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Aomori Prefecture 青森県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	青森県
• Rōmaji	Aomori-ken
Flag Symbol
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Island	Honshu
Capital	Aomori
Government
• Governor	Shingo Mimura
Area
• Total	9,606.26 km2 (3,709.00 sq mi)
Area rank	8th
Population (2010-10-01[1])
• Total	1,373,164
• Rank	31st
• Density	154/km2 (400/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-02
Districts	8
Municipalities	40
Flower	Apple blossom (Malus domestica)
Tree	Hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata)
Bird	Bewick's swan (Cygnus bewickii)
Website	www.pref.aomori.lg.jp

Aomori Prefecture (青森県, Aomori-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region.^[2] The capital is the city of Aomori.^[3]

History

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as the northern part of Mutsu Province.^[4]

During the Edo period the Hirosaki clan began building a seaport at the current city of Aomori. There were green woods near the city which were used as landmarks for the ships that came into port. These green woods called aoi-mori is where Aomori got its name. The prefecture came into existence in 1871. The town of Aomori was established in 1889. The town was incorporated as a city in 1898 with a population of 28,000. On May 3, 1910, a fire broke out in the Yasukata district. Fanned by strong winds, the fire quickly devastated the whole city. The conflagration claimed 26 lives and injured a further 160 residents. It destroyed 5,246 houses and burnt 19 storage sheds and 157 warehouses. At 10:30 p.m. on July 28, 1945, a squadron of American B29 bombers bombed over 90% of the city.

Radio Aomori (RAB) made its first broadcast in 1951. Four years later, the first fish auctions were held. 1958 saw the completion of the Municipal Fish Market as well as the opening of the Citizen's Hospital. In the same year, the Tsugaru Line established a rail connection with Minmaya Village at the tip of the peninsula.

Various outlying towns and villages were incorporated into the growing city and with the absorption of Nonai Village in 1962, Aomori became the largest city in the prefecture.

In March 1985, after 23 years of labor and a financial investment of 700 billion yen, the Seikan Tunnel finally linked the islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō, thereby becoming the longest tunnel of its kind in the world.^{[citation needed]} Almost exactly three years later, on March 13, railroad service was inaugurated on the Tsugaru Kaikyo Line.

That same day saw the end of the Seikan ferry rail service. During their 80 years of service, the familiar ferries of the Seikan line sailed between Aomori and Hakodate some 720,000 times, carrying 160 million passengers.

In April 1993, Aomori Public College opened. In August 1994, Aomori City made an "Education, Culture and Friendship Exchange Pact" with Kecskemét in Hungary. One year later, a similar treaty was signed with Pyongtaek in South Korea, and cultural exchange activities began with exchanges of woodblock prints and paintings.

In April 1995, Aomori Airport began offering regular international air service to Seoul, South Korea, and Khabarovsk, Russia; however, the flights to Khabarovsk were discontinued in 2004.^[5]

In June 2007, four North Korean defectors reached Aomori Prefecture, after having been at sea for six days, marking the second known case ever where defectors have successfully reached Japan by boat.^[6]

In March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck Japan on the east coast. The northeastern coast of Aomori Prefecture was affected by the resulting tsunami. Buildings along harbors were damaged along with boats thrown about in the streets.

Climate

Aomori prefecture’s climate is relatively cool for the most part. It has four distinct seasons with an average temperature of 10 °C. Variations in climate exist between the eastern (Pacific Ocean side) and the western (Japan Sea side) parts of the prefecture. This is in part due to the Ou Mountains that run north to south and divide the two regions. The western side is subject to heavy monsoons and little sunshine which results in heavy snowfall during the winter. The eastern side receives little sunlight during the summer months, June through August, with temperatures staying relatively low. The lowest recorded temperature during the winter is -9.3 °C, and the highest recorded temperature during the summer is 33.1 °C.

Geography

Aomori Prefecture and the surrounding area as seen from space

Map of Aomori Prefecture
     City      Town      Village

Oirase waterfall

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 Ōu 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. Oirase River flows easterly from Lake Towada. The Shirakami Mountains are located in western Aomori and contain the last of the virgin beech tree forest which is home to over 87 species of birds.

As of April 1, 2012, 12% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely Towada-Hachimantai National Park; Shimokita Hantō and Tsugaru Quasi-National Parks; and Akaishi Keiryū Anmon no Taki, Asamushi-Natsudomari, Ashino Chishōgun, Iwaki Kōgen, Kuroishi Onsenkyō, Nakuidake, Ōwani Ikarigaseki Onsenkyō, and Tanesashi Kaigan Hashikamidake Prefectural Natural Parks.^[7]

Cities

Ten cities are located in Aomori Prefecture:

Towns and villages

Osore-zan, the Mountain of Dread, in Mutsu

Hirosaki Castle, a reminder of the Edo period

Lake Towada

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Military bases

Aomori Prefecture is host to the Misawa Air Base, the only combined, joint U.S. service installation in the western Pacific servicing Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
On 20 February 2018 a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet caught fire in flight. The pilot dumped two fuel tanks into Lake Ogawarako in northern Aomori Prefecture.[1]

Mergers

Economy

Like much of the Tōhoku Region, Aomori Prefecture remains dominated by traditional industries such as farming, forestry, and fishing.

