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Yamagata Prefecture
山形県 | |
|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | |
| • Japanese | 山形県 |
| • Rōmaji | Yamagata-ken |
 Flag  Symbol | |
| Anthem: Mogami gawa | |
 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tōhoku |
| Island | Honshu |
| Capital | Yamagata |
| Subdivisions | Districts: 8, Municipalities: 35 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Mieko Yoshimura |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9,325.15 km2 (3,600.46 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 9th |
| Population (August 1, 2023) | |
| • Total | 1,028,055 |
| • Rank | 35th |
| • Density | 110/km2 (290/sq mi) |
| • Dialects | Nairiku・Shōnai |
| GDP | |
| • Total | JP¥ 4,337 billion US$ 39.8 billion (2019) |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-06 |
| Website | www |
| Symbols of Japan | |
| Bird | Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) |
| Fish | Cherry salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) |
| Flower | Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) |
| Tree | Cherry |
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Yamagata Prefecture (山形県, Yamagata-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.[2] Yamagata Prefecture has a population of 1,028,055 (1 August 2023) and has a geographic area of 9,325 km2 (3,600 sq mi). Yamagata Prefecture borders Akita Prefecture to the north, Miyagi Prefecture to the east, Fukushima Prefecture to the south, and Niigata Prefecture to the southwest.
Yamagata is the capital and largest city of Yamagata Prefecture, with other major cities including Tsuruoka, Sakata, and Yonezawa.[3] Yamagata Prefecture is located on Japan's western Sea of Japan coast and its borders with neighboring prefectures are formed by various mountain ranges, with 17% of its total land area being designated as Natural Parks. Yamagata Prefecture formed the southern half of the historic Dewa Province with Akita Prefecture and is home to the Three Mountains of Dewa, which includes the Haguro Five-story Pagoda, a recognised National Treasure of Japan.
History
The aboriginal Ezo (蝦夷) people once inhabited the area now known as Yamagata. Yamagata and Akita Prefecture were known as Dewa Province until the Meiji Restoration.[4]
During the Heian period (794–1185), the Fujiwara (藤原) family ruled the area. Yamagata City flourished during the Edo period (1603–1867) due to its status as a castle town and post station, famous for beni (red safflower dye used in the production of handspun silk). In 1689, the famous haiku poet, Matsuo Bashō visited Yamagata during his five-month trip to the northern regions of Japan.
Geography
Yamagata Prefecture is located in the southwest corner of Tōhoku, facing the Sea of Japan. It borders Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture on the south, Miyagi Prefecture on the east, and Akita Prefecture on the north. All of these boundaries are marked by mountains, with most of the population residing in a limited central plain.
As of 31 March 2020, 17 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Bandai-Asahi National Park; Chōkai, Kurikoma, and Zaō Quasi-National Parks; and Goshōzan, Kabusan, Kennan, Mogamigawa, Shōnai Kaihin, and Tendō Kōgen Prefectural Natural Parks.[5]
Cities
Thirteen cities are located in Yamagata Prefecture:
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Population density (per km2) | Map | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rōmaji | Kanji | ||||
 Higashine
|
東根市 | 207.17 | 47,910 | 231.26 | 
|
 Kaminoyama
|
上山市 | 240.93 | 29,974 | 124.41 | 
|
 Murayama
|
村山市 | 196.98 | 23,643 | 120.03 | 
|
 Nagai
|
長井市 | 214.67 | 26,466 | 123.29 | 
|
 Nan'yō
|
南陽市 | 160.52 | 31,112 | 193.82 | 
|
 Obanazawa
|
尾花沢市 | 373.32 | 15,237 | 40.81 | 
|
 Sagae
|
寒河江市 | 139.03 | 40,131 | 288.65 | 
|
 Sakata
|
酒田市 | 602.97 | 99,341 | 164.75 | 
|
 Shinjō
|
新庄市 | 223.08 | 34,937 | 156.61 | 
|
 Tendō
|
天童市 | 113.01 | 61,947 | 548.16 | 
|
 Tsuruoka
|
鶴岡市 | 1,311.53 | 125,389 | 95.61 | 
|
 Yamagata (capital)
|
山形市 | 381.58 | 248,772 | 651.95 | 
|
 Yonezawa
|
米沢市 | 548.51 | 81,707 | 148.96 | 
|
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
