Yamagata, Yamagata
Encyclopedia
is the capital city
of Yamagata Prefecture
in Japan
.
As of July 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 253,951 with 97,457 household
s and a population density of 665.94 persons per km². The total area is 381.34 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1889.
. An autumn tradition is Imoni-kai (taro potato party). Taro potatoes, thin-sliced meat, and vegetables are cooked in a large pot at picnic spots. The banks of the Mamigasaki River are popular. Once a year, on the first Sunday in September, the city government serves thousands of bowls from its giant iron imoni pot, which is serviced by a building crane. In 2009, 30,000 servings were prepared and served, and still a crowd waited in line.
The temple of Yama-dera
(Ryushakuji) lies within the city limits, 15 minutes by train from the center.
In the center of town northwest of the train station is the extensive Kajo park, the grounds of castle keep of feudal warlord Mogami Yoshiaki
. While most of the park is athletic fields and public function buildings, the rebuilt walls, eastern main gate, and surrounding moat of the former castle are impressive. The Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
nearby features items from Yoshiaki's time like his battle helmet and other swords and armor, and information on these exhibits and the history of the castle town is also available in English. It also contains a small public museum with displays of natural and social history.
(bullet train) from Tokyo, which detaches from the Tōhoku Shinkansen at Fukushima Station
. The train takes just under three hours from Tokyo, and the one-way cost is about 10,000 yen.
on the Pacific coast it is usually clearer and more temperate. The opposite is the case in winter with the valley seeing frequent snow and the Pacific coast remaining clear and fine.
. The Kojirakawa Campus houses the Faculty of Literature & Social Science, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Education, Art & Science. The Iida Campus includes the Faculty of Medicine, which also includes the School of Nursing and the University Hospital
.
Ōshima
, Japan (since 1978) Kami, Miyagi
, Japan (since 1989)
Kitzbühel
, Tyrol
, Austria (since 1963) Swan Hill, Victoria
, Australia (since 1980) Jilin City
, China (since 1983) Ulan-Ude
, Buryatia
, Russia (since 1991) Boulder, Colorado
, USA (since 1994)
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
of Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
As of July 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 253,951 with 97,457 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s and a population density of 665.94 persons per km². The total area is 381.34 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1889.
Culture
The , one of Tōhoku's major summer festivals, is held in the city every August 5, 6 and 7. Yamagata also hosts the bi-annual Yamagata International Documentary Film FestivalYamagata International Documentary Film Festival
The Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is a documentary film festival held biennially in Yamagata, Japan.It was first held in October 1989, which makes it one of the longest running documentary film festivals in the world and the most distinguished such festival in Asia...
. An autumn tradition is Imoni-kai (taro potato party). Taro potatoes, thin-sliced meat, and vegetables are cooked in a large pot at picnic spots. The banks of the Mamigasaki River are popular. Once a year, on the first Sunday in September, the city government serves thousands of bowls from its giant iron imoni pot, which is serviced by a building crane. In 2009, 30,000 servings were prepared and served, and still a crowd waited in line.
The temple of Yama-dera
Yama-dera
Yama-dera is about a twenty minute train ride northeast of Yamagata City, in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan at the foot of the steep hill Houshuuyama....
(Ryushakuji) lies within the city limits, 15 minutes by train from the center.
In the center of town northwest of the train station is the extensive Kajo park, the grounds of castle keep of feudal warlord Mogami Yoshiaki
Mogami Yoshiaki
was a daimyō of the Yamagata domain in Dewa Province, in the late Sengoku period and early Edo period.-Life:Mogami Yoshiaki was the first son of Mogami Yoshimori , and succeeded his father as daimyō of Yamagata...
. While most of the park is athletic fields and public function buildings, the rebuilt walls, eastern main gate, and surrounding moat of the former castle are impressive. The Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
The is a museum in Yamagata in Japan just outside the reconstructed Great Eastern Gate of Yamagata Castle. It focuses on the place in history of Mogami Yoshiaki and his role in building the foundations of present-day Yamagata. The Historical Museum opened on 1 December 1989 in commemoration of the...
nearby features items from Yoshiaki's time like his battle helmet and other swords and armor, and information on these exhibits and the history of the castle town is also available in English. It also contains a small public museum with displays of natural and social history.
Transportation
Yamagata City is served by the Yamagata ShinkansenYamagata Shinkansen
The is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line....
