is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fukushima-ken" in ; "Tōhoku" in Fukushima Prefecture has a population of 1,771,100 () and has a geographic area of . Fukushima Prefecture borders Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture to the north, Niigata Prefecture to the west, Gunma Prefecture to the southwest, and Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture to the south.
Fukushima is the capital and as of the 2023 population census, Iwaki is the largest city with Kōriyama following closely behind, with other major cities including Aizuwakamatsu, and Sukagawa.Nussbaum, "Fukushima" in Fukushima Prefecture is located on Japan's eastern Pacific coast at the southernmost part of the Tōhoku region, and is home to Lake Inawashiro, the fourth-largest lake in Japan. Fukushima Prefecture is the third-largest prefecture of Japan (after Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture) and divided by mountain ranges into the three regions of Aizu, Nakadōri, and Hamadōri.
History
Prehistory
The keyhole-shaped Ōyasuba Kofun is the largest kofun in the Tohoku region. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 2000.
Classical and feudal period
Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was part of what was known as Mutsu Province.Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in
The Shirakawa Barrier and the Nakoso Barrier were built around the 5th century to protect 'the heathens' from the 'barbarians' to the north. Fukushima became a province of Mutsu after the Taika Reforms were established in 646.Takeda, Toru et al. (2001). Fukushima – Today & Tomorrow, p. 10.
In 718, the provinces of Iwase and Iwaki were created, but these areas reverted to Mutsu some time between 722 and 724.Meyners d'Estrey, Guillaume Henry Jean (1884). ; Nussbaum, "Iwaki" in
The Shiramizu Amidadō is a chapel within the Buddhist temple Ganjō-ji in Iwaki. It was built in 1160 and it is a National Treasure. The temple, including the paradise garden is an Historic Site.
Contemporary period This region of Japan is also known as Michinoku and Ōshū.
The Fukushima Incident, a political tumult, took place in the prefecture after Mishima Michitsune was appointed governor in 1882.
2011 earthquake and subsequent disasters On Friday, March 11, 2011, 14:46 JST, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture. Shindo measurements throughout the prefecture reached as high as 6-upper in isolated regions of Hama-dōri on the eastern coast and as low as a 2 in portions of the Aizu region in the western part of the prefecture. Fukushima City, located in Naka-dōri and the capital of Fukushima Prefecture, measured 6-lower.
Following the earthquake there were isolated reports of major damage to structures, including the failure of Fujinuma Dam as well as damage from landslides. The earthquake also triggered a massive tsunami that hit the eastern coast of the prefecture and caused widespread destruction and loss of life. In the two years following the earthquake, 1,817 residents of Fukushima Prefecture had either been confirmed dead or were missing as a result of the earthquake and tsunami."Damage Situation and Police Countermeasures... March 11, 2013" National Police Agency of Japan. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that followed, the outer housings of two of the six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma exploded followed by a partial meltdown and fires at three of the other units. Many residents were evacuated to nearby localities due to the development of a large evacuation zone around the plant. Radiation levels near the plant peaked at 400 mSv/h (millisieverts per hour) after the earthquake and tsunami, due to damage sustained. This resulted in increased recorded radiation levels across Japan. On April 11, 2011, officials upgraded the disaster to a level 7 out of a possible 7, a rare occurrence not seen since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Several months later, officials announced that although the area nearest the melt down were still off limits, areas near the twenty kilometer radial safe zone could start seeing a return of the close to 47,000 residents that had been evacuated.
Geography
Fukushima is both the southernmost prefecture of Tōhoku region and the prefecture of Tōhoku region that is closest to Tokyo. With an area size of it is the third-largest prefecture of Japan, behind Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture. It is divided by mountain ranges into three regions called (from west to east) Aizu, Nakadōri, and Hamadōri.
