Ishikawa Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is a prefecture of Japan
located in the Chūbu region
on Honshū
island. The capital is Kanazawa
.
and the smaller Noto Province
.
coast. The northern part of the prefecture consists of the narrow Noto Peninsula
, while the southern part is wider and consists mostly of mountains with the prefecture's chief city, Kanazawa
, located in the coastal plain.
The prefecture also has some islands, including Notojima
, Mitsukejima
, Hegurajima
.
:
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
located in the Chūbu region
Chubu region
The is the central region of Honshū, Japan's main island. Chūbu has a population estimate of 21,886,324 as of 2008.Chūbu, which means "central region", encompasses nine prefectures : Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, Yamanashi, and often Mie.It is located directly...
on Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
island. The capital is Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
.
History
Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga ProvinceKaga Province
was an old province in the area that is today the southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called .Ruled by the Maeda clan, the capital of Kaga was Kanazawa. Kaga bordered on Echizen, Etchū, Hida, and Noto Provinces...
and the smaller Noto Province
Noto Province
was an old province in the area that is today the northern part of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, including the Noto Peninsula which is surrounded by the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called . Noto bordered on Etchū and Kaga provinces....
.
Geography
Ishikawa is on the Sea of JapanSea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
coast. The northern part of the prefecture consists of the narrow Noto Peninsula
Noto Peninsula
thumb|right|240px|Landsat image with high-resolution data from Space Shuttle.Noto Peninsula is a peninsula that projects north into the Sea of Japan from the coast of Ishikawa prefecture in central Honshū, the main island of Japan...
, while the southern part is wider and consists mostly of mountains with the prefecture's chief city, Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
, located in the coastal plain.
The prefecture also has some islands, including Notojima
Notojima, Ishikawa
was a town located in Kashima District, Ishikawa, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Notojima, along with the towns of Tatsuruhama and Nakajima, all from Kashima District, was merged into the expanded city of Nanao and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, Mitsukejima
Mitsukejima
Mitsukejima is an uninhabited island in Suzu, Ishikawa, Japan. Because of its shape, it is also known as Gunkanjima , which is also the common name given to Hashima Island in the Nagasaki Prefecture....
, Hegurajima
Hegurajima
is a small island located in the Sea of Japan at the far north of Ishikawa, Japan. It lies approximately 45 km from the mainland, and forms part of the township of Wajima....
.
Cities
Eleven cities are located in Ishikawa Prefecture:
|
Komatsu, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 109,285 with a density of 294 persons per km². The total area is 371.13 km².... Nanao, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan.As of March 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 58,204 and a population density of 183 persons per km². Nanao is the fifth largest city by population in Ishikawa, behind Kanazawa, Hakusan, Komatsu, and Kaga.Nanao is situated in the... Nonoichi, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.As of February 2011, the city has an estimated population of 51,976 and a density of 3,830 persons per km². The total area is 13.56 km².... Nomi, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.As of January 1, 2005 population data, the city has an estimated population of 47,826 and a density of 570 persons per km²... Suzu, Ishikawa is a city located at the northeasternmost tip of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa, Japan. The city is the proposed site of the Suzu Nuclear Power Plant; however, in 2003 the proposal was "frozen" until further notice.... |
Wajima, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 31,532 and the density of 74 persons per km². The total area is 426.25 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954.... |
Towns and villages
Towns and villages in each districtDistricts of Japan
The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
:
|
Tsubata, Ishikawa is a town located in Kahoku District, Ishikawa, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 35,467 and a density of 321.14 persons per km²... Uchinada, Ishikawa is a small beach town town located in Kahoku District, Ishikawa, Japan. It is a suburb of Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture.Demographics=As of December 31, 2009, the town has an estimated population of 26,787 and a density of 1,311 persons per km²...
