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Miyagi Prefecture facts for kids

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Miyagi Prefecture
Japanese: 宮城県
Miyagi-ken
Map of Japan with Miyagi highlighted
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/
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Miyagi bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii)
 - Tree Japanese zelkova
(Zelkova serrata)
 - Bird Wild goose
 - Fish
Symbol of Miyagi Prefecture
Symbol of Miyagi Prefecture
Sendai sta03s3872
Sendai Station in August 2010
SendaiHatsuuri-crowd2
View of Traditional New Year's sale in Sendai

Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県, Miyagi-ken) is a prefecture of Japan. It is part of the Tōhoku region of the island of Honshu. The capital city is Sendai.

History

Miyagi Prefecture used to be part of Mutsu Province. That province was in the northern part of Honshu. It was made from land taken from the indigenous Emishi. The province became the largest as it expanded to the north. The ancient capital was in modern Miyagi Prefecture.

During the Sengoku period, various clans ruled different parts of the province. Date Masamune was a close ally of the Tokugawa. He established Sendai, which is now the largest town of the Tōhoku region.

In the Meiji period, four new provinces were created from parts of Mutsu: Rikuchū, Rikuzen, Iwaki, and Iwashiro. In 1871, Sendai Prefecture was formed. It was renamed Miyagi prefecture the following year.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and major tsunami hit Miyagi Prefecture. It caused major damage to the area. The tsunami was about 10 meters high in parts of Miyagi Prefecture.

Cities

There are thirteen cities in Miyagi Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

  • Igu District
Marumori
  • Kami District
Kami
Shikama
  • Katta District
Shichikashuku
Zaō
  • Kurokawa District
Ōhira
Ōsato
Taiwa
Tomiya
  • Miyagi District
Matsushima
Rifu
Shichigahama
  • Motoyoshi District
Minamisanriku
  • Oshika District
Onagawa
  • Shibata District
Kawasaki
Murata
Ōgawara
Shibata
  • Tōda District
Misato
Wakuya
  • Watari District

National parks

National parks cover about 23% of the total land area of the prefecture. They include:

  • Rikuchu Kaigan National Park

Economy

Farming, fishing and sake brewing are all important in Miyagi. As of March 2011, the prefecture made 4.7% of Japan's rice, 23% of its oysters, and 15.9% of its saury fish. Manufacturing around Sendai is a larger part of the economy. The area produces electronics, appliances, and processed food.

Education

Universities
  • 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

Transportation

Train

  • JR East
    • Tohoku Shinkansen
    • Tohoku Line
    • Joban Line
    • Senseki Line
    • Senzan Line
    • Ishinomaki Line
    • Rikuu East Line
    • Ofunato Line
  • Sendai Municipal Subway Nanboku Line
  • Abukuma Express Railway
  • Sendai Airport Railway

Airports

Sight-seeing

Sendai was the castle town of the daimyo Date Masamune. The remains of Sendai Castle are on a hill above the city.

Miyagi Prefecture has one of Japan's Three Great Views. Matsushima Bay is full of small islands with old pine trees on them. Many visitors come here every year and many artists have painted the islands.

The following are also noted as attractions:

Festivals and events

Suzumeodori070520
Suzume Dancing Event in Aoba Festival
Sendaiaoba070520
Aoba Festival of Sendai
  • Aoba Festival, Suzume Dancing – May
  • Sendai Tanabata Festival – August 6 to 8
  • Sendai Pageant of Starlight – December
  • Shiogama Port Festival – July
  • Shiroishi Kokeshi Exhibition – May 3 to 5
  • Narugo Kokeshi Festival – September

Shrines and temples

Shigogama jinja is the main Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.

Related pages

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Prefectura de Miyagi para niños

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Miyagi Prefecture Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.