Okayama Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is a prefecture
of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū
island. The capital is the city of Okayama.
, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province
, Bizen Province
and Mimasaka Province
.
Okayama Prefecture borders Hyōgo Prefecture
, Tottori Prefecture
and Hiroshima Prefecture
. It faces Kagawa Prefecture
in Shikoku
across the Seto Inland Sea and includes 90 islands in the sea.
Okayama Prefecture is home to the historic town of Kurashiki. Most of the population is concentrated around Kurashiki and Okayama
. The small villages in the northern mountain region are ageing and declining in population - more than half of the prefectures municipalities are officially designated as depopulated.
:
Football (soccer)
Volleyball
., located in Kurashiki City.
and manga
series Tenchi Muyo!
take place in this part of Japan, and many characters are named after geographical features and landmarks of the area.
In the anime
and manga
series "Nerima Daikon Brothers
", the character Mako speaks with an Okayama accent.
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...
of Japan located in the Chūgoku region 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 the city of Okayama.
History
During the Meiji RestorationMeiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province
Bitchu Province
was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of western Honshū, in what is today western Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bizen and Bingo Provinces. Bitchu bordered Hōki, Mimasaka, Bizen, and Bingo Provinces....
, Bizen Province
Bizen Province
was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of Honshū, in what is today the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bitchu and Bingo Provinces. Bizen borders Mimasaka, Harima, and Bitchū Provinces....
and Mimasaka Province
Mimasaka Province
or was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today northeastern Okayama Prefecture. Mimasaka bordered Bitchū, Bizen, Harima, Hōki, and Inaba Provinces....
.
Geography
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Tottori Prefecture
Tottori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.- History :Before the Meiji Restoration, Tottori encompassed the old provinces of Hōki and Inaba...
and Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
. It faces Kagawa Prefecture
Kagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...
in Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
across the Seto Inland Sea and includes 90 islands in the sea.
Okayama Prefecture is home to the historic town of Kurashiki. Most of the population is concentrated around Kurashiki and Okayama
Okayama, Okayama
is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km²....
. The small villages in the northern mountain region are ageing and declining in population - more than half of the prefectures municipalities are officially designated as depopulated.
Cities
Fifteen cities are located in Okayama Prefecture:- AkaiwaAkaiwa, Okayamais a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.As of November 1, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 45,542 and the density of 217.46 persons per km². The total area is 209.43 km²....
- AsakuchiAsakuchi, Okayamais a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.Asakuchi was formed on March 21, 2006 following the merger of the towns of Kamogata, Konkō and Yorishima, all from Asakuchi District....
- BizenBizen, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan. The city is particularly famous for its Bizen-yaki pottery. It is also home to literary critic Hakuchō Masamune's birthplace, which is now a museum....
- IbaraIbara, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 44,271 and the density of 182 people per km². The total area is 243.36 km².The city was founded on March 30, 1953...
- KurashikiKurashiki, Okayamais a historic city located to the west of Okayama Prefecture, Japan, sitting on the Takahashi River, on the coast of the Inland Sea.As of April 2010, the city has a population of 473,392. The total area is .-History:...
- ManiwaManiwa, Okayamais a city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.On 31 March 2005, the town of Hokubō ; the towns of Katsuyama, Ochiai, Yubara, and Kuse and the villages of Mikamo, Kawakami, Yatsuka, and Chūka merged to form the new city of Maniwa.On September 1, 2011, Maniwa had an area of 828.43 km², the largest area of...
- MimasakaMimasaka, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.It is the result of a merger involving the former town of the same name. The merger took place on March 31, 2005 when the town of Katsuta from Katsuta District, the towns of Aida, Ōhara and Sakutō, and the village Higashiawakura, all from Aida District, were...
- NiimiNiimi, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.As of March 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 34,035 , 13,077 households and the density of 42.90 persons per km²...
- OkayamaOkayama, Okayamais the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km²....