Aomori Prefecture is Japan's largest producer of apples.^{[citation needed]} Aomori also boasts being the home to Hakkōda cattle, a rare, region-specific breed of Japanese Shorthorn.^[8] The town of Gonohe has a long history as a breeding center for horses of exceptional quality, popular among the samurai. With the decline of the samurai, Gonohe's horses continued to be bred for their meat. The lean horse meat is coveted as a delicacy, especially when served in its raw form, known as Basashi (馬刺し). The Aomori coast along Mutsu Bay is a large source of scallops, but they are particularly a specialty of the town Hiranai where the calm water around Natsudomari Peninsula makes a good home for them.^[9]

Culture

Aomori is well known for its tradition of Tsugaru-jamisen, a virtuosic style of shamisen playing.

Festivals

Aomori Prefecture boasts a variety of festivals year round offering a unique look into northern Japan. Spring is the cherry blossom festival and is celebrated throughout Japan by gathering together to view the blooming cherry blossoms. Summer and autumn hold many distinct festivals with bright lights, floats, dancing and music. Winter is centered on snow festivals where one can view ice sculptures and enjoy Japanese cuisine inside an ice hut.

• Spring (viewing locations for cherry blossoms)
  
  • Aomori City - Gappo Park
  
  
  • Goshogawara City - Ashino Park
  
  
  • Hiranai Town - Yogoshiyama Forest Park
  
  
  • Hirosaki City - Hirosaki Park
  
  
  • Hirosaki City - Sakurabayashi Park, the World’s Number One Cherry Rows
  
  
  • Towada City - Government Office Quarter
  
  


• Summer
  
  • 
    Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori City)
  
  
  • Fukaura Sea Festival - The Golden Sea of Japan (Fukaura Town)
  
  
  • Goshogawara Tachi Neputa Festival (Goshogawara City)
  
  
  • 
    Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival (Hachinohe City)
  
  
  • Hirosaki Neputa Festival (Hirosaki City)
  
  
  • Kuroishi Neputa Festival (Kuroishi City)
  
  
  • Hiranai Nebuta Festival (Hiranai Town)
  
  
  • Kuroishi Yosare - One of Japan’s 3 Great Dances (Kuroishi City)
  
  
  • Lake Towadako Kosui Festival
  
  
  • Minmaya Yoshitsune Festival (Sotogahama Town)
  
  
  • Misawa Festival (Misawa City)
  
  
  • Osorezan Grand Festival (Mutsu City)
  
  
  • Tosa no Sunayama Festival (Goshogawara City)
  
  
  • Tanabu Festival (Mutsu City)
  
  


• Autumn
  
  • Osorezan Autumn Worship (Mutsu City)
  
  
  • Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Fall Foliage Festival (Hirosaki City)
  
  
  • Hachinohe Chrysanthemum Festival (Hachinohe City)
  
  
  • Towada City Fall Festival “Yuso Nambu Koma Odori” (Towada City)
  
  
  • Ohata Festival (Mutsu City)
  
  
  • Scallop Festival (Hiranai Town)
  
  


• Winter
  
  • Towada City - Towadako Fuyu Monogatari Winter Story Festival

Transportation

Airports

There are two airports located within the Aomori Prefecture. Both airports are relatively small, offering international flights to Korea, as well as domestic flights.

• Aomori Airport


• Misawa Airport

Railway

Stations

The following major stations are located in Aomori Prefecture.

• 
  Aomori Station, Hachinohe Station and Hirosaki Station
  

Lines

The following lines, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), run through Aomori Prefecture.

• Tōhoku Shinkansen


• Tōhoku Main Line


• Ōu Main Line


• Ōminato Line


• Gonō Line


• Hachinohe Line


• Tsugaru Line

Road

Aomori IC near the north end of the Tōhoku Expressway.

Expressways

• 
  Tohoku Expressway
  


• 
  Aomori Expressway
  


• 
  Hachinohe Expressway
  


• 
  Kamikita Expressway
  


• 
  Michinoku Toll Road
  


• 
  Daini-Michinoku Toll Road
  


• 
  Tsugaru Expressway
  


• 
  Shimokita Expressway
  

National highways

The Aomori Bay Bridge which crosses over Aomori Bay.

