Hideyo Hanazumi
Who was in charge of Niigata Prefecture between Jan 2019 and Apr 2019?
Niigata Prefecture Niigata is the capital and largest city of Niigata Prefecture , with other major cities including Nagaoka , Jōetsu , and Sanjō . Niigata Prefecture contains the Niigata Major Metropolitan Area centered on Niigata with a population of 1,395,612 , the largest metropolitan area on the Sea of Japan coast and the twelfth-largest in Japan . Niigata Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region and features Sado Island , the sixth largest island of Japan in area following the four main islands and Okinawa Island . History . Until after the Meiji Restoration , the area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province ( on the mainland ) and Sado Province . During the Sengoku period , the Nagao clan , who were at times vassals to the Uesugi , ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata from Kasugayama Castle . The most notable member of the Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora , later and better known as Uesugi Kenshin . He unified the leaders of Echigo Province and became its sole ruler . By taking the surname Uesugi , he also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively brought their realm under his control . The city of Niigata is now the third largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan , after Fukuoka and Kitakyushu . It was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry . It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea . A freighter from North Korea visits Niigata once a month , in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country . The Etsuzankai organization , led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka , was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in the 1960s and 1970s . These included the Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo . On October 23 , 2004 , the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture and was measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya . On January 9 , 2006 , a heavy winter storm struck the prefecture and its neighbors . At least 71 people died and more than 1,000 were injured . Also in 2006 , a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged homes and caused casualties in the maritime areas of Niigata Prefecture , especially near Sado Island . On July 16 , 2007 , another earthquake hit the area . Niigata Prefecture hosts the Fuji Rock Festival , an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort . The three-day event , organized by Smash Japan , features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians . It is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan , with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005 . Geography . Niigata Prefecture stretches about along the Sea of Japan , from the southwest to the northeast , with a coastal plain between the mountains and the sea . It also includes Sado Island . Niigata Prefecture could be placed in either the Hokuriku or the Kōshinetsu , both of which are considered parts of the Chūbu region . The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas : in the south , in the center , in the north , and Sado Island . The mouth of the Shinano River , the longest river in Japan , is located in Niigata Prefecture . As of 1 April 2014 , 25% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely Bandai-Asahi , Chūbu-Sangaku , Nikkō , and Oze National Parks ; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami and Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Parks ; and thirteen Prefectural Natural Parks . Cities . Twenty cities are located in Niigata Prefecture : - Agano - Gosen - Itoigawa - Jōetsu - Kamo - Kashiwazaki - Minamiuonuma - Mitsuke - Murakami - Myōkō - Nagaoka - Niigata ( capital ) - Ojiya - Sado - Sanjō - Shibata - Tainai - Tōkamachi - Tsubame - Uonuma Towns and villages . These are the towns and villages in each district : - Higashikanbara District - Aga - Iwafune District - Awashimaura - Sekikawa - Kariwa District - Kariwa - Kitakanbara District - Seirō - Minamikanbara District - Tagami - Minamiuonuma District - Yuzawa - Nakauonuma District - Tsunan - Nishikanbara District - Yahiko - Santō District - Izumozaki List of Governor of Niigata Prefecture ( from 1947 ) . - Shohei Okada ( 岡田正平 ) - from 15 April , 1947 to 29 April , 1955 - Kazuo Kitamura ( 北村一男 ) - from 30 April , 1955 to 30 November , 1961 - Toichiro Tsukada ( 塚田十一郎 ) - from 7 December , 1966 to 28 March , 1966 - Shiro Watari ( 亘四郎 ) - from 8 May , 1966 to 30 April , 1974 - Takeo Kimi ( 君健男 ) - from 1 May , 1974 to 19 April , 1989 - Kiyoshi Kaneko ( 金子清 ) - from 4 June , 1989 to 9 September , 1992 - Ikuo Hirayama ( 平山征夫 ) - from 25 October , 1992 to 24 October , 2004 - Hirohiko Izumida ( 泉田裕彦 ) - from 25 October , 2004 to 24 October , 2016 - Ryuichi Yoneyama ( 米山隆一 ) - from 25 October , 2016 to 27 April , 2018 - Hideyo Hanazumi ( 花角英世 ) - from 12 June , 2018 to present Economy . Agriculture , forestry and fishing . The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture . Rice is the principal product , and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata is second only to Hokkaidō in rice output . The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety , widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan . Rice-related industries are also very important to the prefectural economy . Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake , senbei , mochi , and arare . In sake production , the prefecture comes third after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures . The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp known as koi . Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azaleas and cut lilies in Japan , and is increasing production of cut flowers and flower bulbs . Along with Toyama Prefecture , it produces the highest volume of tulips in the country . Mining and manufacturing . Crude oil is produced in Niigata Prefecture , although Japan relies heavily on petroleum imported from other countries . Kerosene heaters are also produced for use in the cold Niigata winters . Kinzan , on Sado Island , was an active gold mine until it was closed in 1989 . Sanjō and Tsubame produce 90 percent of all the silverware made in Japan . The two cities are second after Osaka in the production of scissors , kitchen knives , and wrenches . Niigata Prefecture may have been the first area in Japan to produce knitted textiles , although the earliest products may have been imported from China . A nuclear power plant , which formerly had the highest energy output in the world , is located in the tiny village of Kariwa . It has been closed since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster . Demographics . In the Census of 2003 , Niigata ranked as the 14th most populous . Culture . Food . Niigata is known for the following regional specialities : - Uonuma Koshihikari rice - Shōyu ( soy sauce ) and Yofu ( western-style ) katsudon - Shōyu sekihan - Noppe stew - Wappa-meshi ( seafood and rice steamed in a bamboo basket ) - Sasa-dango ( mochi balls filled with red bean paste , seasoned with mugwort and wrapped in bamboo leaves ) - Poppo-yaki ( steamed bread flavored with brown sugar ) - Hegi-soba ( soba from the Uonuma and Ojiya areas , which uses a special kind of seaweed ) - Tsubame-Sanjō ramen ( ramen made using thick udon-style noodles ) - Tochio aburage ( aburaage is called aburage in Tochio ) - Kirazu ( dishes using okara ) - Kakinomoto ( edible chrysanthemums ) - Kanzuri ( a special seasoning from Myōkō made