Coor din ates: 3 7 °3 7 ′N 1 3 8°5 2 ′E Niigata Prefecture Niigata Prefecture ( 新潟県 Niigata-ken) is a prefecture Niigata Prefecture located in the Chūbu region of Japan.[1] The capital is the 新潟県 city of Niigata.[2] Prefecture Japanese transcription(s) Contents • Japanese 新潟県 • Rōmaji Niigata-ken History Geography Cities Towns and villages Mergers Economy Flag Symbol Agriculture, forestry and fishing Mining and manufacturing Demographics Culture Food Niigata in popular culture Tourism and sports Festivals Education Universities Transport Rail Roads Expressways National highways Country Japan Ports Airports Region Chūbu (Kōshinetsu) (Hokuriku) Notable individuals Island Honshu Politics and military Arts and culture Capital Niigata Sports Government See also • Governor Hideyo Hanazumi Notes Area References • Total 12,582.47 km2 External links (4,858.12 sq mi) Area rank 5th Population (October 1, 2016) History • Total 2,285,856 Until after the Meiji Restoration, the area that is now • Rank 14th • Density 188.48/km2 Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province (on the (488.2/sq mi) mainland) and Sado Province.[3] During the Sengoku ISO 3166 JP-15 period, the Nagao clan, who were at times vassals to the code Uesugi, ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata Districts 9 from Kasugayama Castle. The most notable member of the Municipalities 30 Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora, later and better known as Flower Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) Uesugi Kenshin. He unified the leaders of Echigo Province Tree Camellia and became its sole ruler. By taking the surname Uesugi, he (Camellia japonica) also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively Bird Crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) brought their realm under his control. Website www.pref.niigata.lg.jp (ht The city of Niigata is now the third largest Japanese city tp://www.pref.niigata.lg.j facing the Sea of Japan, after Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. It p/) was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry. It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea. A freighter from North Korea visits Niigata once a month, in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country. The Etsuzankai organization, led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in the 1960s and 197 0s. These included the Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo. On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture and was measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya. On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm struck the prefecture and its neighbors. At least 7 1 people died and more than 1,000 were injured. Also in 2006, a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged homes and caused casualties in the maritime areas of Niigata Prefecture, especially near Sado Island. On July 16, 2007 , another earthquake hit the area. Niigata Prefecture hosts the Fuji Rock Festival, an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort. The three- day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians. It is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005. Geography Niigata Prefecture stretches about 240 km along the Sea of Japan, from the southwest to the northeast, with a coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado Island. Niigata Prefecture could be placed in either the Hokuriku or the Kōshinetsu, both of which are considered parts of the Chūbu region. The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas: Jōetsu region (上越) in the south, Chūetsu (中越) in the center, Kaetsu (下越) in the north, and Sado Island. The mouth of the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, is located in Niigata Prefecture. As of 1 April 2014, 25% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely Bandai-Asahi, Chūbu-Sangaku, Nikkō, and Oze National Parks; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami and Sado-Y ahiko- Y oneyama Quasi-National Parks; and thirteen Prefectural Natural Parks.[4] Shinano River Echigo Plain Map of Niigata Prefecture Government Ordinance Designated City City Town Village Mount Myōkō Sado Cities Twenty cities are located in Niigata Prefecture: Niigata Prefecture in winter from the sky Ten-Ken cliff of Oya-Shirazu, Niigata Agano Kashiwazaki Nagaoka Shibata Gosen Minamiuonuma Niigata (capital) Tainai Itoigawa Mitsuke Ojiya Tōkamachi Jōetsu Murakami Sado Tsubame Kamo Myōkō Sanjō Uonuma Towns and villages These are the towns and villages in each district: Reconstruction of a 19th-century peasant farmer's house and rice paddy at the Northern Culture Museum, Niigata Higashikanbara District Kitakanbara District Nakauonuma District Aga Seirō Tsunan Iwafune District Minamikanbara District Nishikanbara District Awashimaura Tagami Yahiko Sekikawa Minamiuonuma District Santō District Kariwa District Yuzawa Izumozaki Kariwa Mergers Economy Agriculture, forestry and fishing The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata is second only to Hokkaidō in rice output. The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan. Rice-related industries are also very important to the prefectural economy. Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake, senbei, mochi, and arare. In sake production, the prefecture comes third after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures. The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp known as koi. Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azaleas and cut lilies in Japan, and is increasing production of cut flowers and flower bulbs. Along with Toyama Prefecture, it produces the highest volume of tulips in the country. Mining and manufacturing Crude oil is produced in Niigata Prefecture, although Japan relies heavily on petroleum imported from other countries. Kerosene heaters are also produced for use in the cold Niigata winters. Kinzan, on Sado Island, was an active gold mine until it was closed in 1989. Sanjō and Tsubame produce 9 percent of all the silverware made in Japan. The two cities are second after Osaka in the production of scissors, kitchen knives, and wrenches. Niigata Prefecture may have been the first area in Japan to produce knitted textiles, although the earliest products may have been imported from China. A nuclear power plant, which formerly had the highest energy output in the world, is located in the tiny village of Kariwa. It has been closed since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.[5] Demographics In the Census of 2003, Niigata ranked as the 14th most populous. Culture Food Niigata is known for the following regional specialities: Uonuma Koshihikari rice Shoyu (soy sauce) and Yofu (western-style) katsudon Shoyu sekihan Noppe stew Wappa-meshi (seafood and rice steamed in a bamboo basket) Sasa-dango (mochi balls filled with red bean paste, seasoned with mugwort and wrapped in bamboo leaves) Poppo-yaki (steamed bread flavored with brown sugar) Hegi-soba (soba from the Uonuma and Ojiya areas, which uses a special kind of seaweed) "Tsubame-Sanjō ramen" (ramen made using thick udon-style noodles) Tochio aburage (aburaage is called "aburage" in Tochio) Kirazu (dishes using okara) Kakinomoto (edible chrysanthemums) Kanzuri (a special seasoning from Myōkō made by leaving chili peppers exposed on snow, then adding flour, salt and yuzu) Yasuda yogurt Niigata in popular culture Snow Country (1947): a novel by Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata set in Yuzawa "Niigata Snow": a track on the LP Aida, released by Derek Bailey in 1980 Kura: a film and TV series (1995) based on the 1993 book by Tomiko Miyao, an award-winning period piece about a Niigata family and its sake brewery Blue (1996): a manga about high school girls, set in Niigata City, adapted as a film in 2001 Whiteout: an action film based on a novel published in 1995 United States of Tara (2011): a comedy-drama series on Showtime; Kate is about to embark on a trip to teach English in Niigata when a flight attendant tells her that the only thing she will hopefully find in Niigata is "a life lesson and a bullet train back to Tokyo." Tourism and sports Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing, especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Y uzawa, and going to onsen. Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata is accessible via ferry (taking one to two and a half hours) from Naoetsu or Niigata City. Professional sports clubs include Albirex Niigata, a J-League Division 1 Soccer Club, and Niigata Albirex BB, a BJ (Basketball Japan) League team. Festivals Tokamachi Snow Festival- February Murakami Taisai – July 6–7 Iwafune Taisai – October 18–19, in Murakami Niigata Festival – August Niigata General Dancing Event -September 21–25 Naeba ski resort in Yuzawa Shirone Kite Festival – June Sanjo Kite Festival – June Nagaoka Festival (with fireworks) – August Niigata Tanrei Sake-no-Jin - March Echigo-Tsumari Festival - August and September (every third year)[6] Education Universities Niigata University Niigata University of International and Information Studies Niigata Sangyo University (Niigata Industrial University) Niigata University of Health and Welfare Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences Niigata Institute of Technology Niigata University of Management Niigata College of Nursing Nippon Dental