Niigata Prefecture (新潟県; Niigata-ken) is located on Honshu island, Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata.
History
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 (the city) is the largest and most important city among the cities which face the Sea of Japan. It has been an important seaport since the opening of Japan 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 best known for being visited by a freighter from North Korea once a month: one of the few direct contacts between the Free world and the communist country.
On October 23, 2004, the Chuetsu Earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture, causing shaking measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya.
On January 09, 2006, a heavy winter storm has caused much trouble in the prefecture and itw suuroundings. At least 71 people have died and 1000 hurt.
Geography
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.
Cities
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district.
Mergers
- On January 1, 2001, the town of Kurosaki from Nishikanbara District was absorbed into the city of Niigata.
- On July 7, 2003, the town of Toyoura from Kitakanbara District was absorbed into the city of Shibata.
- On March 1, 2004, the city of Ryotsu and the towns of Aikawa, Hamochi, Hatano, Kanai, Mano, Ogi and Sawata and the villages of Akadomari and Niibo from Sado District merged to form the city of Sado. Sado District was thereby dissolved.
- On April 1, 2004, the towns of Suibara and Yasuda and the villages of Kyogase and Sasakami from Kitakanbara District merged to form the city of Agano.
- On November 1, 2004, the towns of Muika and Yamato from Minamiuonuma District merged to form the city of Minamiuonuma.
- On November 1, 2004, the towns of Horinouchi and Koide and the villages of Hirokami, Irihirose, Sumon and Yunotani from Kitauonuma District merged to form the city of Uonuma.
- On January 1, 2005, the town of Yasuzuka and the villages of Maki, Oshima and Uragawara from Higashikubiki District, the towns of Itakura, Kakizaki, Ogata and Yoshikawa and the villages of Kiyosato, Kubiki, Nakagou and Sanwa from Nakakubiki District and the town of Nadachi from Nishikubiki District were absorbed into the city of Joetsu.
- On March 19, 2005, the towns of Nou and Oumi from Nishikubiki District merged into the city of Itoigawa. Nishikubiki District was thereby dissolved.
- On March 21, 2005, the city of Niitsu, Shirone and Toyosaka, the towns of Kameda, Kosudo and Yokogoshi from Nakakanbara District and the town of Nishikawa and the villages of Ajikata, Iwamuro, Katahigashi, Nakanokuchi and Tsukigata from Nishikanbara District were absorbed into the city of Niigata.
- On April 1, 2005, the town of Myokokogen and the village of Myoko from Nakakubiki District were absorbed into the city of Arai. Arai changed its name to Myoko at the same time. Nakakubiki District was thereby dissolved.
- On April 1, 2005, the town of Oguni from Kariwa District, the village of Yamakoshi from Koshi District, the town of Nakanoshima from Minamikanbara District and the towns of Koshiji and Mishima from Santo District were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka. Koshi District was thereby dissolved.
- On April 1, 2005, the towns of Matsudai and Matsunoyama from Higashikubiki District and the town of Kawanishi and the village of Nakasato from Nakauonuma District merged into the city of Tokamachi. Higashikubiki District was thereby dissolved.
- On April 1, 2005, the towns of Kanose and Tsugawa and the village of Kamikawa and Mikawa from Higashikanbara District merged to form the town of Aga.
- On May 1, 2005, the towns of Nishiyama and Takayanagi from Kariwa District were absorbed into the city of Kashiwazaki.
- On May 1, 2005, the town of Shiunji and the village of Kajikawa from Kitakanbara District were absorbed into the city of Shibata.
- On May 1, 2005, the town of Sakae and the village of Shitada from Minamikanbara District were absorbed into the city of Sanjo.
- On September 1, 2005, the town of Nakajo and the village of Kurokawa from Kitakanbara District merged to form the city of Tainai.
- On October 1, 2005, the town of Shiozawa from Minamiuonuma District was absorbed into the city of Minamiuonuma.
- On October 10, 2005, the town of Maki from Nishikanbara District was absorbed into the city of Niigata.
- On January 1, 2006, the town of Muramatsu from Nakakanbara District was absorbed into the city of Gosen. Nakakanbara District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
- On January 1, 2006, the city of Tochio, the towns of Teradomari and Yoita and the village of Washima from Santo District were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka.
Economy
Niigata is the principal rice growing region of Japan based on quality rather than quantity. Although rice production is widespread throughout Japan, Niigata accounts for 70% of the total value of the rice harvest. The most prized variety of rice is Niigata Koshihikari.
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.
It is also very famous for its sake alcohol, which is some of the best in Japan.
Industrial production in Niigata includes a variety of machinery manufacturing, and particularly manufacturing of household and kitchen goods.
Demographics
Culture
Tourism
http://www.pref.niigata.jp/sougouseisaku/kokusai/english/sightseeing/event.html
Prefectural symbols
Miscellaneous topics
External link
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niigata_Prefecture under GFDL