Fukushima city is located in the Fukushima Basin's southwest area and nearby mountains. Located on the central eastern seaboard a part of the Pacifim rim. A region with high tectonic activity given its location where the Pacific and Eurasian continental plates collide - a part the Ring of Fire. Aizuwakamatsu is located in the western part of Fukushima Prefecture, in the southeast part of Aizu basin. Mount Bandai is the highest mountain in the prefecture with an elevation of . Mount Azuma-kofuji is an active stratovolcano that is tall with many onsen nearby. Lake Inawashiro is the 4th largest lake of Japan () in the center of the prefecture.
The coastal Hamadōri region lies on the Pacific Ocean and is the flattest and most temperate region, while the Nakadōri 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.
As of April 1, 2012, 13% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely Bandai-Asahi, Nikkō, and Oze National Parks; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park; and eleven Prefectural Natural Parks.
Cities
Thirteen cities are located in Fukushima Prefecture: FlagNameArea (km2)PopulationMapRōmajiKanjiAizuwakamatsu会津若松市382.97117,376Date伊達市265.1258,240Fukushima (capital)福島市767.72282,693Iwakiいわき市1,232.02332,931Kitakata喜多方市554.6344,760Kōriyama郡山市757.2327,692Minamisōma南相馬市398.5859,005Motomiya本宮市88.0230,236Nihonmatsu二本松市344.4253,557Shirakawa白河市305.3259,491Sōma相馬市197.7934,865Sukagawa須賀川市279.4374,992Tamura田村市458.335,169
Cityscape
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district: FlagNameArea (km2)PopulationDistrictTypeMapRōmaji KanjiAizubange会津坂下町91.5915,068Kawanuma DistrictTownAizumisato会津美里町276.3319,014Ōnuma DistrictTownAsakawa浅川町37.436,036Ishikawa DistrictTownBandai磐梯町59.773,322Yama DistrictTownFurudono古殿町163.294,825Ishikawa DistrictTownFutaba双葉町51.4206,093 (recorded)Futaba DistrictTownHanawa塙町211.418,302Higashishirakawa DistrictTownHinoemata檜枝岐村390.46504Minamiaizu DistrictVillageHirata平田村93.425,826Ishikawa DistrictVillageHirono広野町58.695,412Futaba DistrictTownIitate飯舘村230.131,3185,946 (recorded)Sōma DistrictVillageInawashiro猪苗代町394.8513,552Yama DistrictTownIshikawa石川町115.7114,644Ishikawa DistrictTownIzumizaki泉崎村35.436,213Nishishirakawa DistrictVillageKagamiishi鏡石町31.312,318Iwase DistrictTownKaneyama金山町293.921,862Ōnuma DistrictTownKatsurao葛尾村84.37420 1,387 (recorded)Futaba DistrictVillageKawamata川俣町127.712,170Date DistrictTownKawauchi川内村197.352,044Futaba DistrictVillageKitashiobara北塩原村234.082,556Yama DistrictVillageKoori桑折町42.9711,459Date DistrictTownKunimi国見町37.958,639Date DistrictTownMiharu三春町72.7617,018Tamura DistrictTownMinamiaizu南会津町886.4714,451Minamiaizu DistrictTownMishima三島町90.811,452Ōnuma DistrictTownNakajima中島村18.924,885Nishishirakawa DistrictVillageNamie浪江町223.141,92317,114 (recorded)Futaba DistrictTownNaraha楢葉町103.643,710Futaba DistrictTownNishiaizu西会津町298.185,770Yama DistrictTownNishigō西郷村192.0620,808Nishishirakawa DistrictVillageŌkuma大熊町78.7184711,505 (recorded)Futaba DistrictTownOno小野町125.119,471Tamura DistrictTownŌtama大玉村79.448,900Adachi DistrictVillageSamegawa鮫川村131.343,049Higashishirakawa DistrictVillageShimogō下郷町317.045,264Minamiaizu DistrictTownShinchi新地町46.77,905Sōma DistrictTownShōwa昭和村209.461,246Ōnuma DistrictVillageTadami只見町747.564,044Minamiaizu DistrictTownTamakawa玉川村46.676,392Ishikawa DistrictVillageTanagura棚倉町159.9313,343Higashishirakawa DistrictTownTen-ei天栄村225.525,194Iwase DistrictVillageTomioka富岡町68.392,128Futaba DistrictTownYabuki矢吹町60.417,287Nishishirakawa DistrictTownYamatsuri矢祭町118.275,392Higashishirakawa DistrictTownYanaizu柳津町175.823,081Kawanuma DistrictTownYugawa湯川村16.373,081Kawanuma DistrictVillage
