Miyagi Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan. It is part of the Tohoku region of the island of Honshu. The capital city is Sendai.
History
Miyagi Prefecture used to be part of Mutsu Province. That province was in the northern part of Honshu. It was made from land taken from the indigenous Emishi. The province became the largest as it expanded to the north. The ancient capital was in modern Miyagi Prefecture.
During the Sengoku period, various clans ruled different parts of the province. Date Masamune was a close ally of the Tokugawa. He established Sendai, which is now the largest town of the Tohoku region.
In the Meiji period, four new provinces were created from parts of Mutsu: Rikuchu, Rikuzen, Iwaki, and Iwashiro. In 1871, Sendai Prefecture was formed. It was renamed Miyagi prefecture the following year.
2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami
On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and major tsunami hit Miyagi Prefecture. It caused major damage to the area. The tsunami was about 10 meters high in parts of Miyagi Prefecture.
Cities
There are thirteen cities in Miyagi Prefecture:
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
National parks
National parks cover about 23% of the total land area of the prefecture. They include:
Rikuchu Kaigan National Park
Economy
Farming, fishing and sake brewing are all important in Miyagi. As of March 2011, the prefecture made 4.7% of Japan's rice, 23% of its oysters, and 15.9% of its saury fish. Manufacturing around Sendai is a larger part of the economy. The area produces electronics, appliances, and processed food.
Education
Universities
Miyagi University
Miyagi University of Education
Miyagi Gakuin Women's University
Sendai University
Sendai Shirayuri Women's College
Tohoku University
Tohoku Gakuin University
Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University
Tohoku Institute of Technology
Tohoku Fukushi University
Tohoku Seikatsu Bunka College
Tohoku Pharmaceutical University
Shokei Gakuin University
Ishinomaki Senshu University
Transportation
Train
JR East
Tohoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Line
Joban Line
Senseki Line
Senzan Line
Ishinomaki Line
Rikuu East Line
Ofunato Line
Sendai Municipal Subway Nanboku Line
Abukuma Express Railway
Sendai Airport Railway
Airports
Sendai Airport was badly damaged by the 2011 tsunami.
Sight-seeing
Sendai was the castle town of the daimyo Date Masamune. The remains of Sendai Castle are on a hill above the city.
Miyagi Prefecture has one of Japan's Three Great Views. Matsushima Bay is full of small islands with old pine trees on them. Many visitors come here every year and many artists have painted the islands.
The following are also noted as attractions:
Aoba Castle
Ichibancho
Akiu Hot Spring
Iwai Point
Kinkasan Islet
Naruko Hot Spring
Rikuchu Coast
Okama Crater Lake
Zao Botanical Garden
Zao Hot Spring
Matushima
Shiogama
Festivals and events
Aoba Festival, Suzume Dancing - May
Sendai Tanabata Festival - August 6 to 8
Sendai Pageant of Starlight - December
Shiogama Port Festival - July
Shiroishi Kokeshi Exhibition - May 3 to 5
Narugo Kokeshi Festival - September
Shrines and temples
Shigogama jinja is the main Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.
Related pages
Provinces of Japan
Prefectures of Japan
List of regions of Japan
List of islands of Japan
Vegalta Sendai
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
References
Other websites
http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/english/index.htm ; Official
1871 establishments in Japan