In mythological times, the area was known as Azuma (吾妻, あづま) and corresponded to the area ofHonshu occupied by the nativeEmishi andAinu. The area was historically theDewa and theMichinoku regions,[3] a term first recorded inHitachi-no-kuni Fudoki (常陸国風土記) (654). There is some variation in modern usage of the term "Michinoku".[4]
Tōhoku's initial historical settlement occurred between the seventh and ninth centuries, well after Japanesecivilization andculture had become firmly established in central and southwestern Japan. The last stronghold of theindigenousEmishi on Honshu and the site of manybattles, the region has maintained a degree of autonomy from Kyoto at various times throughout history.
TheNorthern Fujiwara (奥州藤原氏Ōshū Fujiwara-shi) were a Japanesenoblefamily that ruled the Tōhoku region during the 12th century as their own realm. They kept their independence vis-à-vis theImperial Court in Kyoto by the strength of their warrior bands until they were overwhelmed byMinamoto no Yoritomo in 1189.[5]
Date Masamune (1567–1636), feudal lord ofDate clan, expanded trade in the Tōhoku region. Although initially faced with attacks by hostile clans, he managed to overcome them after a few defeats and eventually ruledone of the largest fiefdoms of the laterTokugawa shogunate. He built many palaces and worked on many projects to beautify the region. He is also known to have encouraged foreigners to come to his land. Even though he funded and promoted an envoy to establish relations with the Pope in Rome, he was likely motivated at least in part by a desire for foreign technology, similar to that of other lords, such asOda Nobunaga. He showed sympathy for Christian missionaries and traders in Japan. In addition to allowing them to come and preach in his province, he also released the prisoner and missionaryPadre Sotelo from the hands of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Date Masamune allowed Sotelo as well as other missionaries to practice their religion and win converts in Tōhoku.
Further, onceTokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) outlawed Christianity, Masamune reversed his position, and though disliking it, let Ieyasu persecute Christians in his domain. For 270 years, Tōhoku remained a place of tourism, trade and prosperity.Matsushima, for instance, a series of tiny islands, was praised for its beauty and serenity by the wanderinghaiku poetMatsuo Bashō.
The catastrophic9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, inflicted massive damage along the east coast of this region, causing 19,759 deaths,[7] and was the costliest natural disaster ever which left 500,000 people homeless along with radioactive emissions from theFukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
The Tōhoku region and Hokkaido seen from spaceGeofeatures map of Tōhoku
Tōhoku, like most of Japan, is hilly or mountainous, with theŌu Mountains running north–south. The inland location of many of the region's lowlands has led to a concentration of much of the population there. Coupled with coastlines that do not favor seaport development, this settlement pattern resulted in a much greater than usual dependence on land and rail transportation. Low points in the central mountain range make communications between lowlands on either side of the range moderately easy.
Tōhoku was traditionally considered thegranary of Japan because it suppliedSendai and theTokyo-Yokohama market with rice and other farming commodities. Tōhoku provided 20 percent of the nation's rice crop.
The most often used subdivision of the region is dividing it to "North Tōhoku" (北東北,Kita-Tōhoku) consisting of Aomori, Akita, and Iwate Prefectures and "South Tōhoku" (南東北,Minami-Tōhoku) consisting of Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures.
The climate is colder than in other parts of Honshū due to the stronger effect of theSiberian High, and permits only one crop a year on paddy fields. ThePacific coast of Tōhoku, however, is generally much less snowy than the region's popular image and has among the smallest seasonal temperature variation in Japan. The city of Iwaki, for instance, has daily mean temperatures ranging from 3.0 °C (37.4 °F) in January to 23.9 °C (75.0 °F) in August.
Note: All figures since 1920 are October, except 2023 which is 1/1. Source: Japan Census figures except latest which fromja:東北地方
The population decline of Tōhoku, which began before the year 2000, has accelerated, now including previously dynamicMiyagi. Despite this,Sendai City has grown, in part due to relocations of people affected by the 2011 disaster. The population decline of Aomori, Iwate and Akita Prefectures, Honshu's three northernmost, began in the early 1980s after an initial loss of population in the late 1950s. Fukushima Prefecture, prior to 1980, had traditionally been the most populated, but today Miyagi is the most populated and urban by far.
^McCullough, Helen Craig. (1988).The Tale of the Heike, p. 81, p. 81, atGoogle Books; excerpt, "Furthermore, in the old days, the two famous eastern provinces, Dewa and Michinoku, were a single province made up of sixty-six districts, of which twelve were split off to create Dewa."
^LOUIS FREDERIC (2008)."O Japão".Dicionário e Civilização. Rio de Janeiro: Globo Livros. pp. 223–224.ISBN9788525046161.Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved3 November 2020.
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