Miyagi Prefecture facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Miyagi Prefecture |
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| Capital | Sendai | ||||||||
| Region | Tōhoku | ||||||||
| Island | Honshū | ||||||||
| Governor | Yoshihiro Murai | ||||||||
| Area (rank) | 7,285.16 km² (17th) | ||||||||
| - % water | 0.3% | ||||||||
| Population (December 1, 2010) | |||||||||
| - Population | 2,337,513 (15th) | ||||||||
| - Density | 320.86 /km² | ||||||||
| Districts | 10 | ||||||||
| Municipalities | 36 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166-2 | JP-04 | ||||||||
| Website | www.pref.miyagi.jp/ english/ |
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| Prefectural Symbols | |||||||||
| - Flower | Miyagi bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii) | ||||||||
| - Tree | Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata) |
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| - Bird | Wild goose | ||||||||
| - Fish | |||||||||
 Symbol of Miyagi Prefecture |
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Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県, Miyagi-ken) is a special area in Japan. It is called a prefecture. Miyagi is located in the Tōhoku region on the big island of Honshū. The main city and capital of Miyagi is Sendai.
Contents
History of Miyagi
Miyagi Prefecture was once part of a very old area called Mutsu Province. This province was in the northern part of Honshū. It grew by taking land from the Emishi, who were the native people of the area. Mutsu Province became the largest province in Japan. Its old capital city was in the area that is now Miyagi Prefecture.
During the Sengoku period (a time of wars in Japan), different powerful families ruled parts of Mutsu. A famous leader named Date Masamune was a friend of the Tokugawa clan. He started the city of Sendai. Today, Sendai is the biggest city in the Tōhoku region.
In the Meiji period (a time of big changes in Japan), Mutsu Province was divided. Four new provinces were made: Rikuchū, Rikuzen, Iwaki, and Iwashiro. In 1871, the area became Sendai Prefecture. The next year, in 1872, its name was changed to Miyagi Prefecture.
The Great Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011
On March 11, 2011, a very strong earthquake hit Miyagi Prefecture. It was a 9.0-magnitude earthquake. After the earthquake, a huge tsunami (a giant ocean wave) crashed into the coast. The tsunami was about 10 meters (33 feet) high in some places. This event caused a lot of damage to the area.
Cities and Towns
Miyagi Prefecture has many cities, towns, and villages. These are places where people live and work.
Cities in Miyagi
There are thirteen cities in Miyagi Prefecture:
- Higashimatsushima
- Ishinomaki
- Iwanuma
- Kakuda
- Kesennuma
- Kurihara
- Natori
- Ōsaki
- Sendai (This is the capital city)
- Shiogama
- Shiroishi
- Tagajō
- Tome
Towns and Villages in Miyagi
These are the towns and villages, grouped by their district:
- Igu District
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- Marumori
- Kami District
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- Kami
- Shikama
- Katta District
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- Shichikashuku
- Zaō
- Kurokawa District
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- Ōhira
- Ōsato
- Taiwa
- Tomiya
- Miyagi District
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- Matsushima
- Rifu
- Shichigahama
- Motoyoshi District
- Oshika District
- Shibata District
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- Kawasaki
- Murata
- Ōgawara
- Shibata
- Tōda District
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- Misato
- Wakuya
- Watari District
Nature and Parks
About 23% of Miyagi Prefecture's land is covered by national parks. These parks protect beautiful natural areas.
- Rikuchu Kaigan National Park is one of these important parks.
What Miyagi Makes
Farming, fishing, and making sake (a Japanese drink) are very important to Miyagi's economy. In March 2011, Miyagi produced almost 5% of Japan's rice. It also produced 23% of the country's oysters and nearly 16% of its saury fish.
Making things (called manufacturing) is also a big part of the economy, especially around Sendai. Factories in Miyagi produce electronics, home appliances, and processed food.
Learning in Miyagi
Miyagi Prefecture has many universities where students can continue their education:
- Miyagi University
- Miyagi University of Education
- Miyagi Gakuin Women's University
- Sendai University
- Sendai Shirayuri Women's College
- Tohoku University
- Tohoku Gakuin University
- Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University
- Tohoku Institute of Technology
- Tohoku Fukushi University
- Tohoku Seikatsu Bunka College
- Tohoku Pharmaceutical University
- Shokei Gakuin University
- Ishinomaki Senshu University
Getting Around Miyagi
Trains
Many train lines help people travel around Miyagi.
- JR East operates several lines:
- Tohoku Shinkansen (a high-speed bullet train)
- Tohoku Line
- Joban Line
- Senseki Line
- Senzan Line
- Ishinomaki Line
- Rikuu East Line
- Ofunato Line
- The Sendai Municipal Subway has the Nanboku Line.
- Other train lines include the Abukuma Express Railway and the Sendai Airport Railway.
Airports
- Sendai Airport is the main airport in the prefecture. It was badly damaged by the 2011 tsunami but has since been rebuilt.
Fun Places to Visit
Sendai was once a castle town for the powerful leader Date Masamune. You can still see the remains of Sendai Castle on a hill above the city.
Miyagi Prefecture is home to one of Japan's Three Great Views. Matsushima Bay is famous for its many small islands covered with old pine trees. Many visitors come here every year, and artists often paint the beautiful islands.
Other popular attractions include:
- Aoba Castle
- Ichibanchō (a shopping and entertainment district)
- Akiu Hot Spring (a place to relax in natural hot water)
- Iwai Point
- Kinkasan Islet (a small island)
- Naruko Hot Spring
- Rikuchu Coast
- Okama Crater Lake (a lake in a volcano crater)
- Zao Botanical Garden
- Zao Hot Spring
- Shiogama
Festivals and Events
Miyagi Prefecture hosts many exciting festivals and events throughout the year:
- Aoba Festival, with Suzume Dancing – Held in May
- Sendai Tanabata Festival – Celebrated from August 6 to 8
- Sendai Pageant of Starlight – A beautiful light display in December
- Shiogama Port Festival – Held in July
- Shiroishi Kokeshi Exhibition – From May 3 to 5, showing traditional wooden dolls
- Narugo Kokeshi Festival – Held in September
Shrines and Temples
Shigogama jinja is the most important Shinto shrine (called an ichinomiya) in Miyagi Prefecture. Shinto shrines are places of worship in Japan.
Related pages
- Provinces of Japan
- Prefectures of Japan
- List of regions of Japan
- List of islands of Japan
- Vegalta Sendai (a local soccer team)
- Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (a local baseball team)
Images for kids
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Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi.
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See also
In Spanish: Prefectura de Miyagi para niños