(capital)- Kita-kuKita-ku, Okayamais one of four wards of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The ward has an area of 451.03 km² and a population of 295,312. The population density is 655 per square kilometer...
- Naka-kuNaka-ku, Okayamais one of four wards of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The ward has an area of 51.24 km² and a population of 138,949. The population density is 2,711 per square kilometer. The name means "Central Ward."...
- Higashi-kuHigashi-ku, Okayamais one of four wards of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The ward has an area of 160.28 km² and a population of 96,718. The population density is 603 per square kilometer. The name means "East Ward."...
- Minami-kuMinami-ku, Okayamais one of four wards of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The ward has an area of 127.36 km² and a population of 165,193. The population density is 1,297 per square kilometer. The name means "South Ward."...
- Kita-ku
- SetouchiSetouchi, Okayamais a city located in the southern part of Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004, the city has a population of 39,377. The total area is 125.51 km²....
- SōjaSoja, Okayamais a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 67,357, with a household number of 24,623, and the density of 317.72 persons per km². The total area is 212.00 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954...
- TakahashiTakahashi, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 34,119, with a household number of 13,990 and the density of 62.37 persons per km². The total area is 547.01 km².The city was founded on May 1, 1954....
- TamanoTamano, Okayamais a city located in the southern Okayama, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 64,980, with a household number of 27,933 and the density of 627.16 persons per km². The total area is 103.61 km²....
- TsuyamaTsuyama, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 89,974 and the density of 484.43 persons per km². The total area was 185.73 km²...
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...
:
|
Nagi, Okayama is a town located in Katsuta District, Okayama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 6,564 and a density of 94.39 persons per km². The total area is 69.54 km².-Notable Persons:... Shoo, Okayama is a town located in Katsuta District, Okayama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 11,342 and a density of 209.61 persons per km². The total area is 54.09 km².This town is said to be the place Kintarō died.-External links:*...
Kumenan, Okayama is a town located in Kume District, Okayama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,881 and a density of 74.82 persons per km². The total area is 78.60 km².-External links:*... Misaki, Okayama is a town located in Kume District, Okayama, Japan.As of March 1, 2004, the town has an estimated population of 17,776 and a density of 76.57 persons per km². The total area is 232.15 km²....
Shinjo, Okayama is a village located in Maniwa District, Okayama, Japan.In 2003 the village had an estimated population of 1,047 and a density of 15.6 persons per km². The total area is 67.1 km².This village is known for the cherry trees along its main street, which is called... |
Yakage, Okayama is a town located in Oda District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 15,864 and a density of 175.06 persons per km². The total area is 90.62 km²....
Kagamino, Okayama is a town located in Tomata District, Okayama, Japan.On March 1, 2005 Kagamino absorbed the town of Okutsu, and the villages of Kamisaibara and Tomi, all from Tomata District, to form the new town of Kagamino, with a combined total area of 419.69 km²...
Hayashima, Okayama is a town located in Tsukubo District, Okayama, Japan.As of June 1, 2010, the town has a population of 12,331 and a density of 1,606.44 persons per km². This is the highest population density of any municipality in Okayama Prefecture. The total area is 7.61 km², making it the also the smallest...
Wake, Okayama is a town located in Wake District, Okayama, Japan.As of March 2011, the town has an estimated population of 15,560. The total area is 144.23 km².... |
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Okayama.Football (soccer)
- Fagiano Okayama F.C.Fagiano Okayama F.C.Fagiano Okayama is a football club from Okayama, Okayama, Japan. Fagiano currently play in the J. League Division 2, the second-tier professional football league in the country. Fagiano in Italian means "pheasant", and it's a reference to the pheasant that was a companion of local legend character...
(Okayama cityOkayama, Okayamais the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km²....
) - Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C.Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C.are a football club based in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. They play in the Okayama Prefectural League Division 1.-History:The club was founded in 1946 to provide recreational activities in the war-torn Mizushima area of Kurashiki city...
