Niigata Prefecture (original) (raw)

Prefecture of Japan

"Niigata, Japan" redirects here. For the city, see Niigata (city).

Prefecture in Chūbu, Japan

Niigata Prefecture 新潟県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
Japanese 新潟県
Rōmaji Niigata-ken
Echigo PlainSki Resort in MyōkōFutatsugame in Sado IslandTsukioka OnsenKiyotsu GorgeYahiko Shrine
Flag of Niigata PrefectureFlagOfficial logo of Niigata PrefectureSeal
Anthem: Niigata kenminka
Location of Niigata Prefecture
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Kōshinetsu) (Hokuriku)
Island Honshu
Capital Niigata
Subdivisions Districts: 9, Municipalities: 30
Government
Governor Hideyo Hanazumi
Area
• Total 12,584.18 km2 (4,858.78 sq mi)
• Rank 5th
Population (July 1, 2023)
• Total 2,131,009
• Rank 15th
• Density 170/km2 (440/sq mi)
GDP[1]
• Total JP¥ 9,185 billionUS$ 84.3 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code JP-15
Website www.pref.niigata.lg.jp
Symbols of Japan
Bird Crested ibis (Nipponia nippon)
Flower Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana)
Tree Camellia (Camellia japonica)

Niigata Prefecture (新潟県, Niigata-ken) is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan.[2] Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 (1 July 2023) and is the fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area at 12,584.18 km2 (4,858.78 sq mi). Niigata Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the southwest, Gunma Prefecture to the south, Fukushima Prefecture to the east, and Yamagata Prefecture to the northeast.

Niigata is the capital and largest city of Niigata Prefecture, with other major cities including Nagaoka, Jōetsu, and Sanjō.[3] Niigata Prefecture contains the Niigata Major Metropolitan Area centered on Niigata with a population of 1,395,612, the largest metropolitan area on the Sea of Japan coast and the twelfth-largest in Japan. Niigata Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region and features Sado Island, the sixth largest island of Japan in area following the four main islands and Okinawa Island.

Rinsenji Temple, the family temple of Uesugi

Until after the Meiji Restoration, the area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province (on the mainland) and Sado Province.[4] During the Sengoku period, the Nagao clan, who were at times vassals to the Uesugi, ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata from Kasugayama Castle. The most notable member of the Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora, later and better known as Uesugi Kenshin. He unified the leaders of Echigo Province and became its sole ruler. By taking the surname Uesugi, he also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively brought their realm under his control.

The city of Niigata is now the third largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan, after Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. It was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry. It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea. A freighter from North Korea visits Niigata once a month, in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country.

The Etsuzankai organization, led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in the 1960s and 1970s. These included the Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo.

On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture and was measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya.

On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm struck the prefecture and its neighbors. At least 71 people died and more than 1,000 were injured. Also in 2006, a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged homes and caused casualties in the maritime areas of Niigata Prefecture, especially near Sado Island.

On July 16, 2007, another earthquake hit the area.

Niigata Prefecture hosts the Fuji Rock Festival, an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort. The three-day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians. It is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005.

Niigata Prefecture stretches about 240 km (149 mi) along the Sea of Japan, from the southwest to the northeast, with a coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado Island. Niigata Prefecture could be placed in either the Hokuriku or the Kōshinetsu, both of which are considered parts of the Chūbu region. The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas: Jōetsu region (上越) in the south, Chūetsu (中越) in the center, Kaetsu (下越) in the north, and Sado Island. The mouth of the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, is located in Niigata Prefecture.

As of 1 April 2014, 25% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely Bandai-Asahi, Chūbu-Sangaku, Nikkō, and Oze National Parks; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami and Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Parks; and thirteen Prefectural Natural Parks.[5]

Twenty cities are located in Niigata Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Agano 阿賀野市 192.74 41,204
Gosen 五泉市 351.91 48,458
Itoigawa 糸魚川市 746.24 41,333
Jōetsu 上越市 973.81 189,430
Kamo 加茂市 133.72 25,971
Kashiwazaki 柏崎市 442.03 81,836
Minamiuonuma 南魚沼市 584.55 55,354
Mitsuke 見附市 77.91 39,908
Murakami 村上市 1,174.26 58,300
Myōkō 妙高市 445.63 31,374
Nagaoka 長岡市 891.06 266,539
Niigata (capital) 新潟市 726.45 797,591
Ojiya 小千谷市 155.19 34,704
Sado 佐渡市 855.26 55,474
Sanjō 三条市 431.97 95,706
Shibata 新発田市 533.1 96,236
Tainai 胎内市 264.89 28,495
Tōkamachi 十日町市 590.39 53,333
Tsubame 燕市 110.96 77,382
Uonuma 魚沼市 946.76 35,027

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Type Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Aga 阿賀町 952.89 10,386 Higashikanbara District Town
Awashimaura 粟島浦村 9.78 353 Iwafune District Village
Izumozaki 出雲崎町 44.38 4,190 Santō District Town
Kariwa 刈羽村 26.27 4,578 Kariwa District Village
Seirō 聖籠町 37.58 14,025 Kitakanbara District Town
Sekikawa 関川村 299.61 5,291 Iwafune District Village
Tagami 田上町 31.71 11,481 Minamikanbara District Town
Tsunan 津南町 170.21 9,349 Nakauonuma District Town
Yahiko 弥彦村 25.17 7,824 Nishikanbara District Village
Yuzawa 湯沢町 357.29 7,926 Minami-Uonuma District Town

