The name of Chiba Prefecture in Japanese is formed from twokanji characters. The first,千, means "thousand" and the second,葉 means "leaf". The name first appears as an ancientkuni no miyatsuko, or regional command office, as theChiba Kuni no Miyatsuko (千葉国造).[5] The name was adopted by a branch of theTaira clan, which moved to the area in present-dayChiba City in the lateHeian period. The branch of the Taira adopted the name and became theChiba clan, and held strong influence over the area of the prefecture until theAzuchi–Momoyama period. The name "Chiba" was chosen for the prefecture at the time its creation in1873 by theAssembly of Prefectural Governors (地方官会議,Chihō Kankai Kaigi), an earlyMeiji-period body of prefectural governors that met to decide the structure of local and regional administration in Japan.[6]
Chiba Prefecture was settled in prehistoric times, as evidenced by theJōmon period remains in every part of the region. The prefecture holds the largestkaizukasea shell mounds in Japan, evidence of a large population in the prefecture that relied on the rich marine products of the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay.Kofun burial mounds are found across the prefecture, with the largest group being in Futtsu along Tokyo Bay.[9]
In theAsuka period (538–710), under theTaika Reform of 645, the administrative structure of present-day Chiba Prefecture changed significantly. The historical province ofFusa Province, which may have covered much of Chiba andIbaraki prefectures, was divided into two provinces:Shimōsa Province (also called Shimofusa) in the north andKazusa Province in the southern area.Awa Province at the south of Chiba Prefecture, was separated from Kazusa Prefecture in 718. These administrative units existed until they were abolished and merged into Chiba Prefecture after theMeiji Restoration. The central government established akokubunjiprovincial temple in each province.[10]
The imperial court gradually extended its authority over the three provinces in theNara (710–794) andHeian (794–1185) periods.Shōen feudal estates were established across the three provinces, and the region became an important source of tax revenue, sending agricultural and other products to the capital in Kyoto. As the Heian period progressed, however, thekokushi provincial governors came to exert military power independent of the central government in Kyoto. TheChiba clan broke entirely with the imperial court and was instrumental in the establishment of theKamakura shogunate.[10][11]
In September 1923, theGreat Kanto earthquake has cause of widespread destruction in Chiba Prefecture, most notably in the southernmost part ofBoso Peninsula, where 1,300 residents were killed, out of 142,000 deaths. Areas of prefecture adjacent to Tokyo saw much damage, and mob violence against Koreans and other ethnic minorities occurred in the chaos after the earthquake in Funabashi,Ichikawa, and other areas.[12]
Koreans, in several neighborhoods of Yachiyo, were killed, and a tower was erected in 1972 nearYachiyodai Station to memorialize those killed in the incident.[13] In the 1930s, the north and central areas of the prefecture became a center of large-scale military production, and military bases and fortifications were constructed in most of the coastal areas of the prefecture. After the United States took control ofSaipan, the northern part of the prefecture (most notably the cities of Chiba and Chōshi) wasfirebombed. Much of the industrialized north of the prefecture was destroyed.Operation Coronet, one of two parts ofOperation Downfall, was the planned land invasion of Tokyo in March 1946 by the United States. Coronet plannedKujūkuri Beach as one of two initial landing bases, the other beingHiratsuka viaSagami Bay. TheU.S. First Army would enter at Kujūkuri, sweep across the Boso Peninsula, and meet theU.S. Eighth Army at Tokyo. The plan was not carried out sinceJapan surrendered after theatomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[14]
Nippon Steel Kimitsu Works, 2007, Kimitsu, Keiyō Industrial Zone
During theOccupation of Japan (1945–1952) Chiba Prefecture was controlled by American forces from the second floor of the prefectural capitol building in the city of Chiba. Numerous other cities in the prefecture, including Chōshi to the north and Tateyama to the south, were used as bases of the occupation; rich agricultural areas across the prefecture somewhat safeguarded the region's population from potential food shortages, and starvation, immediately following the war. The immediate post-war period was characterized by carefully planned industrial expansion in the north of the prefecture, and the significant increase of agriculture afterland reforms across the prefecture. TheKeiyō Industrial Zone brought together smaller, industrial areas along the entirety of the western coast of Chiba Prefecture, and the industrial zone became (and remains) an important center of heavy industrial production and large-scale port facilities in Japan. Cities to the northeast of the prefecture (in close proximity to Tokyo) were connected by rail to the capitol, and became and remainbedroom communities to Tokyo.Narita International Airport began operation in 1978 inNarita, after much protest to replace the overcrowdedTokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport). The majority of international air traffic enters Japan via Chiba Prefecture. The cultivation ofrice and vegetables to feed theGreater Tokyo Metropolitan Area expanded greatly and became a source of income to the northeast and central areas of the prefecture. The expansion of agriculture in the central and southern regions of the prefecture was in contrast to the depopulation of these areas as a significant part of the population moved to the northeast of the prefecture as a result of theurbanization of Japan, a process that continues into the 21st century.