Nakanoto, Ishikawa is a town located in Kashima District, Ishikawa, Japan. It is the only municipality in the district. The town was founded on March 1, 2005 from the merger of three towns in the district: Kashima, Rokusei, and Toriya.... |
Kawakita, Ishikawa is a town located in Nomi District, Ishikawa, Japan., the town has an estimated population of 5,387 and a density of 364.97 persons per km². The total area is 14.76 km².-External links:*... |
Economy
Ishikawa's industry is dominated by the textile industry, particularly artificial fabrics, and the machine industry, particularly construction machinery.Demographics
Ishikawa Prefecture has an area of 4,185 km² and as of April 1, 2011 it has a population of 1,166,643 persons.| Data | Unit | Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Area | km² | 4,185 |
| Population | Persons | 1,166,643 |
| Population density | Persons per km² | 278.72 |
| Number of households | Households | 441,980 |
| Income per person | Thousand yen | 2,707 |
| Power consumed | Kwh per household | 6,446 |
| Number of doctors | Physicians per 100,000 people |
249 |
Culture
The area is noted for arts and crafts and other cultural traditions:- Nō was introduced to the area during the rule of the fifth Maeda lord Tsunanori and was refined into the style of Kaga hosho.
- The tea ceremonyJapanese tea ceremonyThe Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
was introduced in 1666 when Maeda ToshitsuneMaeda Toshitsunewas a Japanese daimyo of the Edo period, who ruled the Kaga Domain. Toshitsune was a brother of Maeda Toshinaga and a son of Toshiie. Adopted as his heir, he became the wealthiest daimyo outside the Tokugawa. He controlled Etchū, Kaga, and Noto provinces....
invited Senbiki Soshitsu of urasenkeUrasenkeis the name of one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony. It is one of the san-Senke ; the other two are Omotesenke and Mushakōjisenke....
to Kanazawa. - Kutani porcelainPorcelainPorcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
(Kutani yaki) is a bright colored glaze like Chinese porcelain. - Ohi teaware (Ōhi yaki) is a pottery with a style unique to Kanazawa.
- Kaga silk (Kaga yūzen) is made with complicated silk print technique with an intentional rough look (wabi-sabiWabi-sabirepresents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete"...
). - Kanazawa lacquerLacquerIn a general sense, lacquer is a somewhat imprecise term for a clear or coloured varnish that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required...
ware (Kanazawa shikki) is high quality lacquerware traditionally decorated with gold dust. - Kanazawa gold leaf (Kanazawa haku) is produced with a technique of beating gold into wafer-thin sheets.
- Kaga mizuhiki is ribbon-like decoration made from glued Japanese paper (washi).
- Kaga inlay crafts (Kaga zōgan) are made with a combination of thin flat and thread metal inlays.
Tourism
The most popular destination in Ishikawa is Kanazawa. Tourists can get to Ishikawa by plane via Komatsu.- Shibayama Lagoon
- Mount HakuMount Haku, or Mount Hakusan, is a potentially active volcano. The stratovolcano is located on the borders of Gifu, Fukui and Ishikawa prefectures in Japan. It is thought to have first been active 300,000 to 400,000 years ago, with the most recent eruption occurring in 1659...
- KagaKaga, Ishikawais a city located in the southwest of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.Created as an old temple town, the city was greatly developed by the Maeda clan in the early Edo period...
hot-springs district - Kenroku-enKenroku-enKenroku-en , located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is an old private garden. Along with Kairaku-en and Koraku-en, Kenroku-en is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan....
- Higashi-chaya district in Kanazawa
- Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of ArtIshikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, also known as IPMA, is the main art gallery of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The collection includes some of the prefecture's most important cultural assets and works by artists with some connection to the region. It is located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa within the grounds of the Kenrokuen Garden.The...
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, KanazawaThe 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is a museum of contemporary art located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.It was designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of the architect office SANAA in 2004...
- Chirihama Driveway
- Wajima Morning MarketWajima, Ishikawais a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 31,532 and the density of 74 persons per km². The total area is 426.25 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954....
- 1000 Rice FieldsWajima, Ishikawais a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 31,532 and the density of 74 persons per km². The total area is 426.25 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954....