Mergers
Government List of governors of Fukushima Prefecture (from 1947)
Kanichiro Ishihara (石原幹市郎) – April 12, 1947 to November 30, 1949 Sakuma Otake (大竹作摩) – January 28, 1950 to July 25, 1957 Zenichiro Sato (佐藤善一郎) – August 25, 1957 to March 23, 1964 Morie Kimura (木村守江) – May 16, 1964 to August 11, 1976
Isao Matsudaira (松平勇雄) – September 19, 1976 to September 18, 1988 Eisaku Satō (佐藤栄佐久) – September 19, 1988 to September 28, 2006 Yūhei Satō (佐藤 雄平) – November 12, 2006 to November 11, 2014 Masao Uchibori (内堀 雅雄) – November 12, 2014 to present
Demographics A total of 1,833,152 people live in the Fukushima Prefecture.
Economy
The coastal region is home to thriving fishing and seafood industries, and is notable for its electricity-generating capability, especially nuclear power, while the upland regions are more focused on agriculture. Thanks to Fukushima's climate, various fruits are grown throughout the year. These include pears, peaches, cherries, grapes, and apples. the prefecture produced 20.6% of Japan's peaches and 8.7% of its cucumbers.Schreiber, Mark, "Japan's food crisis goes beyond recent panic buying ", The Japan Times, April 17, 2011, p. 9.Hongo, Jun, "Fukushima not just about nuke crisis ", The Japan Times, March 20, 2012, p. 3.
Fukushima also produces rice, which is combined with pure water from mountain run-off to make sake. Some sakes from the region are considered so tasteful that they are served to visiting royalty and world leaders by hosts.
Lacquerware is another popular product from Fukushima. Dating back over four hundred years, the process of making lacquerware involves carving an object out of wood, then putting a lacquer on it and decorating it. Objects made are usually dishes, vases and writing materials.
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.
Other stories, such as that of a large, strong, red cow that carried wood, influenced toys and superstitions. The Akabeko cow is a small, red papier-mâché cow on a bamboo or wooden frame, and is believed to ease child birth, bring good health, and help children grow up as strong as the cow.
Another superstitious talisman of the region is the Okiagari-koboshi, or self-righting dharma doll. These dolls are seen as bringers of good luck and prosperity because they stand right back up when knocked down.
Miharu-goma are small, wooden, black or white toy horses painted with colorful designs. Depending upon their design, they may be believed to bring things like long life to the owner.
Kokeshi dolls, while less symbolic, are also a popular traditional craft. They are carved wooden dolls, with large round heads and hand painted bodies. Kokeshi dolls are popular throughout many regions of Japan, but Fukushima is credited as their birthplace.
Notable festivals and events
Sōma's is held every summer.
The Nomaoi Festival horse riders dressed in complete samurai attire can be seen racing, chasing wild horses, or having contests that imitate a battle. The history behind the festival and events is over one thousand years old.
Fukushima's is held on the first weekend of August
During the Waraji Festival, a large (12-meter, 38-ft) straw sandal built by locals is dedicated to a shrine. There is also a traditional Taiwanese dragon dance, or Ryumai, performed by Taiwanese visitors.
Aizuwakamatsu's is held in late September