(bullet train) from Tokyo, which detaches from the Tōhoku Shinkansen at Fukushima Station
Fukushima Station (Fukushima)
is a railway station located in the city of Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan.-Lines:*JR East**Tōhoku Shinkansen**Yamagata Shinkansen**Tōhoku Main Line**Ōu Main Line*AbukumaExpress** Abukuma Express Line*Fukushima Transportation** Iizaka Line-Layout:...
. The train takes just under three hours from Tokyo, and the one-way cost is about 10,000 yen.
Train stations
- JR EastEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
- Yamagata ShinkansenYamagata ShinkansenThe is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line....
: Yamagata StationYamagata Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Line:* Yamagata Shinkansen* Ōu Main Line* Senzan Line* Aterazawa Line -History: *1901-04-11: Station begins operation.*1992-07-01: Yamagata shinkansen service is started.... - Ōu Main LineOu Main LineThe is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...
: ZaōZao Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-History:*1911-12-05: Station begins operation as .*1951-03-01: Name is changed to Zaō Station....
- YamagataYamagata Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Line:* Yamagata Shinkansen* Ōu Main Line* Senzan Line* Aterazawa Line -History: *1901-04-11: Station begins operation.*1992-07-01: Yamagata shinkansen service is started....
- Kita-YamagataKita-Yamagata Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Platforms:-History:*1921-07-20: Station began operation as a station of Aterazawa light railway line.*1922-09-22: Aterazawa light railway line was renamed to Aterazawa Line....
- Uzen-ChitoseUzen-Chitose Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Platforms:- External links :...
- Minami-DewaMinami-Dewa Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Surrounding area:Beside Highway 276 in a rural setting this station serves both an area of modern flats and a traditional hamlet....
- UrushiyamaUrushiyama Station (Yamagata)is a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.... - Senzan LineSenzan LineThe is a railway line in Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company system, it runs from Sendai Station in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture to Yamagata Station in Yamagata, acting as a connector between the Tōhoku Main Line/Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line in southern Tōhoku. It also provides...
: Omoshiroyama-KōgenOmoshiroyama-Kogen Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Surrounding area:Omoshiroyama-Kōgen skiing area is nearby. A ski lift carries passengers between the station and the ski slope. In the summer, the station is accessible by automobile, but in the winter season the roads...
- YamaderaYamadera Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Surrounding area:*Yama-dera-Adjacent stations:...
- TakaseTakase Station (Yamagata)is a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
- TateyamaTateyama Station (Yamagata)is a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
- Uzen-ChitoseUzen-Chitose Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Platforms:- External links :...
- Kita-YamagataKita-Yamagata Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Platforms:-History:*1921-07-20: Station began operation as a station of Aterazawa light railway line.*1922-09-22: Aterazawa light railway line was renamed to Aterazawa Line....
- YamagataYamagata Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Line:* Yamagata Shinkansen* Ōu Main Line* Senzan Line* Aterazawa Line -History: *1901-04-11: Station begins operation.*1992-07-01: Yamagata shinkansen service is started.... - Aterazawa LineAterazawa LineThe is a railway line in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It runs between Kita-Yamagata Station in Yamagata to Aterazawa Station in Ōe...
: YamagataYamagata Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Line:* Yamagata Shinkansen* Ōu Main Line* Senzan Line* Aterazawa Line -History: *1901-04-11: Station begins operation.*1992-07-01: Yamagata shinkansen service is started....
- Kita-YamagataKita-Yamagata Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Platforms:-History:*1921-07-20: Station began operation as a station of Aterazawa light railway line.*1922-09-22: Aterazawa light railway line was renamed to Aterazawa Line....
- Higashi-KanaiHigashi-Kanai Stationis a JR East railway station located in Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.- External links :...
- Yamagata Shinkansen
Major roads
- Tōhoku Chūō Expressway: Yamagata-chūō, Yamagata-Kaminoyama interchanges
- Yamagata ExpresswayYamagata ExpresswayThe is a national expressway in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:The expressway is officially referred to as the Tōhoku Ōdan Expressway Sakata Route...
: Yamagata-Zaō, Yamagata-kita, Sekizawa interchanges - Route 13, Route 48, Route 112Route 112 (Japan)National Route 112 is a national highway of Japan connecting Yamagata, Yamagata and Sakata, Yamagata in Japan, with a total length of 140.3 km ....
, Route 286Route 286 (Japan)National Route 286 is a national highway of Japan connecting Taihaku-ku, Sendai and Yamagata, Yamagata in Japan, with a total length of 61.9 km ....