(KurashikiKurashiki, Okayamais a historic city located to the west of Okayama Prefecture, Japan, sitting on the Takahashi River, on the coast of the Inland Sea.As of April 2010, the city has a population of 473,392. The total area is .-History:...
)
Volleyball
- Okayama SeagullsOkayama SeagullsOkayama Seagulls is a women's volleyball team based in Okayama city, Okayama, Japan. It plays in V.premier League. The club was founded in 1999...
(Okayama cityOkayama, Okayamais the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km²....
)
Tourism
Some tourist attractions are: located in Okayama City. located in Okayama City., located in Bizen CityBizen, Okayama
is a city located in Okayama, Japan. The city is particularly famous for its Bizen-yaki pottery. It is also home to literary critic Hakuchō Masamune's birthplace, which is now a museum....
., located in Kurashiki City.
- Bitchu Matsuyama CastleBitchu Matsuyama Castle, also known as Takahashi Castle, is a castle located in Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is not to be confused with Matsuyama Castle in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. Bitchū Matsuyama Castle is notable as the castle with the highest elevation above sea level in Japan.- History :The castle...
, located in Takahashi CityTakahashi, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 34,119, with a household number of 13,990 and the density of 62.37 persons per km². The total area is 547.01 km².The city was founded on May 1, 1954.... - Kakuzan Park, located in Tsuyama City, located in Ibara TownIbara, Okayamais a city located in Okayama, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 44,271 and the density of 182 people per km². The total area is 243.36 km².The city was founded on March 30, 1953...
(following dissolution of Bisei TownBisei, Okayamawas a town located in Oda District, Okayama, Japan.On March 1, 2005 Bisei, along with the town of Yoshii, from Shitsuki District, was merged into the city of Ibara....
).
Anime and manga
The animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series Tenchi Muyo!
Tenchi Muyo!
, is a Japanese anime, light novel, and manga series created by Masaki Kajishima and Hiroki Hayashi.The generally accepted translation of the title is No Need for Tenchi or Useless Tenchi, though at the time of its appearance it was also translated variably as No Heaven and Earth and This Way Up...
take place in this part of Japan, and many characters are named after geographical features and landmarks of the area.
In the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series "Nerima Daikon Brothers
Nerima Daikon Brothers
is a manga and 12 episode comedy anime series that follows the adventures of two brothers Hideki, Ichiro, and Mako who form the band, "Nerima Daikon Brothers."...
", the character Mako speaks with an Okayama accent.
Notables
- Shin KoyamadaShin Koyamadais a film actor, producer, philanthropist and martial artist.Koyamada co-starred as “Nobutada” opposite Tom Cruise in the Warner Bros. action epic film The Last Samurai , with a worldwide box office of $456 million. Koyamada also starred in the action original movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior...
, Hollywood actor. - Yuko ArimoriYuko Arimoriis a Japanese professional marathon runner and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund . She was born on December 17, 1966 in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan...
, marathon runner. - Tesshō GendaTessho Gendais a Japanese voice actor. He is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce. When he debuted, he used his real name, . as artist name. Because he had experience with ballet, he was known by the nickname "Pirouette Genda."...
, voice actorSeiyuVoice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
. - Ryutaro HashimotoRyutaro Hashimotowas a Japanese politician who served as the 82nd and 83rd Prime Minister of Japan from January 11, 1996 to July 30, 1998. He was the leader of one of the largest factions within the ruling LDP through most of the 1990s and remained a powerful back-room player in Japanese politics until scandal...
, Kiichiro HiranumaKiichiro HiranumaBaron was a prominent pre–World War II right-wing Japanese politician and the 35th Prime Minister of Japan from 5 January 1939 to 30 August 1939. The modern Japanese politician, Takeo Hiranuma, is his adopted son.- Early life :...
, Inukai TsuyoshiInukai Tsuyoshiwas a Japanese politician and the 29th Prime Minister of Japan from 13 December 1931 to 15 May 1932.-Early life:Inukai was born to a former samurai family of the Niwase Domain, in Niwase village, Bizen Province , and was a graduate of Keio Gijuku in Tokyo. In his early career, he worked as a...
