Yaamaguchimaguchi Prrefectureefecture Outline of Yamaguchi Prefecture Yamaguchi Prefecture is located in the westernmost part 1400km of the island of Honshu, and is surrounded on three sides 1200km by the sea. With the Chugoku mountain range running 1000km SSapporoapporo from East to West, Yamaguchi Prefecture can be broadly BBeijingeijing 800km divided up into three regions: the Seto Inland Sea area, the TTianjinianjin DDalianalian 600km PPyongyangyongyang SSendaiendai inland mountain area, and the Japan Sea coast area. JJinaninan km SSeouleoul 400 QQingdaoingdao NNiigataiigata The population is approximately 1.5 million people, and TTokyookyo NNagoyaagoya PPusanusan km KKyotoyoto the surface area of Yamaguchi Prefecture is approximately 10 0 OOkayamakayama YYamaguchiamaguchi HHiroshimairoshima OOsakasaka 2 KKitakyushuitakyushu 6,100km . The prefectural government capital is in FFukuokaukuoka MMatsuyamaatsuyama SShanghaihanghai Yamaguchi City. HHangzhouangzhou Yamaguchi Prefecture boasts a mild climate, and is largely spared from earthquakes, and flood and storm damage. It enjoys the reputation of being a very Naha TTaipeiaipei comfortable place to live. Yamaguchi has approximately 1,500km of coastline, which includes the calm Seto Inland Sea National Park which is dotted with many islands, and the wild, rough coast of the Japan Sea at the Kita Nagato Kaigan National Park. There are around 240 islands scattered throughout the coastal and off-shore areas. The green, mountainous plateau situated at the western edge of the Chugoku mountain range comprises the largest karst plateau and limestone cave in Japan, which make up the Akiyoshidai National Park. Our prefecture receives many visitors who wish to see the changing seasons in the primeval forests, and beautiful gorges that make up the Western Chugoku Mountain Range National Park. Symbols of Yamaguchi Prefecture Prefectural Flower Prefectural Emblem (Citrus orange) The emblem for Yamaguchi Prefecture Citron Blossom is abundant in Nagato combines the characters for ‘yama’ City. In May, the citrus smell of many (mountain) and ‘guchi’ (mouth) into the white blossoms floats in the air. image of a bird soaring towards the sun. Prefectural Tree Prefectural Animal Prefectural Bird Prefectural Fish (Japanese red pine) (Honshu deer) (Hooded crane) (Fugu:Globefish) Japanese Red Pine can be found all over There are over 2600 Shika Deer currently Yashiro, Shunan City, is the only migration Yamaguchi Prefecture was the first the prefecture. It can grow almost residing in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The ground for Hooded Cranes on the island of prefecture in Japan to lift the ban on anywhere and is resistant to drought. Shika Deer was selected as prefectural Honshu. The Hooded Crane was selected eating Fugu (Globefish). Fugu was animal in 1964 from suggestions in 1964 from suggestions solicited from the selected as the prefectural fish in 1989. solicited from the public. public. The history of Yamaguchi Prefecture Yamaguchi Prefecture has been influenced by the nearby Asian Continent since as early as the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, when wet land rice cultivation methods began. Between the 4th and 5th centuries AD, the Yamato Imperial Court unified Japan under a national government. Yamaguchi Prefecture was made up of seven counties, which Akama Shrine were integrated into the two provinces of Suo and Nagato in the 7th century. From the Heian Period to the Kamakura Period (AD 794 – 1333), there was a rising of the samurai clans, and the Ouchi family of Suo Province, and the Koto family of Nagato Province gained influence as powerful warrior clans. In the Muromachi Period (1338 – 1573) the 24th ruler of the Ouchi family, Ouchi Hiroyo, conquered both areas of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The Ouchi clan imitated the city planning of Kyoto, and accumulated great financial power through importing culture from the continent, and trading with Korea and the Ming Dynasty in China. As a result, Yamaguchi came to be known as the “Kyoto of the West”, and the impressive ‘Ouchi Culture’ flourished. However, the 31st ruler of the proud Ouchi clan was defeated by Sue Harutaka. The Sue clan was then defeated by Mori Motonari, and the Mori family gained control of the Chugoku region. However, Mori was defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and forced to give up all his land except for the Suo and Nagato areas, and he built his castle in Hagi City. Mori then began his attempt to strengthen the economic base of the region, and increase local production with his ‘Three Whites’ campaign - (salt, rice, and paper). At the end of the Edo Period, a lot of energy was invested in education, producing successive men of talent such as Yoshida Shoin and Takasugi Shinsaku. They were a driving force