On March 11, 2011, the epicenter of9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami and subsequentFukushima nuclear disaster that devastated much of the northeastern coast of Honshu, which caused some damage and affected areas in Chiba Prefecture. While the loss of life and damage to housing and industry was far less than inTōhoku region, 20 people were killed in Chiba Prefecture, including 13 people were recorded deaths inAsahi. Following the triple disaster, anoil refinery fire broke out at theCosmo Oil Chiba Refinery, inIchihara, and was widely covered in the news media. Also, a largeliquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks burned at 10 days earlier.[15]Soil liquefaction, in areas ofreclaimed land across the northern and western areas of Chiba Prefecture, caused damage to housing.[16]Chiba City,Funabashi,Narashino, and especiallyUrayasu were greatly affected by triple disaster (such as soil liquefaction, and evidence of radioactive materials caused by the Fukushima radiation).[17][18] As a result of triple disaster and with permanent damage to housing stock, the population of Chiba Prefecture fell for the first time sinceSpanish flu pandemic in 1918 andGreat Kanto earthquake in 1923.[19]
Chiba Prefecture bordersIbaraki Prefecture to the north at the Tone River,Tokyo andSaitama Prefecture to the west at the Edo River, thePacific Ocean to the east andTokyo Bay around its southern boundary. Most of Chiba lies on the hillyBoso Peninsula, arice farming region: the east coast, known as theKujūkuri Plain,[20] is an especially productive area. The most populous zone, in the northwest of the prefecture, is part of theKantō region that extends into the urban agglomeration of Tokyo and Saitama. TheKuroshio Current flows near Chiba, which keeps it relatively warm in winter and cooler in summer than neighbouring Tokyo.
With the exception of the large-scaleKeiyō Industrial Zone in the northeast, the entirety of the coast of Chiba Prefecture is protected as two quasi-national parks and one prefectural natural park under the national park system of Japan. As of 1 April 2012, 6% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated asNatural Parks.[21]
Suigo-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park encompasses a large area of theTone River basin and the area aroundMount Tsukuba inIbaraki Prefecture. The park was established in 1953 to protect not only the environment of the area, but also its unique cultural heritage. The mouth of the Tone River and toCape Inubō andByōbugaura in northeastern Chiba Prefecture make up the southern part of the park.[22]
Minami Boso Quasi-National Park was established in 1953 to protect much of the southern coastal areas of Chiba Prefecture fromCape Futtsu onTokyo Bay toCape Inubō in northeastern Chiba Prefecture. The park spans across nine administrative districts in the prefecture. Minami Boso Quasi-National Park was established to protect not only the environment of coastal areas, but also the unique cultural assets of associated with these areas, notably the temples associated withNichiren.[23]
Chiba Prefecture has designated and maintains eight prefectural natural parks to protect both natural and cultural areas, namely theInba Tega,Kasamori Tsurumai,Kujūkuri,Mineokasankei,Ōtone,Takagoyama,Tomisan, andYōrō Keikoku Okukiyosumi Prefectural Natural Parks.[24] Cities, towns, and villages in the prefecture also have designated and protected parklands. These parks are maintained for environmental protection as well as providing local recreational facilities.
With the introduction ofmodern municipalities (cities/towns/villages) in 1889, Chiba's districts were subdivided into 43 towns and 315 villages. The first city was created in 1921 when Chiba Town from Chiba District became district-independent as Chiba City. The postwar/1950s Great Shōwa mergers reduced the number of municipalities in Chiba to 101 by 1960, including 14 cities by then. The early 3rd millennium Great Heisei mergers created the current 54 municipalities by 2010.