, Route 348, Route 458Route 458 (Japan)National Route 458 is a national highway of Japan connecting Shinjō, Yamagata and Kaminoyama, Yamagata in Japan, with a total length of 112.5 km ....
Climate
Yamagata City is located in a wide central valley that can heat up quickly in spring and summer and is often grey and humid, while to the east in Miyagi PrefectureMiyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
on the Pacific coast it is usually clearer and more temperate. The opposite is the case in winter with the valley seeing frequent snow and the Pacific coast remaining clear and fine.
- Yamagata registered the highest temperature ever recorded in Japan (40.8˚C on July 25, 1933) until the record was broken by two cities (40.9˚C in Kumagaya, SaitamaKumagaya, Saitamais a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 203,089 . The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight...
and Tajimi, GifuTajimi, Gifuis a city located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 112,165, with 40,413 number of households. The total area is 91.24 km²....
) on August 16, 2007
Education
The city is also the home of the Kojirakawa Campus and Iida Campus of Yamagata UniversityYamagata University
is a national university located in the Japanese cities of Yamagata, Yonezawa and Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture.The university was established in 1949 but its origin can be traced back to the , a public teacher-training institution, founded in 1878 in Yamagata City.The university also has other...
. The Kojirakawa Campus houses the Faculty of Literature & Social Science, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Education, Art & Science. The Iida Campus includes the Faculty of Medicine, which also includes the School of Nursing and the University Hospital
University hospital
A university hospital is an institution which combines the services of a hospital with the education of medical students and with medical research. These hospitals are typically affiliated with a medical school or university...
.
Notable people from Yamagata
- Yoshiharu AbeYoshiharu AbeYoshiharu Abe is a Japanese popular music artist and producer. His 1992 single "+ OR -" hit the Billboard charts in Japan at number 5 in October 1992...
, musician - Joji KatoJoji Katois a Japanese speedskater specialised in the sprinting distance 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres below 35 seconds....
, speed skater - Yuko OgaYuko Ogais a Japanese professional basketball player. She is a point guard currently playing for JX Sunflowers of the Women's Japan Basketball League. She formerly played for Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. Her nickname is Shin.-Career:...
, basketball player - Shozo SasaharaShozo Sasaharais a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in Freestyle wrestling.-Olympics:Sasahara competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne where he received a gold medal in Freestyle wrestling, the featherweight class.-References:...
, wrestler - Chihiro SuzukiChihiro Suzukiis a Japanese voice actor. He made his debut role as Soichiro Arima in Kare Kano. He is currently a free agent and his nickname is "Chi-chan".-Anime:*Inazuma Eleven *Amaenaideyo!! *Angel Heart...
, voice actor - Miyuki TakahashiMiyuki TakahashiMiyuki Takahashi is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for NEC Red Rockets.Miyuki Takahashi also plays for the All-Japan women's volleyball team and participated at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics...
, volleyball player - Eriko Watanabe, actress
Sister towns and cities
Yamagata is twinned with the following towns and cities.Ōshima
Izu Oshima
is a volcanic island in the Izu Islands and administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, Japan, lies about 100 km south of Tokyo, 22 km east of the Izu Peninsula and 36 km southwest of Bōsō Peninsula. serves as the local government of the island...
, Japan (since 1978) Kami, Miyagi
Kami, Miyagi
is a town located in Kami District, Miyagi, Japan.As of June 1, 2010, the town has an estimated population of 25,709 and a population density of 55.8 persons per km². The total area is 460.82 km²....
, Japan (since 1989)
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel
-Demographic evolution:-Personalities:*Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre , entomologist and botanist*Alfons Walde , expressionist painter and architect*Peter Aufschnaiter , mountaineer and geographer...
, Tyrol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
, Austria (since 1963) Swan Hill, Victoria
Swan Hill, Victoria
Swan Hill is a city in the northwest of Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Murray Valley Highway, on the south bank of the Murray River, downstream from the junction of the Loddon River. At the 2006 census, Swan Hill had a population of 9,684.-History:...
, Australia (since 1980) Jilin City
Jilin City
Jilin City is the second largest city of Jilin province in Northeast China. At the 2010 census, 4,414,681 people resided within its administrative area of and 1,975,803 in its built up area...
, China (since 1983) Ulan-Ude
Ulan-Ude
Ulan-Ude is the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, located about southeast of Lake Baikal on the Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga...
, Buryatia
Buryatia
The Republic of Buryatia is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the city of Ulan-Ude. Its area is with a population of 972,658 .-Geography:...
, Russia (since 1991) Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, USA (since 1994)