Prefectural symbols
- Fritillaria camschatcensisFritillaria camschatcensisFritillaria camschatcensis is a species of fritillary native to northeastern Asia, including northern Japan, Kamchatka, and eastern Siberia, western North America from Alaska to Oregon...
(Symbol flower) - Thujopsis dolabrata (Symbol tree)
- Golden EagleGolden EagleThe Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
(Symbol bird)
Miscellaneous topics
- Hideki MatsuiHideki Matsuiis a Japanese Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York...
, a current player for the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, was born and raised in Neagari Town (now Nomi City), Ishikawa. He gained fame as a baseball player while attending high school in Kanazawa. - Daisuke NakataDaisuke Nakatais a trampolinist who competed for Japan in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Daisuke also performs on SASUKE , where he is one of the most well-known competitors.On the trampoline, Nakata can jump as high as 26 feet...
, a trampolinist who has competed in the Olympics in the past, is from Ishikawa. - Takeshi KagaTakeshi Kagais a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan who is probably best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron Chef produced by Fuji TV. His real name is .-Biography:...
, an actor in Japan who is probably best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron ChefIron Chefis a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1992, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended...
produced by Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, is from Ishikawa.
Universities
Ishikawa hosts a number of well-known universities.- Hokuriku UniversityHokuriku Universityis a private university located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. Founded in 1975, the university is locally nicknamed Hokudai, though typically the term is used nationwide to refer to Hokkaido University. It was originally founded as a single-department college with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical...
—a small liberal arts university with a School of Pharmacy and a School of Future Learning that gives instruction in Business, Economics, and Foreign Language (Chinese and English). - Kanazawa University
- Ishikawa Prefectural University
- Kanazawa Institute of Technology
- Kanazawa Medical University
- Kanazawa Gakuin University
- Kinjo Junior College
- Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University
- Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
- Kanazawa Seiryo University
- Kanazawa College of Art
Railroad
- JR West
- Hokuriku Line
- Nanao Line
- Noto RailwayNoto Railwayis a railway company on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.Noto Railway is a third sector company, which means a corporation jointly funded by private entities and local governments...
Nanao Line - Hokuriku Railway (Hokutetsu)
- Ishikawa Line
- Asanokawa Line
Expressway and Toll Road
- Hokuriku ExpresswayHokuriku ExpresswayThe ,The ,The ,(abbreviated as , is a 4-laned national expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company and Central Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:...
- Noetsu (Noto-Etsuchu) Expressway
- Noto Toll Road
- Hakusan Super Forest Road
National Highway
- Route 8
- Route 157 (Kanazawa-Hakusan-KatsuyamaKatsuyama, Fukuiis a city located in Fukui, Japan.As of October 1, 2005, the city has an estimated population of 26,961 and the density of 106.28 persons per km²...
-MotosuMotosu, Gifuis a city located in the south west of Gifu Prefecture, Japan.As of July 2011, the city has an estimated population of 34,997. The total area is 374.57 km².-History:On October 28, 1891, the Mino-Owari earthquake, the largest earthquake to hit Japan, struck...
-GifuGifu, Gifuis a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
) - Route 159
- Route 160
- Route 249
- Route 304
- Route 305
- Route 359
- Route 360 (ToyamaToyama, Toyamais the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
-HidaHida, Gifuis the northernmost city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It received its name from the historical province of Hida Province, which was centered around the same area.The official kanji for the city is actually 飛驒, which uses the old rendering of the 騨 character...
-ShirakawaShirakawa, Gifu (village)is a village located in Ōno District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is best known for being the site of Shirakawa-gō, a small, traditional village showcasing a style of buildings called gasshō-zukuri....
-Komatsu) - Route 364
- Route 365
- Route 415
- Route 416
- Route 470 (Wajima-Himi-Takaoka-OyabeOyabe, Toyamais a city located in Toyama, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 32,161, with a household number of 9,838, and a density of 239.81 persons per km². The total area is 134.11 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1962....
-Tonami) - Route 471