Uchi Prefecture

Uchi Prefecture [栾乏近; うち・こん] is the second-largest prefecture on the island of Daizō in the north of Kanton, a region known as Honnan. As of 2022, it has a population of around 950,000.
Sanhei is the capital and largest city of Uchi Prefecture, with other major cities including Megami, Hadakayama, Yūgo, and Saiyaka. Uchi is located between its two neighbouring prefectures Zōhai and Inaki. 
Uchi's indigenous ethnic peoples are the Summui, who have lived in the archipelaego for over 2,000 years. In the native language of Sunpaku, the region is known as Fuzai. From the northern coast of Uchi juts the Harashi Peninsula, which is notable for its thriving agricultural and fishing industries, along with being a considerable producer of wind power. Uchi is also home to a number of sites of cultural significance, including the Royal Palace of the Summui Kingdom, the Great Temple of Sanhei, and Bushiru Falls.
== History ==
For much of its history Uchi Prefecture was known by the name Fuzai Oniru (meaning Fuzai District) and was one of the three great oniru controlled by the Summui Kingdom. This continued until the Invasion of Daizō in 1710, when the islands were unofficially annexed by Kanton. The region was made a prefecture by the Empire of Kanton in 1850, after nearly two hundred years of low-level rebellion and conflict between official Kantonese forces and the natives of the Summui region.
In 1699, the existence of the Fuzai district was threatened by the invasion of the Warana clan from Arami Prefecture. After the Zōhai capital Nasamazu was seiged in 1710, the Kingdom was obliged to form a vassal relationship with the Kantonese Imperial administration. Although the Imperial administration and the Warana held strong influence over the islands, the Summui Kingdom maintained a considerable degree of domestic political freedom for over two hundred years. However in 1850 the region of Fuzai was renamed as Uchi Prefecture [literally, 'blue land prefecture']. In 1915, residents of Uchi finally gained the right to vote for representatives to the Kantonese government.
== Geography ==
Uchi is known nationally for its cold weather and frequent instances of heavy snowfall during the winter months. The seasons in Uchi, as in its neighbouring prefectures, lack the clear destinction that they do in most of Kanton, with summer and spring often experiencing the same chilly, rainy weather that autumn and winter have. In the north of Kanton, the prefecture is often colloquially known as Takaashi-kon, literally meaning 'too-much-rain prefecture'.
=== Rivers and lakes ===
* Hananake River
* Kiisui River
* Jiwa River
* Saisan River
* Sengata River
* Onzake River
* Hakusa River
* Hineri River
* Mizume River
* Settosu River
* Natsumizu River
* Kaisui River
* Mon River
* Amizu River
* Sakayami River
* Lake Tao
* Lake Kusazake
* Lake Ansui
* Lake Sumeri
=== Major mountains ===
* Mount Seishū
* Mount Achiru
* Mount Usui
* Mount Arui
* Mount Midori
*Mount Hanakata
Uchi has a number of large plains and valleys throughout its landscape, formed by its numerous mountain ranges. Much of the flat land is dedicated to the expansion of urban spaces along with agricultural industry. Sanhei Plain, on which the city of the same name is built, is by far the largest expanse of well-drained, flat grassland in the prefecture. Uchi also has four National Parks or dōho: Uchizō, Aiwa, Ryōho, and Yamadaru.
== Climate ==
During the winter, Uchi often experiences very low temperatures and stormy weather which can often complicate travel. Maritime activity and air travel can be frequently disrupted on the southern and northern coasts; additionally, most rivers in the prefecture are prone to freezing. Unlike most of Kanton, the Honnan islands are not normally affected by the June-July rainy season and the relative lack of humidity and warm, sultry weather can make its climate attractive to domestic tourists who prefer the cold.
The generally high quality of powder snow and numerous mountains in Uchi make it a popular region for snow sports. Snowfall usually begins in earnest in November and ski resorts (such as those at Atama, Uara, and Hadakayama) usually operate between December and April. Uchi celebrates its iconic winter weather during the Sanhei Snow Festival, which can attract thousands of visitors each year. These Snow Festivals are held in each of the three Daizō prefectures each year in their respective capital cities.
== Economy ==
Although Uchi's economy focuses mainly on light industry and the tertiary sector, it is also known to have one of the richest seafood industries in the north of Kanton. Uchi's agricultural industry is also thriving compared to those of other northern prefectures. There is a vast amount of arable land, and the prefecture ranks highly in the national production of raw products such as wheat, soybeans, potatoes, beef, mutton, milk, and various root vegetables. Fishing is, of course, a huge part of the prefectural economy.
Tourism is an essential industry to Uchi, especially during the cool summertime when visitors are attacted to the region from hotter and more humid parts of Kanton and other Asian countries. During the winter, skiing and other winter sports bring other tourists, and increasingly international visitors, to the island.
== Municipalities ==
=== Cities ===
Rank	Name 	Kantonese 	Sunpaku 	Population
1 	Sanhei 	山澤 	Urakuda 	460,000
2 	Megami 	冢 	Tsushii 	130,000
3 	Hadakayama	裸山 	Ibaura 	75,000
4 	Yūgo 	佑貢 	Yuigo 	60,000
5 	Saiyaka 	筌莎 	Suraijoki	42,000
6 	Urachi 	うらち 	Urachi 	20,000
7 	Maiyami 	超免 	Koifu 	20,000
8 	Daino 	大笹 	Ōda 	18,000
9 	Atama 	あたま 	Atama 	16,000
10 	Shōdori 	しょうどり 	Shōdori 	16,000
11 	Nomori 	のもり 	Nomori 	15,000
12 	Uara 	栾空 	Uara 	14,000
14 	Sasaru 	ささる 	Sasaru 	14,000
15 	Ihana 	阳设 	Shirodara	12,000
=== Towns ===
Rank	Name 	Kantonese	Sunpaku	Population
1 	Nozai 	のざい 	Nozai 	10,000
2 	Urumo 	うるも 	Urumo 	10,000
3 	Sakage 	溯扶 	Peraki 	8,000
4 	Chama 	ちゃま 	Chama 	7,000
5 	Yamamizake	山身煮 	Uratanō	7,000
6 	Koroba 	档吐 	Aneri 	6,000
7 	Ryōba 	亮別 	Miewa 	6,000
8 	Kohana 	关设 	Kohana 	5,000
9 	Wake 	輪 	Yashari	5,000
10 	Shinkiru 	行来 	Tōni 	5,000
11 	Yamara 	山仂 	Uraani 	4,000
12 	Shiri 	しり 	Shiri 	4,000
13 	Aiko 	あいこ 	Aiko 	2,000
14 	Kaki 	かき 	Kaki 	1,000
15 	Nami 	なみ 	Nami 	800
Category:Prefectures