• 
  National Route 4
  


• 
  National Route 7
  


• 
  National Route 45
  


• 
  National Route 101
  


• 
  National Route 102
  


• 
  National Route 103
  


• 
  National Route 104
  


• 
  National Route 279
  


• 
  National Route 280
  


• 
  National Route 282
  


• 
  National Route 338
  


• 
  National Route 339
  


• 
  National Route 340
  


• 
  National Route 394
  


• 
  National Route 454
  

Tourism

Big Buddha

Aomori Shōwa Daibutsu (昭和大仏), also known as the Big Buddha in Aomori, is the tallest seated Buddha in Japan. Located at Seiryū-ji (Blue-Green Dragon Temple) in Aomori City, this statue was built as a symbol of gratitude for WWII soldiers as well as a symbol for Buddha's teachings. The Seiryuu-ji temple itself is relatively new and was founded in 1982 by a priest named Ryuko Oda. The temple grounds have traditional style Japanese architecture. In 1984, the Big Buddha statue was built, weighing in at 220 tons and is 21.35 metres (70.0 ft) tall. Underneath the Buddha there is a circular hallway with many paintings, pictures and small statues. A Buddha shrine with an offering table can also be found inside.

Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki Castle, a castle in Hirosaki known for its gardens' cherry blossoms.

Mutsu Bay

Wild horses can be seen at Cape Shiriya and Shipwreck Beach. The peninsula that forms the bay is known as Shimokita Peninsula or "The Hatchet".

Jesus Christ's grave legend

There is a localized Japanese legend that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross but made his way to Shingō, Aomori where he became a rice farmer, married, and had a family.^[10] The legend owes its existence to a supposed 1930s discovery of what were claimed to be "ancient Hebrew documents detailing Jesus's life and death in Japan". The legend also claims that his grave is located in Aomori.^[11]

This legend, and the documents it originated from have largely been dismissed as a hoax,^[10] but the tourist attraction still persists, along with a traditional song and dance to placate the spirit of Jesus. The meaning of the song though has been lost over time.^[12]

Juniko Lakes

Located in the town of Fukaura, the name means “twelve lakes” despite the fact that there are 33. One unique characteristic is the lakes' brilliant colors; one in particular, Aoike Lake, is a rich blue color.

Lake Towada

Lake Towada, a caldera, lies on the boundary between Akita and Aomori Prefectures. During the summer, firework displays light up the sky and reflect off the water offering a spectacular show. Oirase Gorge lies near Lake Towada and is a popular location for hiking.

Mount Osore

Mount Osore, the Mountain of Dread, is near Mutsu on the Shimokita Peninsula. This is one of three mountains in Japan that is dedicated to Buddha. The Japanese believe the souls of the dead reside here, and during the summer and autumn festivals many Japanese and tourists travel to this mountain.

Hakkoda Mountains

The Hakkōda Mountains in Aomori provide excellent hiking in the warmer seasons. However, the winter of 1902 proved disastrous to 199 of 210 soldiers who died during a military maneuver in the area in deep snow.

The Memorial Statue of the Hakkoda Death March portrays Fusanosuke Gotō

Sannai-Maruyama Ruin, Aomori City

Other places of interest

• Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center


• Hakkoda Ship


• Aomori Bay Bridge


• Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art


• Aomori City Forestry Museum


• Aomori Prefectural Museum


• Aomori City History and Folk Arts Museum


• Nebuta-no-sato Museum


• Oirase Mountain Stream


• Sannai-Maruyama site


• Aomori Museum of Art


• 
  Shirakami-Sanchi (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Education

Universities

• Aomori Chuo Gakuin University


• Aomori Public University


• Aomori University


• Aomori University of Health and Welfare


• Hachinohe Gakuin University


• Hachinohe Institute of Technology


• Hirosaki Gakuin University


• Hirosaki University


• Hirosaki University of Health and Welfare


• Tohoku Women's College


• 
  Kitasato University (Towada Campus)

Sport

Aomori Prefecture hosted the 2003 Asian Winter Games.

Prefectural symbols

The Aomori prefectural symbol is a stylized map of the prefecture, showing the crown of Honshū: the Tsugaru, Natsudomari and Shimokita Peninsulas.

Dialects

According to Ken Cannon, there are three major dialects spoken in Japan; standard Japanese, Kansai dialect and Tohoku dialect. Tohoku dialect, or Tohoku-ben, is found in northern Japan and is spoken between farmers and country folks. This dialect is also referred to as "zuu zuu-ben" because when speaking the language the Japanese don't open up their mouths that much thus sounding slurred (i.e. zuu-buu-muu-zuu). There is a negative connotation that surrounds people that speak this dialect, labeling them as lazy country folks. Due to this negativity speakers of Tohoku-ben will hide their accents when speaking standard Japanese.