Chiba Prefecture is home to one of Japan's largest industrial areas. Prior toWorld War II manufacturing in the prefecture was centered on thebrewing industry, specifically the production ofsoy sauce,sake andmirin sweet cooking sake. Themanufacturing sector expanded greatly after the war. The prefecture was chosen as the site for a majorKawasaki Steel factory in 1950. In the same period the prefectural government embarked on a large-scaleland reclamation program todredge large plots of waterfront property. The large-scale construction offactories,warehouses, anddocks on this reclaimed land around the Tokyo Bay area ultimately formed theKeiyō Industrial Zone.[27] Chiba Prefecture is now 6th in Japan inindustrial output with the bulk of the industry focused on thepetroleum,chemical, andsteel andmachine industries.[28] Together, these industries account for forty-five percent of the prefecture's exports. In recent years, the government has funded more than eightyindustrial parks to bring development further inland as well.
The prefecture also boasts Japan's overall second-highest agricultural output. Among all the prefectures, onlyHokkaido produces more agricultural products, and Chiba leads Hokkaido in vegetable production.[citation needed]Peanuts are considered a specialty product of Chiba: 78% of the country's peanuts are produced in the prefecture.[29]
Chiba Prefecture leads the nation in the production of several vegetables, includingcarrots;cabbage;daikonradish;negi, the ubiquitous Japanesecultivar of theWelsh onion;loquat;nashi, the Japanese cultivar of thepear, which has a two hundred-year history of cultivation in the prefecture;tomatoes; andspinach[30][31] It is the nation's second largest producer ofcorn.[30]Rice is also grown, andseaweed, specificallynori, is harvested in large quantities from Tokyo Bay.[32]
Chiba's population is one of the wealthiest in Japan due to the prefecture's strong commercial and industrial sectors. Per capita GDP is ¥3.1 million, the fifth-highest in the country. 70% of the population is employed in the service sector, with 25% in industry and 5% in agriculture.[citation needed]
Chiba Prefecture has ahumid subtropical climate (KoppenCfa) with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. Thetsuyurainy season occurs for approximately 50 days from June to July. According to theJapanese Meteorological Agency, the average of annual temperature is 15.7 °C (60.3 °F). The average high is 19.6 °C (67.3 °F), and the average low is 12.3 °C (54.1 °F).[33]
TheChiba Prefectural Board of Education oversees municipal school districts in the prefecture. The board also directly operates the prefecture's public high schools.
TheChiba Prefectural Library consists of three libraries. The Chiba Prefectural Central Library is located in the central Chuō-ku ward of Chiba City directly southwest ofChiba Castle and in close proximity to the City of Chiba offices. The Central Library houses a general collection as well as the central research collection for the prefecture.[36][37] The Chiba Prefectural West Library is located in Matsudo next to theMatsudo Museum,[38] and houses a research collection focused on natural history and the fine arts. The Chiba Prefectural East Library is located in Asahi,[39] and houses a research collection focused on the literature and history of the prefecture.[40] TheChiba Prefectural Archives are located across theMiyako River from the City of Chiba offices. The archive maintains a collection of rare books and materials from across the prefecture, as well as materials related to the administration of Chiba Prefecture.[41] Each municipality in the prefecture maintains a local libraries, and many shrines and temples maintain archival collections related to their institutions.
Futomaki, large sushi rolls, Katori, Chiba PrefectureKaisō, a jelly-like food made from the seaweedChondrus elatus. Believed to have originated inChōshi city
The traditional diet of Chiba Prefecture is not fundamentally different from that of the rest of Japan. Chiba Prefecture produces prolific quantities of rice across all areas in the prefecture, vegetables in the northern area of the prefecture, and fish, seafood, and shellfish along the coastal areas of the prefecture. Chōshi has been a major center of worldwidesoy sauce production since theEdo period, and the prefecture remains the top producer in Japan.Kikkoman is headquartered in Noda in northwestern Chiba Prefecture.[31][42] These are all important components ofJapanese cuisine.