List of governors of Niigata Prefecture (from 1947)

[edit]

Shohei Okada (岡田正平) - from 15 April 1947 to 29 April 1955 Kazuo Kitamura (北村一男) - from 30 April 1955 to 30 November 1961 Toichiro Tsukada (塚田十一郎) - from 7 December 1961 to 28 March 1966 Shiro Watari (亘四郎) - from 8 May 1966 to 30 April 1974 Takeo Kimi (君健男) - from 1 May 1974 to 19 April 1989 Kiyoshi Kaneko (金子清) - from 4 June 1989 to 9 September 1992 Ikuo Hirayama (平山征夫) - from 25 October 1992 to 24 October 2004 Hirohiko Izumida (泉田裕彦) - from 25 October 2004 to 24 October 2016 Ryuichi Yoneyama (米山隆一) - from 25 October 2016 to 27 April 2018 Hideyo Hanazumi (花角英世) - from 12 June 2018 to present

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

[edit]

Paddy fields in Minamiuonuma

The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata ranks first in rice output, followed by Hokkaidō and Akita.[6] The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan.

Rice-related industries are also very important to the prefectural economy. Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake, senbei, mochi, and arare. In sake production, the prefecture comes third after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures.

The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp known as koi.

Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azaleas and cut lilies in Japan, and is increasing the production of cut flowers and flower bulbs. Along with Toyama Prefecture, it produces the highest volume of tulips in the country.

Mining and manufacturing

[edit]

Ruins of Kitazawa Flotation Plant, Sado gold mine

Crude oil is produced in Niigata Prefecture, although Japan relies heavily on petroleum imported from other countries. Kerosene heaters are also produced for use in the cold Niigata winters.

Kinzan, on Sado Island, was an active gold mine until it was closed in 1989.

Sanjō and Tsubame produce 90 percent of all the silverware made in Japan. The two cities are second after Osaka in the production of scissors, kitchen knives, nail clippers and wrenches.

Niigata Prefecture may have been the first area in Japan to produce knitted textiles, although the earliest products may have been imported from China. A nuclear power plant, which formerly had the highest energy output in the world,[_citation needed_] is located in the tiny village of Kariwa. It has been closed since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.[7]

Niigata prefecture population pyramid in 2020

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1880 1,546,338
1890 1,693,727 +0.91%
1903 1,780,123 +0.38%
1913 1,911,308 +0.71%
1920 1,776,474 −1.04%
1925 1,849,807 +0.81%
1930 1,933,326 +0.89%
1935 1,995,777 +0.64%
1940 2,064,402 +0.68%
1945 2,389,653 +2.97%
1950 2,460,997 +0.59%
1955 2,473,492 +0.10%
1960 2,442,037 −0.26%
1965 2,398,931 −0.36%
1970 2,360,982 −0.32%
1975 2,391,938 +0.26%
1980 2,451,357 +0.49%
1985 2,478,470 +0.22%
1990 2,474,583 −0.03%
1995 2,488,364 +0.11%
2000 2,475,733 −0.10%
2005 2,431,459 −0.36%
2010 2,374,450 −0.47%
2015 2,305,098 −0.59%
2020 2,227,496 −0.68%
source:[8]

In the Census of 2020, Niigata ranked as the 15th most populous prefecture. Its population decreased by 103,000 between 2015 and 2000 and this was the second largest decline after Hokkaido (157,000).[9]

Niigata Geishas

Hegisoba

Niigata is known for the following regional specialities:

[edit]

Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing, especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa, and going to onsen. Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata is accessible via ferry (taking one to two and a half hours) from Naoetsu or Niigata City.

Professional sports clubs include Albirex Niigata, a J-League Division 1 Football Club, and Niigata Albirex BB, a BJ (Basketball Japan) League team.

Nagaoka Festival (with fireworks)

Night cherry blossoms and Takada castle

Transport Map of Niigata Prefecture
Red= Expressway, Green= Shinkansen, Black= Railway

Niigata Station

Notable individuals

[edit]

Politics and military

[edit]

Actors, Actresses, Singers

Pop culture, manga, voice actors

  1. ^ "2020年度国民経済計算(2015年基準・2008SNA) : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Niigata-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia_, p. 711_, p. 711, at Google Books
  3. ^ Nussbaum, "Niigata" at p. 711, p. 711, at Google Books
  4. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books
  5. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  6. ^ "お米Q&A : お米の都道府県別生産量上位10位はどこですか? - 米ネット". Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  7. ^ "Japanese Anti-nuclear Candidate Wins Election at Site of World's Biggest Atomic Power Station". The Guardian. Reuters. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  8. ^ Statistics Bureau of Japan
  9. ^ "令和2年国勢調査 人口等基本集計結果 結果の概要" (PDF). Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau (Japan). Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Triennale 2015 - Echigo-Tsumari Art Field". www.echigo-tsumari.jp.
  11. ^ "Access Map | 佐渡汽船公式サイト" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  12. ^ "Ken Watanabe Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  13. ^ Weiss, Alexandra (2018-08-02). "Rina Sawayama Is Not the Asian Britney Spears". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2022-12-25.

37°37′N 138°52′E / 37.617°N 138.867°E / 37.617; 138.867