Akita Prefecture

Akita Prefecture (秋田県, Akita-ken) [a̠kʲita̠] is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[1] Its population is estimated 915,691 (as of 1 August 2023) and its geographic area is 11,637 km2 (4,493 sq mi). Akita Prefecture is bordered by Aomori Prefecture to the north, Iwate Prefecture to the east, Miyagi Prefecture to the southeast, and Yamagata Prefecture to the south.

Akita Prefecture
秋田県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese秋田県
 • RōmajiAkita-ken
Lake Tazawa
Tamagawa OnsenKakunodate
Osarizawa MineNyūtō Onsen
Flag of Akita Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Akita Prefecture
Symbol
Anthem: Akita Kenminka and Kenmin no uta
Location of Akita Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionTōhoku
IslandHonshu
CapitalAkita (city)
SubdivisionsDistricts: 6, Municipalities: 25
Government
 • GovernorNorihisa Satake
Area
 • Total11,637.52 km2 (4,493.27 sq mi)
 • Rank6th
Population
 (August 1, 2023)
 • Total915,691
 • Rank38th
 • Density79/km2 (200/sq mi)
 • Dialects
Akita・Nanbu (Kazuno)
ISO 3166 codeJP-05
WebsiteAkita Prefecture Official page of English
Symbols of Japan
BirdCopper pheasant (Phasianus soemmerringii)
FlowerFuki (a kind of butterbur, Petasites japonicus)
TreeAkita-sugi (Cryptomeria japonica)

Akita is the capital and largest city of Akita Prefecture. Other major cities include Yokote, Daisen, and Yurihonjō.[2] Akita Prefecture is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan and extends east to the Ōu Mountains, the longest mountain range in Japan, at the border with Iwate Prefecture. Akita Prefecture formed the northern half of the historic Dewa Province with Yamagata Prefecture.

History
See also: Historic Sites of Akita Prefecture

The region of Akita was created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu.[3]

Separated from the principal Japanese centres of commerce, politics, and population by several hundred kilometres and by the Ōu and Dewa mountain ranges to the east, Akita remained largely isolated from Japanese society until after the year 600. Akita was a region of hunter-gatherers and principally nomadic tribes.

The first historical record of what is now Akita Prefecture dates to 658, when Abe no Hirafu conquered the native Ezo tribes at what are now the cities of Akita and Noshiro. Abe, then governor of Koshi Province (the northwestern part of Honshū bordering the Sea of Japan), established a fort on the Mogami River, and thus began the Japanese settlement of the region.

In 733, a new military settlement (later renamed Akita Castle) was built in what is now the Takashimizu area of Akita, and more permanent roads and structures were developed. The region was used as a base of operations for the Japanese empire as it drove the native Ezo people from northern Honshū.

Governance of the region shifted hands several times. During the Tokugawa shogunate it was appropriated to the Satake clan, who ruled the region for 260 years and developed the agriculture and mining industries that are still predominant today. Throughout this period, it was classified as part of Dewa Province.[1] In 1871, during the Meiji Restoration, Dewa Province was reshaped and the old daimyō domains were abolished and administratively reconstructed, resulting in the modern-day borders of Akita.

The famous Heian period waka poet, Ono no Komachi, is said to have been born in Yuzawa City, Ogachi Town, located in the southeast of the prefecture.

Geography
Map of Akita Prefecture
     City      Town      Village
Mount Chōkai
Akita City
Yokote
Ōdate
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1872582,297—    
1880618,833+0.76%
1890697,298+1.20%
1903837,665+1.42%
1913943,628+1.20%
1920898,537−0.70%
1925936,408+0.83%
1930987,706+1.07%
19351,037,744+0.99%
19401,052,275+0.28%
19451,211,871+2.86%
19501,309,031+1.55%
19551,348,871+0.60%
19601,335,580−0.20%
19651,279,835−0.85%
19701,241,376−0.61%
19751,232,481−0.14%
19801,256,745+0.39%
19851,254,032−0.04%
19901,227,478−0.43%
19951,213,667−0.23%
20001,189,279−0.41%
20051,145,501−0.75%
20101,085,997−1.06%
20151,023,119−1.19%
2020959,502−1.28%
source:[4]

Located on the north-western side of Honshu, Akita Prefecture is adjacent to the Sea of Japan to the west and borders four other prefectures: Aomori in the north, Iwate in the east, Miyagi in the southeast, and Yamagata in the south.

The borders of Akita Prefecture roughly form a rectangle that is 169 kilometres (105 miles) from north to south and 86 kilometres (54 miles) from west to east. The Oga Peninsula is a prominent feature of the western edge, while the Ōu Mountains mark the eastern border and the higher Dewa Mountains run parallel through the center. Like much of northern Japan, the prefecture has cold winters, particularly in areas farther from the sea.

