Kuyama Prefecture

Kuyama Prefecture [导山近; くやま・こん] is a prefecture located in north-central Kanton, beneath the northern foothills of the Jōgai Alps. As of 2020, it has an estimated population of around 1 million. Kuyama is bordered by a number of other prefectures, including Kawara to the north and Genki to the west. 
Sakamizu is the capital of Kuyama, with other major cities including Nagatsu, Ippon, and Ukiyami.
== History ==
Until the 1800s, Kuyama was a part of the province of Hondai, a large and extensive region which also held the modern-day prefectures of Sanmi and Genki. Therefore, Kuyama was known simply as Yakoro for centuries. Due to its relative proximity to the coastal regions, where Summui islanders were known to settle, Kuyama established a number of fortifications and walls around its northern boundaries in the 9th century to prevent the infiltration of non-Kantonese. For much of its history Kuyama was one of the most insular and inhospitable regions in the country, rarely allowing travelers to pass through its land. Its people were suspicious of outsiders, and inbreeding was particularly common in the southern, mountainous lands.
In 1440, the Isui Temple was constructed in what is now modern-day Sakamizu, the largest and most elaborate religious site in Kuyama at that time. The temple is a popular site for tourists and is used by monks even today.