Yamanashi Prefecture
Yamanashi Prefecture
山梨県 | |
---|---|
Japanese transcription(s) | |
• Japanese | 山梨県 |
• Rōmaji | Yamanashi-ken |
Japanese maple ) |
Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県, Yamanashi-ken) is a
Etymology
The name Yamanashi Prefecture literally means Pear Mountain.
History
Pre-history to the 14th century
As in most other Japanese regions, prehistoric society in Yamanashi progressed through the hunting, fishing and gathering stage of the Jōmon period, then the rice-producing stage of the Yayoi period and subsequent village and regional formation. The Maruyama and Choshizuka Kofun (earthen burial mounds) located on Sone Hill of Nakamichi Town (Southern Kōfu) are believed to have been built from the end of the 4th century. From these remains it can be assumed that the people of Sone Hill had great influence.
During the Heian period, Kai Province was created in this area.[5]
15th to 19th centuries
Among the many Kaigenji generations, those of the
After Takeda's death in 1582, Kai-no-Kuni came under the control of the
By the mid-19th century, the contradictions of military government and clan system caused stability to erode and resistance to erupt across Japan, paving the way for the Meiji Restoration of 1868.
Meiji Restoration (1868) to end of World War II (1945)
During the Boshin War, the Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma on the 29 March 1868 was a significant battle between pro-Imperial and Tokugawa shogunate forces immediately prior to the Imperial Forces march on Edo Castle. Preceding the Kōshū-Katsunuma battle, Kōfu Castle had been captured by troops loyal to the Emperor Meiji.
The province was renamed
In the early part of the
Agricultural production in farming communities was still on a small scale at the turn of the century and land reforms had yet to be introduced. From the 1920s however, tenancy and contract disputes between landowners and farmers in Yamanashi grew increasingly common.[7]
In 1926, the
1945 to present
Small scale manufacturing industries and commerce grew at rapid speed during the expansion of the post-war Japanese economy. The 1982 opening of the Chūō Expressway also led to significant growth in service industries, transport logistics and tourism.
In common with many similar sized cities during the 1990s, rapid growth in car ownership, out of town shopping, and improved transportation links to Tokyo, caused a drop in commercial activity and land values in the center of the prefectural capital Kōfu. To counterbalance this trend the prefectural government launched a city center revitalization plan in 2008, promoting downtown tourist attractions such as redeveloped land North of Kōfu station, Maizuru Castle Park and new residential, cultural and government office facilities.
Planned changes in transportation infrastructure also promise to significantly impact the Yamanashi economy in the coming decades; under mountains in the eastern part of the prefecture is a completed 42.8 km section of the SCMaglev test track, a section of the planned Chūō Shinkansen.
The
Central Government permission to proceed with an extension to the existing test track was granted on May 27, 2011. At the end of 2013 construction was already well advanced as far as Fuefuki.
JR Central is considering opening a demonstration service from a new station in
Geography
Yamanashi Prefecture is bordered by Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Nagano Prefecture. The prefecture is landlocked, with high mountains surrounding the central Kōfu Basin. Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes region is located on the southern border with Shizuoka. Mount Fuji provides rain shadow effects, and as a result, the prefecture receives only about 818 mm of rainfall a year.