Certain local products, however, are grown in abundance and have resulted in several dishes unique to the areas. Peanuts, grown in great quantities in the prefecture, appear fresh in markets in the prefecture and are eaten boiled as a snack.Miso paste mixed with peanuts is also produced in Chiba.[31]Takenoko, wholebamboo shoot, are harvested in the central part of the Boso Peninsula. The takenoko of Ōtaki lack the concentration ofarsenic typically found in uncooked bamboo shoots, and as such, are uniquely eaten raw in the area as "takenoko sashimi".[43][44]Futomaki orfutomakizushi, literally "fat roll", is a large version of the sushi roll. The futomaki popularly made in Chiba Prefecture is up to 10 centimeters in diameter. Futomaki in Chiba Prefecture often utilize various ingredients to form a pattern, such as a flower or akanji character, when the roll is cut and served.[31][44]
Main building of the prefectural government in Chiba CityThe prefectural assembly building
Since 2009, the prefectural governor[45] is Eiji Suzuki, better known under his stage name asKensaku Morita, former actor, member of the House of Representatives (LDP/Independent – Tokyo 4th district) and member of the House of Councillors (Independent – Tokyo). He was reelected overwhelmingly to a second term as governor in theMarch 2013 election against only a Communist challenger and a minor, unaffiliated independent.
The assembly of Chiba Prefecture[46] has a regular membership of 95, elected in 45 electoral districts, currently still in the unified local election cycle of 1947 (last round2011). As of July 2014, it is composed as follows: LDP 52 members,DPJ 13,Kōmeitō 7,JCP 4, Shimin Net/SDP/Independents 4,Your Party 3, four other caucuses with 5 members in total.[47]
In theNational Diet, Chiba is represented by 13 members from single-member districts in theHouse of Representatives, and six members (three at-large per election) in theHouse of Councillors. After the most recent Diet elections of 2010, 2012 and 2013, the prefecture is represented by eleven Liberal Democrats and two Democrats in the House of Representatives, and three Liberal Democrats, two Democrats, and one Your Party member in the House of Councillors. Current Diet members from Chiba include former prime ministerYoshihiko Noda (H.R., DPJ – 4th district) and former ministersKuniko Inoguchi (H.C., LDP – class of 2010) andMotoo Hayashi (H.R., LDP – 10th district).
As of 2014, Chiba is divided into 54 contiguousmunicipalities (see list above): 37 cities, 16 towns and one village,[48] as in all of postwar Japan each with a directly elected mayor and assembly. The most populous and Chiba's onlydesignated major city is the capitalChiba City. Two cities, Funabashi and Kashiwa, arecore cities. After late 20th century mergers, much of the rest of the prefecture is also organized in independentcities: Of the (today purely geographical)counties, only six remain, four of which have only one or two remainingtowns orvillages. After the reorganization of county and municipal governments in all prefectures in 1889/1890, there had initially been 12 counties and no city in Chiba;[49] Chiba town in Chiba county became the first municipality in Chiba to be elevated to city status in 1921.
While by far not as large as that of neighbouring Tokyo, Chiba's police force is amongst the country's tenth largest at more than 10,000 members (including the Narita airport police). As in every prefecture, the police are supervised by the public safety commission; its five members are appointed by the governor with approval by the assembly.[50][51]
^Chiba-ken Kōtō Gakkō Kyōiku Kenkyūkai. Rekishi Bukai. (1989).Chiba-ken no rekishi sanpo (千葉県の歴史散步) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Yamakawa Shuppansha. p. 9.ISBN9784634291201.
^Chiba-ken Kōtō Gakkō Kyōiku Kenkyūkai. Rekishi Bukai. (1989).Chiba-ken no rekishi sanpo (千葉県の歴史散步) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Yamakawa Shuppansha. p. 91.ISBN9784634291201.
^Giangreco, D. M. (2011).Hell to Pay: Operation DOWNFALL and the Invasion of Japan, 1945-1947. New York: Naval Institute Press. pp. 169–170.ISBN9781612510262.OCLC741492494.
^"Introduction to the Museum". Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, Japan: National Museum of Japanese History. 2012. Archived fromthe original on July 17, 2012. RetrievedJuly 21, 2012.
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