
 - Bird Hooded crane (Grus monacha)
Symbol of Yamaguchi Prefecture
Symbol of Yamaguchi Prefecture

Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県 Yamaguchi-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi located in the center of the Prefecture: The largest city, by contrast, is Shimonoseki.

Contents

[edit] History

Map of Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Map of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Yamaguchi Prefecture was formerly divided into Nagato and Suō provinces. It was ruled by the Mōri clan domain during the Sengoku period.

After Commodore Matthew Perry's opening of Japan, clans from Nagato (also called Chōshū) played a key role in the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the new imperial government.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Cities

[edit] Towns and districts

There are 4 districts and 7 towns in Yamaguchi Prefecture:

[edit] Villages

There are no longer villages as municipalities in Yamaguchi Prefectrue.

[edit] Mergers

[edit] Future mergers

[edit] Economy

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Culture

[edit] Tourism

One of the major attractions is the famous Kintai Bridge in the town of Iwakuni. This five arced wooden structure is considered a symbol of Western Honshū. The area on the banks of the Nishiki river close to the bridge is considered among the best places in Japan for Hanami (花見, lit. "flower viewing"), when groups of family and friends gather in early April to view Cherry Blossom.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

[edit] Airports

  • Yamaguchi Ube Airport (Only for domestic flights)

[edit] Prefectural symbols

[edit] Famous People From Yamaguchi

  • Kido Takayoshi, one of the two main architects of the Meiji Restoration
  • Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe represented first Yamaguchi's 1st then 4th district in the House of Representatives; his father represented Yamaguchi as well.
  • Atsushi Tamura of the comic duo London Boots Ichi-go Ni-go is from Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi.
  • Teruzane Utada music producer, manager and father of Utada Hikaru is from somewhere in Yamaguchi Prefecture, as mentioned on the latter's blog.
  • Michishige Sayumi, a Japanese idol who is one of the 6th generation members of japanese idol group Morning Musume was also born in Yamaguchi.
  • Raizo Tanaka, a Japanese rear admiral during World War II. Tanaka was the commander of the Midway invasion force and later made famous for his efforts to keep Japanese forces on Guadalcanal in supply with the "Tokyo Express."

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Shadow picture of Yamaguchi Prefecture Yamaguchi Prefecture
Flag of Yamaguchi Prefecture
Cities
Hagi | Hikari | Hōfu | Iwakuni | Kudamatsu | Mine | Nagato | San'yō-Onoda | Shimonoseki | Shūnan | Ube | Yamaguchi (capital) | Yanai
Districts
Abu | Kuga | Kumage | Ōshima
  See also: Towns and villages by district edit

Coordinates: 34°4′N, 131°30′E