As of 31 March 2019, 11% of the total land area of the prefecture is designated as Natural Parks, namely the Towada-Hachimantai National Park; Chōkai, Kurikoma, and Oga Quasi-National Parks; and Akita Shirakami, Hachimori Iwadate, Kimimachizaka, Magi Mahiru, Moriyoshizan, Taiheizan, Tashirodake, and Tazawako Dakigaeri Prefectural Natural Parks.[5][6]

Cities
See also: List of cities in Akita Prefecture by population

Thirteen cities are located in Akita Prefecture:

Name Area (km2) Population Population density (per km2) Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Akita (capital) 秋田市 906.07 305,625 337.31
Daisen 大仙市 866.77 81,133 93.60
Katagami 潟上市 97.76 32,585 333.32
Kazuno 鹿角市 707.52 30,715 43.41
Kitaakita 北秋田市 1,152.76 31,504 27.33
Nikaho にかほ市 241.13 24,291 100.74
Noshiro 能代市 426.95 52,283 122.46
Oga 男鹿市 241.09 26,930 111.70
Ōdate 大館市 913.22 71,558 78.36
Semboku 仙北市 1,093.64 25,857 23.64
Yokote 横手市 692.8 89,574 129.29
Yurihonjō 由利本荘市 1,209.6 76,077 62.89
Yuzawa 湯沢市 790.91 44,346 56.07

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population Population density (per km2) District Type Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Fujisato 藤里町 281.98 3,180 11.28 Yamamoto District Town
Gojōme 五城目町 214.94 9,015 41.94 Minamiakita District Town
Hachirōgata 八郎潟町 17 5,749 338.18 Minamiakita District Town
Happō 八峰町 234.14 7,025 30 Yamamoto District Town
Higashinaruse 東成瀬村 203.57 2,512 12.34 Ogachi District Village
Ikawa 井川町 47.95 4,658 97.14 Minamiakita District Town
Kamikoani 上小阿仁村 256.72 2,247 8.75 Kitaakita District Village
Kosaka 小坂町 201.7 4,986 24.72 Kazuno District Town
Misato 美郷町 168.34 19,337 114.87 Senboku District Town
Mitane 三種町 248.09 16,172 65.19 Yamamoto District Town
Ōgata 大潟村 170.11 3,164 18.60 Minamiakita District Village
Ugo 羽後町 230.78 14,639 63.43 Ogachi District Town

Mergers
Main article: List of mergers in Akita Prefecture

List of governors of Akita Prefecture (from 1947)
Nº Name Term start Term end Notes (political party)
1 Kosaku Hasuike (蓮池公咲) 12 April 1947 4 April 1951 Akita Prefecture Democratic Party (秋田県民主党)
2 Tokuji Ikeda (池田徳治) 30 April 1951 29 April 1955 Independent (無所属)
3 Yujiro Obata (小畑勇二郎) 30 April 1955 29 April 1979 Independent
4 Kikuji Sasaki (佐々木喜久治) 30 April 1979 31 March 1997 Independent
5 Sukeshiro Terata (寺田典城) 20 April 1997 19 April 2009 Independent
6 Norihisa Satake (佐竹敬久) 20 April 2009 Present Independent

Economy and population
Akita prefecture population pyramid in 2020
Note: Data in the chart above was taken over the course of five years (2003-2008). The graph shows how many people migrated to Akita City from other prefectures. Overall the net gain of new residents was 4,981 people, or 1.5%.[7]

Like much of the Tōhoku Region, Akita's economy remains dominated by traditional industries such as agriculture, fishing, and forestry. This has led many young people to migrate to Tokyo and other large cities. Akita Prefecture has seen some of the most severe population decline in Japan: it is one of four prefectures in Japan registering declines in population since 1955. Its population also has the lowest percentage of children (defined as under the age of 15), at 9.3% in 2022, down from 11.2% in 2010.[8][9] 38.6% of residents are 65 or older, the highest percentage of any Japanese prefecture.[9] As of October 1, 2022, it has an estimated population of 944,902 people.[9]

The high rate of depopulation in Akita Prefecture has led smaller communities to merge with each other, which has affected the smallest of these merged communities. As depopulation in these communities continues, educational and health facilities have closed in some areas, encouraging families to migrate to larger cities for better access to health and educational opportunities and perpetuating the decline in population. This decline, combined with an aging population, has been concerning for rural communities.[7]

Culture

Akita, 秋田, meaning autumn rice paddy, is famous for rice farming and its sake breweries.[10] It is well known for having the highest consumption of sake in Japan[11] and is thought to be the origin of the Akita breed of dog which carries the prefecture's name. The women of the region, referred to as Akita bijin (秋田美人, 'beauties of Akita'), have also gained widespread renown for their white skin, rounded faces and high voices, all of which are considered highly desirable.[12] Ono no Komachi is a famous example of an Akita bijin.

