Tokushima Prefecture

Tokushima Prefecture
徳島県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 徳島県
 • Rōmaji Tokushima-ken

Flag
Symbol
Country Japan
Region Shikoku
Island Shikoku
Capital Tokushima
Government
 • Governor Kamon Iizumi
Area
 • Total 4,144.95 km2 (1,600.37 sq mi)
Area rank 36th
Population (May 1, 2016)
 • Total 751,969
 • Rank 44th
 • Density 180/km2 (470/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-36
Districts 8
Municipalities 24
Flower Sudachi (Citrus sudachi)
Tree Yamamomo (Myrica rubra)
Bird White heron
Website pref.tokushima.jp/english/
Tokushima Prefectural Office

Tokushima Prefecture (徳島県, Tokushima-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island.[1] The capital is the city of Tokushima.[2]

History

Until the Meiji Restoration, Tokushima Prefecture was known as Awa Province.[3]

Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture

In ancient times, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun. In the first wave of government consolidation following the abolishment of the fiefdom system and construction of prefectures in 1871, it became known as Myodo Prefecture. At the time, it included the Awa region to the south and the Awaji Island regions as well. In 1873 it further incorporated the region currently occupied by Kagawa Prefecture in its borders.

In the second wave of government consolidation, on September 5, 1875, the Sanuki Region separated to form the modern day Kagawa Prefecture. On August 21, 1876, Awaji Island separated to join Hyogo Prefecture and the Awa region separated to form Kochi Prefecture.

On March 2, 1880, Myodo Prefecture fully separated from Kochi Prefecture to be inaugurated as Tokushima Prefecture.

Post-war

Geography

Map of Tokushima Prefecture.

The Sanuki Mountains run along the northern border of the prefecture.

As of April 1, 2012, 9% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Setonaikai National Park; Muroto-Anan Kaigan and Tsurugisan Quasi-National Parks; and Chūbu Sankei, Dochū-Kōtsu, Hashikura, Higashi Sankei, Okumiyagawa-Uchidani, and Ōasayama Prefectural Natural Parks.[4]

Cities

Eight cities are located in Tokushima Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Mergers

Economy and Industry

Tokushima depends on agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The percentage of agricultural workers and productivity is the second largest in Shikoku next to Kochi. Rice fields occupy the lower region of the Yoshino River and the small, narrow plains along the shore. Much of the remaining land is used for vegetables and flowers. The prefecture is the nation's largest supplier of cauliflower and lotus roots, and the fourth largest producer of carrots. Japanese indigo is only produced here.

Northern Tokushima's growth was accelerated by the completion of the Akashi Channel Bridge, which completes the road connection from Tokushima to Kobe. Industrial development continues around the Tokushima and Naruto districts. In particular, Itano District's Aizumi Town and Kitajima Town have experienced rapid growth, which has led to a proposed merger of the towns of Itano District into Itano City in the future.

Agriculture

Tokushima abounds in agricultural resources and is the site of large-scale production of many different types of vegetables. The plains north of the Yoshino River are particularly fertile and the produce here is often shipped to mainland Japan in the areas around Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto. Produce from Tokushima always claims top shares in markets in the Kansai region and particularly prominent are Naruto sweet potatoes, the citrus fruit "sudachi", lotus roots and strawberries.

The lack of goods heading to Tokyo has led to a relatively low national profile for local Tokushima brands. To combat this, the local Tokushima government now sends the "Fresh! Tokushima" moving display about the country with its mobile kitchen set to increase general awareness of the local food available in Tokushima Prefecture.

Culture

View of Iya Valley, Miyoshi
View of Mount Tsurugi
Onaruto-bridge and Naruto whirlpools

Sports

Tokushima hosted the official 2007 Asian Basketball Championship.

Further, the sports teams listed below are based in Tokushima.

Football (soccer)

Baseball

Prefectural symbols

Tokushima's prefectural symbol is a stylized combination of the hiragana for to and ku, the first two characters in the hiragana spelling of the prefecture's name.

Politics

Prefectural Governor (as elected by public vote)

Prefectural Assembly

Party Total
Total41
Liberal Democratic Party / Shinsei Club 11
Liberal Democratic Party / Koyu Club 9
Meisei Club 7
Shinpu Democratic Club 6
Kaikaku Isshin Club 3
Japanese Communist Party 3
New Komeito Group 2

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tokushima prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 980, p. 980, at Google Books.
  2. ↑ Nussbaum, "Tokushima" at p. 980, p. 980, at Google Books.
  3. ↑ Nussbaum, "Awa no Kuni" at p. 62, p. 62, at Google Books; "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books
  4. ↑ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 26 June 2012.

References

Coordinates: 34°2′N 134°26′E / 34.033°N 134.433°E / 34.033; 134.433

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