Aomori Prefecture
From Free net encyclopedia
Aomori Prefecture (青森県 Aomoriken or frequently Aomori-ken) is located in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. The capital is the city of Aomori. Aomori was named after the Aomori Bay (青森湾; Aomori-wan), which the Ainu described simply as the "big bay" (大湾/アオモイ; Ao-moi).
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History
Geography
Aomori Prefecture is the northernmost prefecture on Honshu and faces Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait. It borders Akita and Iwate in the south. Oma, at the northwestern tip of the axe-shaped Shimokita Peninsula, is the northernmost point of Honshu. The Shimokita and Tsugaru Peninsulas enclose Mutsu Bay. Between those peninsulas lies the Natsudomari Peninsula, the northern end of the Ou Mountains. The three peninsulas are prominently visible in the prefecture's symbol, a stylized map.
Lake Towada, a crater lake, straddles Aomori's boundary with Akita.
Cities
10 cities are located in Aomori Prefecture.
Towns and villages
Image:OsorezanLake.jpg Image:Hirosakijo.jpg Image:Towadako.jpg These are the towns and villages in each district.
Mergers
(as of March 1, 2006)
- On July 1, 2004 the village of Kuraishi from Sannohe District was merged into the town of Gonohe.
- On January 1, 2005 the town of Towadako from Kamikita District was merged with the old city of Towada to form the new city of Towada.
- On February 11, 2005 the town of Kizukuri and the villages of Inagaki, Kashiwa, Morita, and Shariki, (all from Nishitsugaru District) were merged to form the new city of Tsugaru.
- On March 14, 2005 the towns of Kawauchi and Ohata and the village of Wakinosawa (all from from Shimokita District) were merged into the city of Mutsu.
- On March 28, 2005 the town of Kanagi and the village of Shiura from Kitatsugaru District were merged with the old city of Goshogawara (1st generation) to form the new city of Goshogawara (2nd generation).
- On March 28, 2005 the town of Kanita and the villages of Tairadate and Minmaya (all from Higashitsugaru District were merged to form the new town of Sotogahama.
- On March 28, 2005 the town of Fujisaki merged with the village of Tokiwa from Minamitsugaru District to form the new town of Fujisaki.
- On March 28, 2005 the town of Nakasato and the village of Kodomari from Kitatsugaru District were merged to form the new town of Nakadomari.
- On March 31, 2005 the village of Nangou from Sannohe District was merged into the city of Hachinohe.
- On March 31, 2005 the village of Iwasaki from Nishitsugaru District was merged with the old town of Fukaura to form the new town of Fukaura.
- On March 31, 2005 the town of Shichinohe merged with the village of Tenmabayashi from Kamikita District to form the new town of Shichinohe.
- On March 31, 2005 the town of Kamikita from Kamikita District was merged into the town of Tohoku.
- On April 1, 2005 the town of Namioka from Minamitsugaru District was merged with the old city of Aomori to form the new city of Aomori.
- On January 1, 2006 the town of Nanbu merged with the town of Nagawa and the village of Fukuchi from Sannohe District to form the new town of Nanbu.
- On January 1, 2006 the towns of Hiraka and Onoe and the village of Ikarigaseki from Minamitsugaru District were merged to form the new city of Hirakawa.
- On February 27, 2006 the town of Iwaki and the village of Souma from Nakatsugaru District were merged with the old city of Hirosaki to form the new city of Hirosaki.
- On March 1, 2006 the towns of Momoishi and Shimoda from Kamikita District merged to form the new town of Oirase.
Economy
Like much of Tōhoku, the Aomori region remains dominated by traditional industries such as farming, forestry, and fishing.
Demographics
Many young people depart Aomori for cities like Tokyo or Sendai looking for excitement or jobs, and Aomori records its population as having peaked in 1983.
Culture
Tourism Attractions
Image:HakkodaStatue1.jpg Aomori is especially famous for its apple orchards.
Lake Towada, a beautiful caldera, lies on the boundary between Akita and Aomori Prefectures. The Oirase river drains Lake Towada; in the summer it is refreshing and in the autumn the leaves are breathtaking.
Mount Osore, the Mountain of Dread, is near Mutsu on the Shimokita Peninsula.
The Hakkoda Mountains in Aomori provide excellent hiking in the warmer seasons. However, the winter proved disastrous to over 200 soldiers who died during a military maneuver in the area in deep snow.
- Asupamu
- Hakkoda Ship
- Aomori Bay Bridge
- Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art
- Aomori City Forestry Museum
- Aomori Prefectural Folk Museum
- Aomori City History and Folk Arts Museum
- Nebuta-no-sato Museum
- Mount Hakkoda
- Oirase Mountain Stream
- San'nai-Maruyama Remains
- Shirakami-Sanchi Mountain Range
Prefectural symbols
The Aomori prefectural symbol is a stylized map of the prefecture, showing the crown of Honshu: the Tsugaru, Natsudomari and Shimokita Peninsulas.
Miscellaneous topics
The two major dialects of Japanese spoken in Aomori Prefecture are Tsugaru-ben (津軽弁) and Nambu-ben (南部弁); the former is prevalent in the area around Aomori City, and the latter is heard in and around the city of Hachinohe.
External links
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