Yamaguchi Prefecture 

(山口県, Yamaguchi-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in
the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[1] Yamaguchi Prefecture has a population of 1,377,631 (1
February 2018) and has a geographic area of 6,112 km² (2,359 sq mi). Yamaguchi Prefecture
borders Shimane Prefecture to the north and Hiroshima Prefecture to the northeast.
Yamaguchi is the capital and Shimonoseki is the largest city of Yamaguchi Prefecture, with other
major cities including Ube, Shūnan, and Iwakuni.[2] Yamaguchi Prefecture is located at the
western tip of Honshu with coastlines on the Sea of Japan and Seto Inland Sea, and separated
from the island of Kyushu by the Kanmon Straits.

Contents

 1History
 2Geography
o 2.1Cities
o 2.2Towns and districts
o 2.3Mergers
 3Economic development
 4Demographics
 5Tourism
 6Famous festivals and events
 7Education
o 7.1High schools
o 7.2Universities
 8Transportation
o 8.1Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal
o 8.2Other ferry routes
o 8.3Air
o 8.4Railway
o 8.5Roads
 8.5.1Expressways
 8.5.2Toll roads
 8.5.3National highways
 9Prefectural symbols
 10Media
o 10.1Newspapers
o 10.2TV
o 10.3Radio
 11Notable people from Yamaguchi Prefecture
 12Sister districts
 13Politics
o 13.1Delegation to the National Diet
o 13.2Governor
o 13.3Assembly
 14Notes
 15References
 16External links

History[edit]
See also: List of Historic Sites of Japan (Yamaguchi)
Yamaguchi Prefecture was created by the merger of the provinces of Suō and Nagato.[3] During
the rise of the samurai class during the Heian and Kamakura Periods (794–1333), the Ouchi
family of Suō Province and the Koto family of Nagato Province gained influence as powerful
warrior clans. In the Muromachi period (1336—1573), Ouchi Hiroyo, the 24th ruler of the Ouchi
family conquered both areas of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The Ouchi clan imitated the city planning
of Kyoto. They gained great wealth through cultural imports from the continent and trade
with Korea and Ming Dynasty China. As a result, Yamaguchi came to be known as the "Kyoto of
the West," and Ouchi culture flourished. Sue Harutaka defeated the 31st ruler of the Ouchi clan.
The Sue clan was then defeated by Mōri Motonari, and the Mōri family gained control of
the Chūgoku region. Yamaguchi was ruled as part of the Mōri clan domain during the Sengoku
period. Mōri Terumoto was then defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the battle of Sekigahara in
1600. He was forced to give up all his land except for the Suō and Nagato areas (current-day
Yamaguchi Prefecture), where he built his castle in Hagi. Mōri sought to strengthen the economic
base of the region and increase local production with his Three Whites campaign (salt, rice, and
paper).
After Commodore Matthew Perry's opening of Japan, clans from Nagato (also called Chōshū)
played a key role in the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the establishment of the new
imperial government. 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, though the prefecture was still centered on agriculture during this period. In
the Taishō period, from 1912 to 1926, shipbuilding, chemical, machinery, and metal working
plants were built in Yamaguchi's harbors in the Seto Inland Sea area. During the post-World War
II Shōwa Period, Yamaguchi developed into one of the most industrialized prefectures in the
country due to the establishment of petrochemical complexes.[4]

Geography[edit]

Map of Yamaguchi Prefecture

As of April 1, 2012, 7% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks,
namely the Setonaikai National Park; Akiyoshidai, Kita-Nagato Kaigan, and Nishi-Chūgoku
Sanchi Quasi-National Parks; and Chōmonkyō, Iwakiyama, Rakanzan, and Toyota Prefectural
Natural Parks.[5]

Cities[edit]
See also: List of cities in Yamaguchi Prefecture by population
Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait

Iwakuni

Shunan

Hagi
Hofu

Thirteen cities are located in Yamaguchi Prefecture:

 Hagi
 Hikari
 Hōfu
 Iwakuni
 Kudamatsu
 Mine
 Nagato
 San'yō-Onoda
 Shimonoseki
 Shūnan
 Ube
 Yamaguchi (capital)
 Yanai
Towns and districts[edit]
These are the towns in each district:

 Abu District
o Abu
 Kuga District
o Waki
 Kumage District
o Hirao
o Kaminoseki
o Tabuse
 Ōshima District
o Suō-Ōshima
Mergers[edit]
Main article: List of mergers in Yamaguchi Prefecture

Economic development[edit]
For the purposes of development analysis, Yamaguchi is construed to be part of Northern
Kyushu. Although Yamaguchi is not part of the island of Kyushu, it has become a functional
satellite of the Kanmon Straits metropolitan area.[6]

Demographics[edit]
Per Japanese census data,[7] and,[8] Yamaguchi prefecture has had negative population growth
from 1955-1973 and 1985-onwards

Historical population

Year Pop. ±%

1920 1,041,000 —    

1930 1,136,000 +9.1%

1940 1,294,000 +13.9%

1950 1,541,000 +19.1%

1960 1,602,000 +4.0%

1970 1,511,000 −5.7%

1980 1,587,000 +5.0%

1990 1,573,000 −0.9%

2000 1,527,964 −2.9%

2010 1,451,338 −5.0%

2020 1,368,495 −5.7%

Tourism[edit]
The most popular place for tourism is Shimonoseki, for example Karato Fish Market. There is a
large fireworks festival in summer.
Another attraction is the Kintai Bridge in the town of Iwakuni. This five-arched wooden structure
is considered a symbol of Western Honshū. The area on the banks of the Nishiki river close to
the bridge is considered among the best places in Japan for Hanami, when groups of family and
friends gather in early April to view cherry blossoms.
Hagi City is in the north of Yamaguchi. It is a very traditional city. The usual color of Japanese
post boxes is red, but in Hagi they are painted green or brown. The Hagi Museum is modeled
after a traditional samurai residence. The exhibits are detailed and realistic, and are changed
every year. The permanent collection is data about Hagi's history and collections about Takasugi
Shinsaku. Hagi also contains a reverberatory furnace which has been designated a World
Heritage Site.[9]
Kawara soba (hot tile noodles) is a popular food in Yamaguchi. It was developed during
the Seinan Rebellion that broke out in 1877. Soldiers cooked wild grass and meat on hot tiles.
Now it is a local dish of Yamaguchi people. They fry green tea noodles on a hot tile, and arrange
thin fried egg, stewed beef, green onions and grilled liver on top.
Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park, which includes Japan's longest cave, the Akiyoshido (秋芳洞),
is another popular destination.
 

Akiyoshi Plateau
 

Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni

Famous festivals and events[edit]