As of April 1, 2012, 27% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Chichibu Tama Kai, Fuji-Hakone-Izu, and Minami Alps National Parks; Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Quasi-National Park; and Minami Alps Koma and Shibireko Prefectural Natural Parks.[12]
78% of the prefecture is covered by forests, making it one of the most densely wooded prefectures in Japan. Land cultivated for agriculture is mainly restricted to the lower elevations of the Kōfu basin.[13]
Cities
Thirteen cities are located in Yamanashi Prefecture:
Name | Area (km2) | Population | Map | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rōmaji | Kanji | |||
Chūō | 中央市 | 31.69 | 30,835 | |
Fuefuki | 笛吹市 | 201.92 | 69,463 | |
Fujiyoshida | 富士吉田市 | 121.74 | 48,782 | |
Hokuto | 北杜市 | 602.48 | 46,888 | |
Kai | 甲斐市 | 71.95 | 75,706 | |
Kōfu (capital) | 甲府市 | 212.47 | 187,985 | |
Kōshū | 甲州市 | 264.11 | 31,526 | |
Minami-Alps | 南アルプス市 | 264.14 | 71,618 | |
Nirasaki | 韮崎市 | 143.69 | 29,483 | |
Ōtsuki | 大月市 | 280.25 | 23,976 | |
Tsuru | 都留市 | 161.63 | 30,311 | |
Uenohara | 上野原市 | 170.57 | 23,158 | |
Yamanashi | 山梨市 | 289.8 | 34,738 |
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
Name | Area (km2) | Population | District | Type | Map | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rōmaji | Kanji | |||||
Dōshi | 道志村 | 79.57 | 1,676 | Minamitsuru District | Village | |
Fujikawa | 富士川町 | 111.98 | 15,125 | Minamikoma District | Town | |
Fujikawaguchiko | 富士河口湖町 | 158.4 | 26,540 | Minamitsuru District | Town | |
Hayakawa | 早川町 | 369.86 | 994 | Minamikoma District | Town | |
Ichikawamisato | 市川三郷町 | 75.18 | 15,799 | Nishiyatsushiro District | Town | |
Kosuge | 小菅村 | 52.78 | 701 | Kitatsuru District | Village | |
Minobu | 身延町 | 302 | 11,674 | Minamikoma District | Town | |
Nanbu | 南部町 | 200.63 | 7,222 | Minamikoma District | Town | |
Narusawa | 鳴沢村 | 89.58 | 3,152 | Minamitsuru District | Village | |
Nishikatsura | 西桂町 | 15.22 | 4,298 | Minamitsuru District | Town | |
Oshino | 忍野村 | 25.05 | 9,710 | Minamitsuru District | Village | |
Shōwa | 昭和町 | 9.08 | 20,338 | Nakakoma District | Town | |
Tabayama | 丹波山村 | 101.3 | 529 | Kitatsuru District | Village | |
Yamanakako | 山中湖村 | 52.81 | 5,826 | Minamitsuru District | Village |
Mergers
List of governors of Yamanashi Prefecture
Name | Start | End |
---|---|---|
Katsuyasu Yoshie (吉江勝保) | 12 April 1947 | 29 April 1951 |
Hisashi Amano (天野久) | 30 April 1951 | 16 February 1967 |
Kunio Tanabe (田辺国男) | 17 February 1967 | 16 February 1979 |
Komei Mochizuki (望月幸明) | 17 February 1979 | 16 February 1991 |
Ken Amano (天野建) | 17 February 1991 | 16 February 2003 |
Takahiko Yamamoto (山本栄彦) | 17 February 2003 | 16 February 2007 |
Shōmei Yokouchi (横内 正明) | 17 February 2007 | 16 February 2015 |
Hitoshi Goto (後藤 斎) | 17 February 2015 | 16 February 2019 |
Kotaro Nagasaki (長崎幸太郎) | 17 February 2019 | Present |
Economy
Yamanashi has a sizable industrial base in and around Kōfu city, with
The prefecture is also host to numerous fruit farms and vineyards. Yamanashi is one of the major fruit producing regions in Japan, being the top domestic producer of grapes, peaches, plums as well as wine.
In addition, roughly 40% of the mineral water bottled in Japan comes from Yamanashi, mainly from around the Southern Alps, Mount Fuji, and Mitsutōge areas. The quality of the water sources in the Southern Alps prompted Suntory Group to open the Hakushu distillery in the northern Yamanashi town of Hokuto.
