Miyagi Prefecture
Sendai is the capital and largest city of Miyagi Prefecture, and the largest city in the Tōhoku region, with other major cities including Ishinomaki, Ōsaki, and Tome. Miyagi Prefecture is located on Japan's eastern Pacific coast and bounded to the west by the Ōu Mountains, the longest mountain range in Japan, with 24% of its total land area being designated as Natural Parks. Miyagi Prefecture is home to Matsushima Islands, a group of islands ranked as one of the Three Views of Japan, near the town of Matsushima. History. Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province  of Mutsu. 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a subsequent major tsunami hit Miyagi Prefecture, causing major damage to the area. The tsunami was estimated to be approximately high in Miyagi Prefecture. On April 7, 2011, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Miyagi, Japan. Workers were then evacuated from the nearby troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility once again, as a tsunami warning was issued for the coastline. Residents were told to flee for inner land at that time. In 2013, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako visited the  prefecture to see the progress made since the tsunami. Geography. Miyagi Prefecture is in the central part of Tōhoku, facing the Pacific Ocean, and contains Tōhoku's largest city, Sendai. There are high mountains on the west and along the northeast coast, but the central plain around Sendai is fairly large. Matsushima is known as one of the three most scenic views of Japan, with a bay full of 260 small islands covered in pine groves. Oshika Peninsula projects from the northern coastline of the prefecture. As of 31 March 2019, 24% of the total land area of the prefecture  was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Sanriku Fukkō National Park; Kurikoma and Zaō Quasi-National Parks; and Abukuma Keikoku, Asahiyama, Funagata Renpō, Futakuchi Kyōkoku, Kenjōsan Mangokuura, Kesennuma, Matsushima, and Zaō Kōgen Prefectural Natural Parks. Cities. Fourteen cities are located in Miyagi Prefecture: Towns and villages. These are the towns and villages in each district: Economy. Although Miyagi has a good deal of fishing and agriculture, producing a great deal of rice and livestock, it is dominated by the manufacturing industries around Sendai, particularly electronics, appliances, and food processing. As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 4.7% of Japan's  rice, 23% of oysters, and 15.9% of sauries. In July 2011, the Japanese government decided to ban all shipments of beef cattle from northeast Miyagi Prefecture over fears of radioactive contamination. This has since been rescinded. Population. According to Japanese census data, Miyagi prefecture experienced its greatest period of growth from 1940 to 1950 and continued to exhibit growth up until the 21st century. Nevertheless, like the majority of Japan, the population of Miyagi has begun to slowly decline. The prefectural capital of Sendai, however, has seen a moderate, but steady rise in population over the past twenty years. Sports . The sports teams listed below are based in Miyagi Prefecture. Also, the Sendai Hi-Land Raceway hosts motorsport road races. Visitor attractions. Sendai was the castle town of the "daimyō" Date Masamune. The remains of Sendai Castle stand on a hill above the city. Miyagi Prefecture boasts one of Japan's three greatest sights. Matsushima, the pine-clad islands, dot the waters off the coast of the prefecture. The following are also noted as attractions: Popular culture. Miyagi Prefecture is one of the main settings of the manga and anime series "Haikyū!!". The most well-known fictional schools located there  are Karasuno High School, Aoba Johsai High School, Date Tech High and Shiratorizawa Academy, as well as Sendai City Gymnasium. Another anime series "Wake Up, Girls!" is also setting in Miyagi Prefecture.