, Kan Naoto and Hatoyama Yukio former Prime MinistersPrime Minister of JapanThe is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
of Japan. - Sen'ichi HoshinoSenichi Hoshino, 22 January 1947, is a former Japanese professional baseball player and current manager.In 2003, he led the Tigers to their first Central League pennant in 18 years before retiring for health reasons. Since 2007, He had managed the Japanese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.In October,...
, baseball managerManager (baseball)In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. - Koshi InabaKoshi Inabais a Japanese vocalist. His real name is . He graduated from the Faculty of Education at the Yokohama National University, and has a degree in mathematics.- Musical career :...
, singer. - Keizo Nakanishi, singer.
- Sesshu ToyoSesshu Toyowas the most prominent Japanese master of ink and wash painting from the middle Muromachi period. He was born into the samurai Oda family , then brought up and educated to become a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest...
, suiboku master. - Joichiro TatsuyoshiJoichiro Tatsuyoshiis a former World Boxing Council world bantamweight champion from Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. His record is 19–6–1 .He is popular for his fight style and unique personality, and has appeared in several television variety shows....
, boxerBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. - Haruka FukushimaHaruka Fukushimais a Japanese shōjo manga artist. She made her manga debut in 1999 in Nakayoshi Magazine with her award-winning manga Sakuranbo Kiss. She considers Otona ni Nuts to be her masterpiece...
, manga artistMangakais the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
. - Masashi KishimotoMasashi Kishimotois a Japanese manga artist, well known for creating the manga series Naruto. His younger twin brother, Seishi Kishimoto, is also a manga artist and creator of the manga series 666 Satan and Blazer Drive...
, manga artist and creator of NarutoNarutois an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
. - Seishi KishimotoSeishi Kishimotois a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for 666 Satan, which was serialized in Japan by Monthly Shōnen Gangan from 2001 to 2007 and licensed by VIZ in North America as O-Parts Hunter. His older twin brother, Masashi Kishimoto, is also a manga artist and creator of Naruto...
, manga artist. - Daisuke TakahashiDaisuke Takahashiis a Japanese figure skater, notable as the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist, the 2010 World Champion, the 2007 World silver medalist, a two-time Four Continents Champion, and a four-time Japanese national champion....
, Olympic figure skaterFigure skatingFigure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. - DorlisDorlisDorlis is the stage name for a Japanese musician from Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. She started out in classical guitar, but at about age 17 became a street musician and dropped out of high school. In time she became a jazz and swing musician. Her music has at times been deemed nostalgic because of...
, jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician. - Michio Maeda, KoiKoior more specifically , are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens....
breeder. - Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...
, arguably the nations most famous samuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau... - Megumi FujiiMegumi FujiiMegumi Fujii is a female Japanese mixed martial artist. She is currently the #3-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the #1-ranked female flyweight according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.-Biography:Fujii specializes mainly in submission fighting and is...
, MMAMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
Fighter. - Masaki KajishimaMasaki KajishimaMasaki Kajishima , is a Japanese anime artist who works for AIC in a freelance capacity. He is best known for his work on Tenchi Muyo! and Dual! but has had a hand in creating several other anime...
, creator of Tenchi Muyo!Tenchi Muyo!, is a Japanese anime, light novel, and manga series created by Masaki Kajishima and Hiroki Hayashi.The generally accepted translation of the title is No Need for Tenchi or Useless Tenchi, though at the time of its appearance it was also translated variably as No Heaven and Earth and This Way Up...
. - Morihiro HashimotoMorihiro Hashimotois a Japanese darts player, nicknamed The Ogre.Hashimoto first appeared in the PDC circuit competing in the 2009 Las Vegas Desert Classic qualifiers, as well as a Players Championship. He attempted to qualify for the 2010 PDC World Darts Championship, but lost in the final of the Japanese...
, dartsDartsDarts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
player.