"Yamaguchi, Japan" redirects here. For the capital of the province, seeYamaguchi (city). For the former village in Nagano Prefecture, seeYamaguchi, Nagano.
Yamaguchi Prefecture was created by the merger of the provinces ofSuō andNagato.[5] During the rise of thesamurai class during theHeian andKamakura Periods (794–1333), the Ouchi family of Suō Province and the Koto family of Nagato Province gained influence as powerful warrior clans. In theMuromachi 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 ofKyoto. They gained great wealth through cultural imports from the continent and trade withKorea andMing 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 byMōri Motonari, and the Mōri family gained control of theChūgoku region. Yamaguchi was ruled as part of theMōri clan domain during theSengoku period.Mōri Terumoto was then defeated byTokugawa Ieyasu in the battle ofSekigahara 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 inHagi. Mōri sought to strengthen the economic base of the region and increase local production with his Three Whites campaign (salt, rice, and paper).
After CommodoreMatthew Perry'sopening of Japan, clans from Nagato (also calledChōshū) played a key role in the fall of theTokugawa shogunate and the establishment of the new imperial government.Four years after theEdo Shogunate was overthrown and theMeiji 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 theTaishō period, from 1912 to 1926, shipbuilding, chemical, machinery, and metal working plants were built in Yamaguchi's harbors in theSeto Inland Sea area. During the post-World War IIShōwa Period, Yamaguchi developed into one of the most industrialized prefectures in the country due to the establishment of petrochemical complexes.[6]
For the purposes of development analysis, Yamaguchi is construed to be part ofNorthern Kyushu. Although Yamaguchi is not part of the island ofKyushu, it has become a functional satellite of theKanmon Straits metropolitan area.[8]
The most popular place for tourism isShimonoseki, which has theKarato Fish Market and a large fireworks festival in summer.
Another attraction is theKintai Bridge in the town ofIwakuni. 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 forHanami, 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 aboutTakasugi Shinsaku. Hagi also contains areverberatory furnace which has been designated a World Heritage Site.[11]
Kawara soba (hot tile noodles) is a popular dish in Yamaguchi. It was developed during theSeinan Rebellion when soldiers cooked wild grass and meat on hot tiles. Today people in Yamaguchi create this dish by frying green tea noodles on a hot tile, and arranging a thin fried egg, stewed beef, green onions, and grilled liver on top.
Two ferry services provide regular sea transport from theShimonoseki Port International Terminal:Kanpu Ferry provides round-trip service toBusan, South Korea; theOrient Ferry provides round-trip service toQingdao andShanghai, respectively.
ViscountInoue Masaru, "father of the Japanese railways", member of theChōshū Five, the first Japanese students to study in England following theopening of Japan
Since theMeiji Restoration in which lower-rank nobility fromChōshū played a major role, many politicians from Yamaguchi have held important positions in national politics. In the post-war era, the most prominent political family from Yamaguchi is theKishi-Abe/Satō prime ministerial dynasty, and Yamaguchi is leaning solidly towards theLiberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Since the electoral reform of the 1990s, Yamaguchi elects four members directly to theHouse of Representatives. Three of the new single-member districts have been held exclusively by Liberal Democrats as of 2013, the easternmost district borderingHiroshima was initially won byShinji Satō (Eisaku Satō's son) in 1996, but went toDemocratHideo Hiraoka in several later elections. Currently, following the 2021 general election, Yamaguchi's directly elected delegation to the lower house consists of former LDP vice presidentMasahiko Kōmura (1st district, 12th term), the chairman of the foreign affairs committee,Nobuo Kishi (2nd district, 2nd term, former two-term member of the House of Councillors), and the chairman of the House of Representatives rules committee (as of 190th Diet, January 2016),[17]Yoshimasa Hayashi (3rd district, 1st term). The seat for the 4th district was held by former prime ministerShinzo Abe until hisassassination in 2022, and is currently vacant. For the proportional representation segment of the House of Representatives, Yamaguchi forms part of theChūgoku block.
In theHouse of Councillors, Yamaguchi is represented by two members, making it one of the currently 31 winner-take-all single-member districts. As of 2013, the two members areYoshimasa Hayashi (LDP, 4th term, up in 2019), agriculture minister in the 2nd Abe Cabinet, and following the April 2013 by-election to replace Nobuo Kishi,Kiyoshi Ejima (LDP, 1st term, up in 2016), former mayor of Shimonoseki city.
TheYamaguchi Prefectural Assembly [ja] has 47 members, elected in unified local elections in 15 electoral districts: 5 single-member districts, four two-member districts and six districts that elect each between four and nine members.[18] In the2015 election, the LDP won a majority. Liberal Democrats form several parliamentary groups together with independents. As of June 8, 2015, the assembly is composed as follows: LDP 24 members, LDP Shinseikai 5, Kōmeitō 5, DPJ/Rengō no Kai 4, LDP Kensei Club 2,JCP 2,SDP/Citizens League 2, and the independent "groups"shinsei club,mushozoku no kai andkusa no ne have one member each.[19]
^代表取締役会長兼社長 柳井 正 [Managing Director & President Tadashi Yanai].Nippon Shacho (in Japanese). Japan: Ishin. 2003. Archived fromthe original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved25 March 2016.
^Tsuchida, Akihiko (6 November 2016).エヴァ新幹線 あすから運行 徳山駅でも出発式 ／山口 [EVA Shinkansen starts operating tomorrow].Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. Retrieved25 March 2016.
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