Population
Per Japanese census data,[15][16] Yamanashi prefecture had negative population growth from 1950 to 1970 and again in the 21st century, with the population peaking at roughly 890,000 around the turn of the millennium.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1920 | 583,000 | — |
1930 | 631,000 | +8.2% |
1940 | 663,000 | +5.1% |
1950 | 811,000 | +22.3% |
1960 | 782,000 | −3.6% |
1970 | 762,000 | −2.6% |
1980 | 804,000 | +5.5% |
1990 | 853,000 | +6.1% |
2000 | 888,172 | +4.1% |
2010 | 863,075 | −2.8% |
2020 | 817,192 | −5.3% |
Tourism
The natural scenery and cultural sights of Yamanashi are popular destinations for both domestic and international tourists due to the prefecture's proximity to the crowded
The
The natural topography of the region makes Yamanashi popular with mountaineering, hiking and climbing enthusiasts throughout the year. The highest mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji, at 3,776 m (12,388 ft) and the second highest mountain in Japan, Mount Kita, at 3,193 m (10,476 ft) are both located within Yamanashi. The Mt. Fuji summer hiking season in July and August attracts thousands of overnight hikers typically starting at the Fifth Station in the late evening and climbing through the night to witness the sunrise at the summit.
Although not as tall, Mount Minobu, a popular place for Buddhist pilgrimage, offers extensive views from the summit of the mountain. Parts of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, and Minami Alps National Park are all located in Yamanashi.
Given the area's volcanic activity, natural hot springs, or onsens, are found in abundance. Some of the more well known are Shimobe Onsen, Isawa Onsen and Yamanami Onsen.
The mascot of the prefecture is Hishimaru (菱丸), a Kai Ken dog who is based on the local Sengoku-era daimyō Takeda Shingen. He wears a kabuto with the crest of the Takeda clan.[17]
Major festivals
- Shingen festival, held each March in the precincts of Kōfu Castle and Takeda Shrine in commemoration of Takeda Shingen's role in prefectural history.
- Fujiyoshida fire festival, marks the end of the summer climbing season on Mount Fuji. Held on the last weekend in August.
- Yatsugatake county fair and Paul Rusch festival. Held each October in Kiyosato to celebrate the life and work of Paul Rusch, his contributions to local agricultural development and US Japan friendship.
Universities
- Tsuru University
- University of Yamanashi
- Yamanashi Gakuin University
- Yamanashi Prefectural University
- Yamanashi Eiwa College
Sports
Since 2005 the Fujizakura Country Club in
Transportation
Railway lines
- East Japan Railway Company
- Central Japan Railway Company
- Fuji Kyuko
- Chūō Shinkansen(Under construction)
Road
Expressways
- Chuo Expressway
- Chūbu-Ōdan Expressway (under construction)
- Higashifuji-goko Road
- Kōfu Yamanashi Road
National highways
- Route 20
- Route 52
- Route 137
- Route 138
- Route 139
- Route 140
- Route 141
- Route 411
- Route 413
- Route 469
Media
Television
Radio
- FM Fuji (FMF)
Sister states and regions
- Iowa, United States (since 1960)
- Minas Gerais, Brazil (since 1973)
- Sichuan Province, China (since 1985)
- Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea (since 1992)
- Saône-et-Loire, France (since 2000)
- Fairfield, California, United States (since the 1970s)
Notes
- ^ "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.
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Yamanashi-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 1044, p. 1044, at Google Books; "Chūbu" in p. 126, p. 126, at Google Books
- ^ 甲府市; Introduction of Kofu City; retrieved 2011-07-13
- ^ "Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta - Nashi Tree | FLORA TOSKANA". Flora Toskana GmbH. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- ^ a b Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books
- ISBN 0-674-82167-X.
- ISBN 0-691-05468-1.
- ^ Ijiri, Toshiyuki (1991). Paul Rusch. Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications. p. 167.
- ^ Ishiguro, Kana (December 8, 2002). "There's cows in them there hills". Japan Times. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "中央新幹線(東京都・名古屋市間)計画段階環境配慮書の公表について" (PDF). Central Japan Railway Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
- ^ "リニア山梨県駅、東京五輪前に 体験乗車に道 JR東海が検討". 日本経済新聞. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ^ "2008 Yamanashi Ken no Aramashi" (PDF). Yamanashi Prefecture. Yamanashi Prefectural Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ "FANUC History". FANUC Europe Corporation. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ Yamanashi 1995-2020 population statistics
- ^ Yamanashi 1920-2000 population statistics
- ^ "Yamanashi Prefecture". nippon.com. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge:
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Geographic data related to Yamanashi Prefecture at OpenStreetMap