Food

Akita is known for the following regional specialties (tokusanhin):

Sports
Akigin Stadium.

Tourism
Samurai house in Kakunodate

Recently there have been efforts to revitalize rural communities facing depopulation with different forms of green tourism and agritourism.[15] These efforts are primarily aimed at attracting urbanites and foreign tourists to Akita Prefecture, advertising its pristine forests, sprawling rice fields, and range of cultures.[7] There has been a push for home stays, farmers markets for locally produced foods, and the integration of outsiders into local cultural practices. The Namahage ritual in Oga on New Year's Eve draws a large number of tourists to Akita Prefecture every year.[16]

Near Lake Tazawa, there are a number of hot springs resorts (onsen). These are popular with tourists from all over Japan. In addition, numerous seasonal festivals (matsuri) offer a glimpse of rural or traditional Japan. Some famous examples are the Akita Kantō, the Omagari Fireworks, Namahage Festival, and the Yokote Kamakura Festivals.

Kakunodate, known as the little Kyoto, features many preserved samurai houses. The Aoyagi house is the former residence of Odano Naotake, who illustrated Japan's first modern guide to human anatomy. The house is now a museum and gallery of medical illustrations and traditional crafts.

Starting in 2009, Akita began experiencing a huge surge in Korean tourism after the airing of the popular drama Iris, which featured several scenes shot in Akita, most notably at Lake Tazawa and Oga's GAO Aquarium.[17]

Famous festival and events
Yokote Kamakura Festival in February
A night view of Akita Kanto Festival in August

Transportation

Railroads
JR Akita Station

Expressways

National highways
Odate Noshiro Airport

Airports

Education

Universities in Akita Prefecture

Media

Television

Notes
  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books; "Tōhoku" in p. 970, p. 970, at Google Books.
  2. Nussbaum, "Akita" in p. 20, p. 20, at Google Books.
  3. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books
  4. "Statistics Bureau Home Page". www.stat.go.jp.
  5. 自然公園都道府県別面積総括 [General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  6. 秋田の自然マップ [Akita Nature Map] (in Japanese). Akita Prefecture. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  7. Quinones, C. Kenneth. “Chapter 2: Akita City.” Akita-Beyond the Road's Narrow End, Mineo Nakajima, 2011, pp. 26–27.
  8. "Number of children in Japan falls to record low for 29th year in row". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. May 4, 2010. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  9. "Statistics Bureau Home Page/Population Estimates/Current Population Estimates as of October 1, 2022". www.stat.go.jp. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  10. Omura, Mika (November 6, 2009). "Weekend: Sake breweries go with the flow to survive". Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  11. The Appellation System for Sake in Akita Prefecture and Development Program for Akita Shun-ginjo, Kyuichi Saito, Journal of the Brewing Society of Japan; Vol. 87, No.11, 1992 Archived June 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Akita Prefecture - Culture, Sightseeing and History -". nihonscope.com. August 24, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  13. Akita Prefectural Guide, AKITA Prefecture Archived January 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  14. "ブラウブリッツ秋田". ブラウブリッツ秋田 公式ホームページ.
  15. Sznajder, Michal; Przezbórska, Lucyna; Scrimgeour, Frank (2009). Agritourism. CABI. ISBN 978-1-84593-482-8.
  16. Foster, Michael Dylan (2013). "Inviting the Uninvited Guest: Ritual, Festival, Tourism, and the Namahage of Japan". Journal of American Folklore. 126 (501): 302–334. doi:10.5406/jamerfolk.126.501.0302. S2CID 143644459. Project MUSE 515294.
  17. 笠井 (Kasai), 哲也 (Tetsuya); 矢島大輔 (Yajima Daisuke) (April 21, 2010). 韓国人ファン、秋田に殺到 ドラマ「アイリス」効果. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan. Archived from the original on April 23, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  18. "刈和野の大綱引き" (PDF) (in Japanese). Daisen City. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  19. "大館アメッコ市 - 秋田県大館市" (in Japanese). Odate City. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  20. "（冬）横手のかまくら｜横手市" (in Japanese). Yokote City. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  21. "総合案内｜羽後町" (in Japanese). Ugo Town. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  22. "English｜羽後町". Ugo Town. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  23. "毛馬内の盆踊" (in Japanese). Kazuno City. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  24. "全国花火競技大会「大曲の花火」オフィシャルサイト｜大曲商工会議所" (in Japanese). Omagari Entrepreneurs Group. Retrieved November 26, 2015.

References
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Akita (prefecture).

Media related to Akita prefecture at Wikimedia Commons

39°43′7″N 140°6′9″E

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