Fukushima Prefecture

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**Fukushima Prefecture (福島県 *Fukushima-ken*)**
Image:Japan Fukushima large.png
Capital	Fukushima (city)
Region	Tohoku
Island	Honshū
Governor	Eisaku Sato
Area	13,782.54 km² (3^rd)
- % water	0.9%
Population (January 1, 2003)
- Population	2,119,218 (17^th)
- Density	154 /km²
Districts	13
Municipalities	61
ISO 3166-2	JP-07
Website	www.pref.fukushima.jp/ index_e.html
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Nemotoshakunage (Rhododendron brachycarpum)
- Tree	Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata)
- Bird	Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina)
Symbol of Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture (福島県, Fukushima-ken^?) is located in the Tohoku region on Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Fukushima.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Culture
6 Tourism
7 Prefectural symbols
8 External links

[edit] History

Fukushima Prefecture was historically part of Mutsu Province. This region of Japan is also known as Michinoku and Ōshū.

[edit] Geography

Image:FukushimaMapCurrent.png Fukushima is the southernmost prefecture of Tohoku, and the closest to Tokyo. It is divided by mountain ranges into three regions called (from west to east) Aizu, Nakadori, and Hamadori. The coastal Hamadori region lies on the Pacific Ocean and is the flattest and most temperate region, while the Nakadori region is the agricultural heart of the prefecture and contains the capital, Fukushima City. The mountainous Aizu region has scenic lakes, lush forests, and snowy winters.

[edit] Cities

Twelve cities are located in Fukushima Prefecture:

[edit] Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

Adachi District

Motomiyaǂ

Otama

Shirasawaǂ

Date District

Iinoǂ

Kawamataǂ

Kori

Kunimi

Futaba District

Higashishirakawa District

Ishikawa District

Iwase District

Kagamiishi

Tenei

Kawanuma District

Aizubange

Yanaizu

Yugawa

Minamiaizu District

Nishishirakawa District

Onuma District

Souma District

Iitate

Shinchi

Tamura District

Miharu

Ono

Yama District

ǂ Scheduled to be dissolved following mergers.

[edit] Mergers

Main article: Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan

On November 1, 2004 the former village of Kitaaizu from the former Kitaaizu District (dissolved by this merger) merged into the (expanded) city of Aizuwakamatsu.

On March 1, 2005 the towns of Funehiki, Ogoe, Takine, and Tokiwa and village of Miyakoji, all from Tamura District, merged to create the new city of Tamura.

On April 1, 2005 the town of Naganuma and the village of Iwase from Iwase District merged into the city of Sukagawa.

On October 1, 2005 the towns of Aizuhongou and Aizutakada and the village of Niitsuru, all from Onuma District, merged to create the new town of Aizumisato.

On November 1, 2005 the town of Kawahigashi from Kawanuma District merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu.

On November 7, 2005 the city of Shirakawa and the villages of Higashi, Omotegō and Taishin from Nishishirakawa District merged to create the city of Shirakawa.

On December 1, 2005, the city of Nihonmatsu and the towns of Adachi, Iwashiro and Towa (all from Adachi District) merged into the city of Nihonmatsu.

On January 1, 2006 the towns of Date, Hobara, Ryozen, Tsukidate and Yanagawa from Date District merged to create the city of Date.

On January 1, 2006 the city of Haramachi and the towns of Kashima and Odaka from Soma District merged to create the city of Minamisoma.

On January 4, 2006, the city of Kitakata, the towns of Shiokawa and Yamato and the villages of Atsushiokanou and Takasato (all from Yama District) merged into the city of Kitakata.

On March 20, 2006, the town of Tajima and the villages of Tateiwa, Ina and Nangou (all from Minamiaizu District) merged to form the new town of Minamiaizu.

[edit] Future mergers

The town of Motomiya and the village of Shirasawa (both from the Adachi District) are scheduled to merge to form the new city of Motomiya on January 1, 2007.

The towns of Kawamata and Iino from the Date District are scheduled to be annexed by the city of Fukushima on July 1, 2008. However the assembly of Kawamata voted to object to the merger on September 15, 2006, which may lead to the cancellation of this merger.

[edit] Economy

The coastal region traditionally specializes in fishing and seafood industries, and is notable for its electric and particularly nuclear power-generating industry, while the upland regions are more focused on agriculture. The capital region has a strong industry in software and electronics.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Culture

Legend has it that an ogress, Adachigahara, once roamed the plain after whom it was named. The Adachigahara plain lies close to the city of Fukushima.

[edit] Tourism

Image:Byakko-tai shrine at Iimori-yama 2.JPG

Aizuwakamatsu was the site of an important battle in the Boshin war, during which 19 teenage members of the Byakkōtai committed ritual seppuku suicide. Their graves on Mt. Iimori are a popular tourist attraction.

Mt. Bandai, in the Bandai-Asahi National Park, erupted in 1888, creating a large crater and numerous lakes, including the picturesque Five-Coloured Lakes (Goshikinuma). The area is popular with hikers and skiiers.

Kitakata is well known for its distinctive Kitakata ramen (Chinese noodles) and well-preserved traditional storehouse buildings, while Ouchijuku in the town of Shimogo retains numerous thatched buildings from the Edo Period.