 Niigata Prefecture (新潟県, Niigata-ken) - A
prefecture of Japan located on Honshū island on the coast of
the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The
name Niigata literally means "New Lagoon".
Niigata prefecture stretches about 240 km along the Sea of
Japan from southwest to north east, with a coastal plain
between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado
Island.
Because of the shape, Niigata prefecture is often called
small Honshū-Main Island. It could be placed in either the
Hokuriku or Kōshin'etsu regions, each considered part of the
greater Chūbu region.
The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical
areas: Joetsu (in the south), Chūetsu (in the center),
Kaetsu (in the north), and Sado Island. It is home to the
mouth of the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan.
In 2006 a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged several
homes and its citizens in the maritime areas of Niigata
especially near the sado island.
 Niigata prefecture was originally divided into Echigo
Province and Sado Province until the Meiji Restoration.
During the Sengoku period it was ruled by Uesugi Kenshin.
Niigata-shi (the city) is the largest and most important
among the cities which face the Sea of Japan. It has been an
important seaport since the opening of Japan by Matthew
Perry in the mid-1800s, especially for trade with Russia and
northern Korea, and was the first port on the Sea of Japan
to be opened to foreign trade.
The Etsuzankai organization, led by prime minister Tanaka
Kakuei, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure
improvements to Niigata in the 1960s and 1970s, including
the Joetsu Shinkansen high speed rail line and Kanetsu
Expressway to Tokyo.
Today, Niigata is well-known for being visited by a
freighter from North Korea once a month: one of the few
direct contacts with the communist country.
On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata
Prefecture, causing shaking measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya.
On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm caused much trouble
in the prefecture and its surroundings. At least 71 people
died and over a thousand were injured.
On July 16, 2007, the area saw the 2007 Niigata earthquake.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
The major industry in Niigata is agriculture. Rice is the
principal product, with Niigata ranking 2nd (after Hokkaidō)
among the prefectures for total rice output. The area around
Uonuma is especially known for its Koshihikari variety of
rice, which is widely thought of as the highest quality rice
in Japan.
Rice-related industries are also very important to the local
economy. Niigata prefecture is known throughout Japan for
its quality sake, senbei, mochi, and arare. In sake
production, Niigata is third in the country after Gunma and
Kyoto prefectures.
The prefecture is famous as the original home of the
ornamental carp known as koi, and the best-quality koi are
still considered to come from the farms of Niigata.
The production volume of azaleas and cut lilies grown in
Niigata is one of the highest in Japan. Niigata also enjoys
increasing volumes of cut flowers and flower bulb
production: along with Toyama prefecture, Niigata produces
the most tulips in the country.
Mining and manufacturing
Niigata is a source for crude oil, not often found on the
Japanese islands. Relating to this, there is also much
production of kerosene heaters (useful in the cold Niigata
winters).
Kinzan on Sado Island was an active gold mine until its
closing in 1989.
Metal manufacturing is also prevalent. Sanjo and Tsubame
produce 9% of all metal silverware in Japan, by far the most
for one area in the country. After Osaka, the two cities
also produce the most scissors, kitchen knives, and
wrenches.
Niigata supposedly produces the most knitted textile
products in the country. However, it has been suggested that
some of these are actually from China.
The nuclear power plant with the highest energy output in
the world is located in the tiny village of Kariwa.
20 cities are located in Niigata Prefecture:
Agano
Gosen
Itoigawa
Jōetsu
Kamo
Kashiwazaki
Minamiuonuma
Mitsuke
Murakami
Myōkō
Nagaoka
Niigata (capital) Niigata is divided into 8 wards (-ku)
Kita-ku
Higashi-ku
Chūō-ku
Kōnan-ku
Akiha-ku
Nishi-ku
Minami-ku
Nishikan-ku Ojiya
Sado
Sanjō
Shibata
Tainai
Tōkamachi
Tsubame
Uonuma
Information source: “Niigata Prefecture.” wikipedia.org. Article
date: 26 Feb. 2008. Retrieved: Wikipedia. 4 Mar. 2008 <Niigata Prefecture>. |
|