by leaving chili peppers exposed on snow , then adding flour , salt and yuzu ) - Yasuda yogurt Niigata in popular culture . - Snow Country ( 1947 ) : a novel by Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata set in Yuzawa - Niigata Snow : a track on the LP Aida , released by Derek Bailey in 1980 - Kura : a film and TV series ( 1995 ) based on the 1993 book by Tomiko Miyao , an award-winning period piece about a Niigata family and its sake brewery - Blue ( 1996 ) : a manga about high school girls , set in Niigata City , adapted as a film in 2001 - Whiteout : an action film based on a novel published in 1995 - United States of Tara ( 2011 ) : a comedy-drama series on Showtime ; Kate is about to embark on a trip to teach English in Niigata when a flight attendant tells her that the only thing she will hopefully find in Niigata is a life lesson and a bullet train back to Tokyo . Tourism and sports . Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing , especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa , and going to onsen . Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata is accessible via ferry ( taking one to two and a half hours ) from Naoetsu or Niigata City . Professional sports clubs include Albirex Niigata , a J-League Division 1 Soccer Club , and Niigata Albirex BB , a BJ ( Basketball Japan ) League team . Festivals . - Tokamachi Snow Festival- February - Murakami Taisai – July 6–7 - Iwafune Taisai – October 18–19 , in Murakami - Niigata Festival – August - Niigata General Dancing Event -September 21–25 - Shirone Kite Festival – June - Sanjo Kite Festival – June - Nagaoka Festival ( with fireworks ) – August - Niigata Tanrei Sake-no-Jin - March - Echigo-Tsumari Festival - August and September ( every third year ) Education . Universities . - Niigata University - Niigata University of International and Information Studies - Niigata Sangyo University ( Niigata Industrial University ) - Niigata University of Health and Welfare - Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences - Niigata Institute of Technology - Niigata University of Management - Niigata College of Nursing - Nippon Dental University - Nagaoka University - Nagaoka University of Technology - Nagaoka Institute of Design - International University of Japan - Keiwa Gakuen University Transport . Rail . - JR East - Jōetsu Shinkansen - Hokuriku Shinkansen - Shinetsu Line - Hakushin Line - Yahiko Line - Echigo Line - Jōetsu Line - Uetsu Line - Banetsu West Line - Tadami Line - Iiyama Line - Yonesaka Line - JR West - Hokuriku Shinkansen - Ōito Line - Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line - Echigo Tokimeki Railway - Myōkō Haneuma Line - Nihonkai Hisui Line Roads . Expressways . - E17 Kanetsu Expressway - E18 Jōshinetsu Expressway - E8 Hokuriku Expressway - E49 Ban-etsu Expressway - E7 Nihonkai Tōhoku Expressway National highways . - Route 7 ( Niigata—Shibata—Murakami—Sakata—Akita—Noshiro—Hirosaki—Aomori ) - Route 8 ( Niigata—Nagaoka—Kashiwazaki—Jōetsu—Toyama—Kanazawa—Tsuruga—Kyoto ) - Route 17 ( Nagaoka—Ojiya—Minamiuonuma—Takasaki—Nihonbashi of Tokyo ) - Route 18 ( Jōetsu—Myōkō—Nagano—Karuizawa—Takasaki ) - Route 49 ( Niigata—Aizuwakamatsu—Kōriyama—Iwaki ) - Route 113 ( Niigata—Arakawa—Nanyō—Shiroishi—Sōma ) - Route 116 ( Niigata—Tsubame—Izumozaki—Kashiwazaki ) - Route 117 ( Ojiya—Tōkamachi—Iiyama ) - Route 148 ( Itoigawa—Ōmachi ) - Route 252 - Route 253 - Route 289 - Route 290 - Route 291 - Route 292 - Route 345 - Route 350 ( Sado Island ) - Route 351 - Route 352 - Route 353 - Route 402 - Route 403 - Route 404 - Route 405 - Route 459 - Route 460 Ports . - Niigata Port – Ferry route to Sado Island , Tsuruga , Akita , Otaru and Tomakomai , with International Container hub port - Ryotsu Port – Ferry route to Niigata - Ogi Port - Naoetsu Port Airports . - Niigata Airport - Sado Airport Notable individuals . Politics and military . - Masako , Empress of Japan , former registered domicile ( Honseki ) was Murakami - Uesugi Kenshin ( 1530–1578 ) , daimyō in the Sengoku period - Naoe Kanetsugu ( 1559–1620 ) , samurai in the Sengoku period - Horibe Yasubei ( 1670–1703 ) , samurai in the Edo period - Hachirō Arita ( 1884–1965 ) , foreign minister , from Sado Island - Maejima Hisoka ( 1835–1919 ) , founder of the Japanese postal service , from Joetsu - Masuda Takashi ( 1848–1938 ) , creation of a general trading company , Mitsui Bussan . established a newspaper , Nihon Keizai Shimbun . from Sado Island - Kita Ikki ( 1883–1937 ) , nationalist author and intellectual , from Sado Island - Sakae Ōsugi ( 1885-1923 ) , anarchist , lived in Shibata - Honma Masaharu ( 1887–1946 ) World War II lieutenant-general executed by the United States for war crimes committed in the Philippines - Hitoshi Imamura ( 1886–1968 ) World War II General in the Imperial Japanese Army , from Shibata high school - Isoroku Yamamoto ( 1884–1943 ) , commander of the Japanese Imperial Navy , from Nagaoka - Chiang Kai-shek ( 1887-1975 ) , Chinese political and military leader , served in the Imperial Japanese Army from 1909 to 1911 in Joetsu ( Takada ) - Ba Maw ( 1893-1977 ) , Burmese political leader , active during the interwar and World War II , lived in Minamiuonuma ( Ichiuchi ) - Kakuei Tanaka ( 1918–1993 ) , prime minister , from Kashiwazaki - Hisashi Owada ( born 1932 ) , diplomat and father of Crown Princess Masako , from Shibata - Makiko Tanaka ( born 1944 ) , first female foreign minister , from Kashiwazaki Arts and culture . - Zeami Motokiyo ( 1363– 1443 ) , aesthetician , actor , and playwright , exile to Sado Island - Ryōkan ( 1758–1831 ) , Zen Buddhist monk and poet , from Izumozaki - Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto , ( 1874–1950 ) , autobiographer and novelist , Professor of literature and taught Japanese language , culture and history at Columbia University , from Nagaoka - Yaichi Aizu ( 1881–1956 ) , poet , calligrapher and historian , from Niigata City - Kokei Kobayashi ( 1883–1957 ) , Nihonga painter , from Joetsu - Mimei Ogawa ( 1882–1961 ) , author of short stories , childrens stories , and fairy tales , from Joetsu - Koganei Yoshikiyo ( 1859–1944 ) , anatomist and anthropologist , from Nagaoka - Kyusaku Ogino ( 1882-1975 ) , doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology , Niigata Takeyama Hospital - Kinichiro Sakaguchi ( 1897 – 1994 ) , agricultural chemist and microbiologist , from Joetsu - Takashi Amano ( 1954-2015 ) , photographer and aquarist , from Niigata - Tetsuji Morohashi ( 1883– 1982 ) chief editor of the Dai Kan-Wa jiten , a comprehensive dictionary of Chinese characters , from Sanjo - Tetsuo Harada ( born 1949 Niitsu-shi ) , sculptor working in Paris France - Tsuchida Bakusen ( 1887–1936 ) , Japanese painter , from Sado - Fubō Hayashi ( 1900–1935 ) , novelist from Sado Island - Inoue Enryō ( 1858–1919 ) , Buddhist philosopher , from Nagaoka - Junzaburō Nishiwaki ( 1894–1982 ) , Japanese poet and literary critic , from Ojiya - Daigaku Horiguchi ( 1892-1981 ) , poet and translator of French literature , from Nagaoka - Makoto Aida ( born 1965 ) , Artist , from Niigata City - Donald Keene ( born 1922 ) , Japanese scholar , historian , teacher , writer and translator of Japanese literature , Honorary Citizen of Kashiwazaki - Kodo ( taiko group ) , Based in Sado Actors , Actresses , Singers - Ken Watanabe ( born 1959 ) , stage , TV and film actor , from Niigata - Princess Tenko ( born 1959 ) , magician , from Joetsu - Mina Fujii ( born 1998 ) , actress - Mikie Hara ( born 1987 ) , gravure idol and actress , from Murakami - Fumika Baba ( born 1995 ) , actress and model , from Niigata City - Maya Kobayashi ( born 1979 ) , journalist and newscaster , from Ojiya - Mao Kobayashi ( actress ) ( born 1982 ) , newscaster and former actress , from Ojiya - Miyuki Koizumi ( born 1982 ) , Model - Kazuyuki Sekiguchi ( born 1955 ) , bass player for the rock group Southern All Stars , from Agano - Makoto Ogawa ( born 1987 ) , former member of Morning Musume , actor and model , from Kashiwazaki - Koharu Kusumi ( born 1992 ) , former member of Morning Musume , actor and model , from Washima - Hitomi Saito ( born 1981 ) , former singer of leader of Melon Kinenbi , from Niigata City - Suneohair ( born 1971 ) , singer , from Nagaoka - Yasuyuki Okamura ( born 1965 ) , from Niigata Higashi High School - Double ( singer ) ,Japanese R&B singer - Negicco Based on Niigata City , Niigata - NGT48 Based on Niigata City , Niigata Pop culture , manga , voice actors - One ( manga artist ) ( 1986 ) , mangaká , from Niigata City - Yoshifumi Kondō ( 1950–1998 ) , animator , from Gosen - Hiroyuki Yamaga ( born 1962 ) , anime director and producer , and a founding member of the animation studio Gainax , from Niigata City - Daisuke Hirakawa ( born 1973 ) , voice actor - Ryō Hirohashi ( born 1977 ) , voice actress , from Nagaoka - Yoko Ishida ( born 1973 ) , singer , from Niigata City - Rumi Kasahara ( born 1970 ) , voice actress , from Itoigawa - Makoto Kobayashi ( born 1958 ) , manga artist , from Niigata City - Közi ( born 1972 ) , rock musician - Haruo Minami ( 1923–2001 ) , enka singer , from Nagaoka - Hitomi Nabatame ( born 1976 ) , voice actress , from Sado Island - Tatsuyuki Nagai ( born 1976 ) , anime director - Kazuto Nakazawa ( born 1968 ) , animator - Kiriko Nananan ( born 1972 ) , manga artist , from Tsubame - Yukari Nozawa ( born 1957 ) , actor and voice actor - Takeshi Obata ( born 1969 ) , manga artist , from Niigata City - Etsushi Ogawa ( born 1969 ) , manga artist - Ikue Otani ( born 1965 ) , voice actress , from Kashiwazaki - Ango Sakaguchi ( 1906–1955 ) , novelist and essayist , from Niigata City - Daisuke Sakaguchi ( born 1973 ) , voice actor , from Kashiwazaki - Shuichi Shigeno ( born 1958 ) , manga artist , from Tōkamachi - Bin Shimada ( born 1954 ) , voice actor , from Niigata City - Kunio Shimizu ( 1936–2021 ) , playwright from Niigata - Motoei Shinzawa ( born 1958 ) , manga artist , from Kashiwazaki - Yōko Sōmi ( born 1965 ) , voice actress - Rumiko Takahashi ( born 1957 ) , manga artist , from Niigata City - Kazuya Tsurumaki ( born 1966 ) , animator , from Gosen - Hajime Watanabe ( born 1957 ) , animator - Nobuhiro Watsuki ( born 1970 ) , manga artist , from Nagaoka - Hiroki Yagami ( born 1967 ) , manga artist , from Kashiwazaki - Akiko Yajima ( born 1967 ) , voice actress , from Kashiwazaki - Kimio Yanagisawa ( born 1948 ) , manga artist , from Gosen - Keiko Yokozawa ( born 1952 ) , voice actress , from Niigata City Sports . - Shiro Saigo ( 1866 – 1922 ) , Judo , lived in Aga ( Tsugawa ) , lived in 1869-1882 - Haguroyama Masaji ( 1914–1969 ) , sumo wrestler from Nakanokuchi who was yokozuna for 12 years and three months ; an all-time record - Shohei Baba ( 1938–1999 ) , Japanese professional wrestler , from Sanjō - Sawao Kato ( born 1946 ) , winner of 12 Olympic medals in gymnastics - Killer Khan ( born 1947 ) , professional wrestler , from Tsubame - Ayumu Hirano ( born 1998 ) , snowboarder , from Murakami - Ayana Onozuka ( born 1988 ) , freestyle skier , from Minamiuonuma - Kentaro Minagawa ( born 1977 ) , alpine skier , from Yuzawa - Junko Hoshino ( born 1989 ) , freestyle skier , from Nagaoka - Reruhi Shimizu ( born 1993 ) , ski jumper , from Myoko - Mai Nakamura ( born 1979 ) , swimmer , from Nagaoka - Gōtoku Sakai ( born 1991 ) , footballer ( 2015– Hamburger SV ) , from Sanjo - Yujiro Takahashi ( born 1981 ) , professional wrestler from Niigata City .