in the Meiji Restoration and played a significant role in the formation of the modern Japanese nation. Five-storied Pagoda of Rurikoji Temple Four years after the Edo Shogunate was overthrown and the Meiji government formed in 1868, the present Yamaguchi Prefecture was established. The Meiji government brought in many new systems and modern policies, and promoted the introduction of modern industry. Cement production and silk thread production factories were set up in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and although this was the beginning of modern industry, Meiji Period Yamaguchi was generally centered round agriculture. In the Taisho period, shipbuilding, chemical, machinery, and metal working plants were built one after another in Yamaguchi’s harbors in the Seto Inland Sea area, which are blessed with abundant minerals and natural resources. In the Showa Period, when the Petroleum collective was formed after the war, Yamaguchi continued to develop, and became one of the most industrialized prefectures in the country. Sesshu Garden at Joeiji Temple Shoka-son juku Yamaguchi Prefecture’s Industry ●Industry Centered round the Seto Inland Sea coastal area, there is a collection of various corporate groups, and there are many efforts to improve skills at the arbitrary research centers, and the corporate research center which has a high potential to promote skills. On the other hand, the proportion of industries based on raw materials such as chemicals, petroleum and metals is high, and it is an industrial structure easily able to adapt to the needs of the economy. In order to accurately reflect the changing circumstances that encompass these issues and industries, we are advancing the creation of new industry and the development of new enterprises, and working to promote a stronghold of advanced skills to attract new businesses. Also, through the exchanges between private companies, universities, and state companies, we are helping the Industrial Estate development of new skills, new products, and research. ●Agriculture, forestry and fisheries Since the Mori family’s ‘Three Whites’ campaign, traditionally rice cultivation has thrived in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Agricultural land has increased through the basic overhaul of land reclamation and the construction of rice paddies. This has resulted in around 80% of agricultural land being used as rice paddies. Rice cultivation accounts for around 40% of the agriculture. However, the steadily decreasing number of people working in agriculture has resulted inan ageing population of people involved in agriculture. We are working towards increasing the number of young people whilst creating an efficient production system for localized agriculture. The warm climate of Yamaguchi Prefecture is especially well-suited for forestry. Around 70% of the total area of the prefecture is wooded. Around 60% of the growth is evergreen, including red pine, cedar, and cypress trees. In recent years, many people have been working towards creating much fuller forests in an overhaul aimed at protecting the land and environment in our prefecture. The marine products industry thrives in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is surrounded on three sides by the sea. Due to an international system limiting fishing grounds to 200 nautical miles, there has been a decrease in marine resources. In an effort to restore these marine resources, we are actively promoting resource management of the marine industry, through the nursery stocks of tiger blowfish, plaice, and shrimps. Pastoral Landscape Wooded Landscape Shimonoseki Fishing Port Yamaguchi Prefecture’s International Exchanges ●Outline of Alliances and Sister-city ties Our prefecture made alliances and sister-city ties with China’s Shandong Province in 1982, Korea’s Gyeongsangnam-Do in 1987, and Spain’s Navarra Province in November 2003. In recent years we have been working to create more practical exchanges with regards to economic, tourism, environmental protection, and forestry areas with Shandong Province (population of roughly 90 million), which is famous for being the birthplace of Confucius and Mencius and the Yellow River Civilization. We have also been working to deepen exchanges, particularly those between youngsters, and with regards to skills in the environmental field, education, and communication with Gyeongsangnam-Do in Korea (population of roughly 3 million) which faces the Tsu-shima Straights and has many tourism areas including cultural relics, and natural beauty spots. Navarra Province (population of roughly 600 thousand), with whom we have a close relationship full of history and culture from St. Francis Xavier, is located in the northern part of Spain, separated from France by the Pyrenees mountain range. In the past it had a thriving agricultural