There are dozens of versions of this Tohoku-ben, with two notably major ones in found in the Aomori Prefecture; Tsugaru-ben (津軽弁) and Nambu-ben (南部弁). The former is prevalent in the area around Hirosaki City, and the latter is heard in and around the city of Hachinohe. According to a study done by Hideki Tanaka, the "dz" and "s" consonants undergo palatalization in the Nambu dialect. There is also the dialect Shimokita-ben (下北弁), which was used in the early Russian–Japanese Dictionary made by a Japanese Russian man whose father came from the Shimokita Peninsula. It is a combination of Tsugaru-ben and Nambu-ben.^[13]

Media

TV

• 
  Aomori Broadcasting Corporation (RAB)


• 
  Aomori Television (ATV)


• 
  Asahi Broadcasting Aomori (ABA)

Notable people from Aomori Prefecture

• 
  Miki Hanada, nurse


• 
  Miki Furukawa, musician


• 
  Junji Ishiwatari, musician


• 
  Daimaou Kosaka, comedian


• 
  Kenichi Matsuyama, actor


• 
  Daisuke Matsuzaka, Major League Baseball pitcher^[14]


• 
  Hani Motoko, journalist


• 
  Koji Nakamura, musician


• 
  Yoshisada Yonezuka, martial arts instructor

Notes

References

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
  


• Eriko Arita (2010, January 8). Japan's festivals all at once. Japan Times. Retrieved 13 July 2012 from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?vid=22&hid=121&sid=14bb5609-06b3-4c74-9f36-08fbd8081863%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=pwh&AN=2W61814492561
  


• Hideki Tanaka (1996). On the Palatalization of [dz] and [s] in the Nambu Dialect. Tsukuba English Studies. 15, 159-186. Retrieved 17 July 2012 from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/results?sid=b5483f79-ffab-4873-8154-ff20e65e9ab5%40sessionmgr12&vid=29&hid=103&bquery=%28nambu%29+AND+%28dialect%29&bdata=JnR5cGU9MSZzaXRlPWVkcy1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#1
  


• Aomori promotes mystery spots as tourist attractions. (2012, January 25). Kyodo News International, Inc., p. 1. Retrieved 12 July 2012 from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?vid=3&hid=124&sid=7f6b09c0-4397-48cc-9acd-6056a8c6fd1b%40sessionmgr112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=edsnbk&AN=13C84F7D2404B018
  


• Ken Cannon (n.d.). All You Need to Know About Japan’s Weirdest Dialect, Tohoku-ben. Tofugu. Retrieved July 17, 2012, from http://www.tofugu.com/2011/07/25/all-you-need-to-know-about-japans-weirdest-dialect-tohoku-ben/
  


• Mishima, S. (n.d.). Cherry Blossom Festivals 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2012, from About.com: http://gojapan.about.com/cs/cherryblossoms/a/sakurafestival.htm
  


• MisawaJapan.com. (n.d.). Lake Towada Winter Festival. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from MisawaJapan.com: http://www.misawajapan.com/festivals/others/towada_winter.asp
  


• Ulysses Ronquillo (2009, September 13). Tachi Neputa Festival in Goshogawara City. Wordpress Blog. Retrieved July 13, 2012, from http://aomorimori.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/tachi-neputa-festival-in-goshogawara-city/
  


• Fall Festivals : Aomori Prefecture. (n.d.). Northern-Tohoku. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from https://web.archive.org/web/20130514225609/http://www.northern-tohoku.gr.jp/english/e_autumn2005/aomori/2ao_maturi.html
  


• Festivals and Fireworks : Aomori Prefecture. (n.d.) Northern-Tohoku. Retrieved July 12, 2012 from https://web.archive.org/web/20130514222052/http://www.northern-tohoku.gr.jp/english/e_summer/aomori/1ao_maturi.html
  


• Aomori Airport. (n.d.). Sckyscanner. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://www.skyscanner.com/airports/aoj/aomori-airport.html
  


• Misawa Airport. (n.d.). Skyscanner. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://www.skyscanner.com/airports/msj/misawa-airport.html
  


• Christi June (2010, August 1). Seiryu-ji Temple: aka: The Big Buddha in Aomori. Aomori Story. Retrieved July 15, 2012, from http://aomoristory.blogspot.jp/2010/07/seiryu-ji-temple-aka-big-buddha-in.html
  


• Aomori. (2008). Japan-i. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/tohoku/aomori/
  


• Kyodo (2012, January 28). Aomori plugs its 'power spots'. Japan Times. Retrieved July 11, 2012, from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120128b3.html#.UALBjpHAIvk
  

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aomori prefecture.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Aomori prefecture.

• 
  Aomori Prefecture Official Website (in Japanese)
  


• 
  Aomori Prefecture Official Website (in English)
  

Coordinates: 40°49′28.8″N 140°44′26.3″E / 40.824667°N 140.740639°E / 40.824667; 140.740639