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Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県, Ishikawa-ken) - A prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.

Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast. The northern part of the prefecture consists of the narrow Noto Peninsula, while the southern part is wider and consists mostly of mountains, with the prefecture's chief city, Kanazawa, located in the coastal plain. The prefecture also has some islands, including Notojima, Mitsukejima, Hegurajima.

Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.

Ishikawa's industry is dominated by the textile industry, particularly artificial fabrics, and the machine industry, particularly construction machinery.

Most of the area's culture is made up of traditional arts and crafts. They are listed below:

Nō was introduced to the area during the rule of the fifth Maeda lord Tsunanori and was refined into the Kaga hosho style.

The tea ceremony arrived in 1666 when Maeda Toshitsune invited Senbiki Soshitsu of urasenke to Kanazawa.

Kutani porcelain (Kutani yaki), bright colored glazes not unlike Chinese porcelain.

Ohi teaware (Ōhi yaki), a pottery style unique to Kanazawa.

Kaga silk (Kaga yūzen), a complicated silk print technique with an intentional rough look (wabi-sabi).

Kanazawa lacquerware (Kanazawa shikki), high quality lacquerware traditionally decorated with gold dust.

Kanazawa gold leaf (Kanazawa haku), a technique of beating gold into wafer-thin sheets.

Kaga mizuhiki, ribbon-like decorations made from glued Japanese paper (washi).

Kaga inlay crafts (Kaga zōgan), a combination of thin flat and thread metal inlays.

Ten cities are located in Ishikawa Prefecture:

Hakui
Hakusan
Kaga
Kahoku
Kanazawa (capital)
Komatsu
Nanao
Nomi
Suzu
Wajima

Information source: “Ishikawa Prefecture.” wikipedia.org. Article date: 15 Feb. 2008. Retrieved: Wikipedia. 4 Mar. 2008 <Ishikawa Prefecture>.