Tottori Prefecture Explained

Tottori Prefecture
Settlement Type:Prefecture
Translit Lang1:Japanese
Translit Lang1 Type:Japanese
Translit Lang1 Info:Japanese: 鳥取県
Translit Lang1 Type1:Rōmaji
Translit Lang1 Info1:Japanese: Tottori-ken
Flag Size:100px
Image Blank Emblem:Emblem of Tottori Prefecture.svg
Blank Emblem Size:80px
Blank Emblem Type:Symbol
Coordinates:35.449°N 133.766°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Chūgoku (San'in)
Subdivision Type2:Island
Subdivision Name2:Honshu
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Tottori
Parts Type:Subdivisions
Parts Style:para
P1:Districts

5

P2:Municipalities

19

Leader Title:Governor
Leader Name:Shinji Hirai
Area Total Km2:3,507.13
Area Water Percent:0.7
Area Rank:41st
Population Total:538525
Population As Of:July 1, 2023
Population Rank:47th
Population Density Km2:154
Demographics Type2:GDP
Demographics2 Footnotes:[1]
Demographics2 Title1:Total
Demographics2 Info1:JP¥ 1,893 billion
US$ 17.4 billion (2019)
Iso Code:JP-31
Module:
Embedded:yes
Country:Japan
Bird:Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
Flower:Nijisseiki nashi pear blossom (Pyrus pyrifolia)
Tree:Daisenkyaraboku (Taxus cuspidata)
Population Blank1 Title:Dialects
Population Blank1:Inshū・Kurayoshi・West Hōki
Anthem:Wakiagaru chikara

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[2] Tottori Prefecture is the least populous prefecture of Japan at 538,525 (2023) and has a geographic area of 3507.13km2. Tottori Prefecture borders Shimane Prefecture to the west, Hiroshima Prefecture to the southwest, Okayama Prefecture to the south, and Hyōgo Prefecture to the east.

Tottori is the capital and largest city of Tottori Prefecture, with other major cities including Yonago, Kurayoshi, and Sakaiminato.[3] Tottori Prefecture is home to the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest sand dunes system in Japan, and Mount Daisen, the highest peak in the Chūgoku Mountains.

Etymology

The word "Tottori" in Japanese is formed from two kanji characters. The first,, means "bird" and the second, means "to get". Early residents in the area made their living catching the region's plentiful waterfowl. The name first appears in the in the 23rd year of the Emperor Suinin (213 AD) when Yukuha Tana, an elder from the Izumo, visits the emperor. The imperial Prince Homatsu-wake was unable to speak, despite being 30 years of age.

"Yukuha Tana presented the swan to the emperor. Homatsu-wake no Mikoto played with this swan and at last learned to speak. Therefore, Yukaha Tana was liberally rewarded, and was granted the title of Tottori no Miyakko." (Aston, translation)

History

See also: List of Historic Sites of Japan (Tottori).

Early history

Tottori Prefecture was settled very early in the prehistoric period of Japan, as evidenced by remains from the Jōmon period (14,000  - 300 BC).[4] The prefecture has the remains of the largest known Yayoi period (300 BC  - 250 AD) settlement in Japan, the Mukibanda Yayoi remains, located in the low foothills of Mount Daisen[5] in the cities of Daisen and Yonago.[6] Numerous kofun tumuli from the Kofun period (250  - 538) are located across the prefecture.[7] In 645, under the Taika reforms, the area in present-day Tottori Prefecture became two provinces, Hōki and Inaba.[8]

Later history

During the Genpei War (1180 - 1185) between the Taira and Minamoto clans in the late-Heian period, Tottori became a base for anti-Taira forces, specifically at two temples, Daisen-ji and Sanbutsu-ji. By the beginning of the Kamakura period (1185 - 1333) shōen estates were established to directly support the Imperial court and various temples. Successive clans controlled the region during the Sengoku period (15th to 17th century), most notably the Yamana clan, but after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 the region was pacified. The Tokugawa shogunate installed the Ikeda clan at Tottori Castle. The clan retained control of the area until throughout the Edo period (1603 - 1868) and the resources of the area financially and materially supported the shogunate.[9]

Modern history

The two provinces remained in place until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and the boundaries of Tottori Prefecture were established in 1888.[4] After the occupation of Korea and Taiwan in the 20th century, and the establishment of the Manchukuo puppet state in 1932, Tottori's harbors on the Japan Sea served as an active transit point for goods between Japan and the colonial areas. Before the end of World War II the prefecture was hit by a massive magnitude 7.2 earthquake, the 1943 Tottori earthquake, which destroyed 80% of the city of Tottori, and greatly damaged the surrounding area. In the postwar period land reform was carried out in the prefecture, resulting in a great increase of agricultural production.[9]

Geography

See also: List of cities in Tottori Prefecture by population.

Tottori is home to the Tottori Sand Dunes, Japan's only large dune system. As of 1 April 2012, 14% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Daisen-Oki and Sanin Kaigan National Parks; Hiba-Dōgo-Taishaku and Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Parks; and Misasa-Tōgōko, Nishi Inaba, and Okuhino Prefectural Natural Parks.[10]

Mount Misumi is located within the former area of Mochigase that was merged into the city of Tottori in 2004.

Cities

Four cities are located in Tottori Prefecture:

NameArea (km2)PopulationMap
RōmajiKanji
Kurayoshi倉吉市272.0648,558
Sakaiminato境港市29.0233,888
Tottori (capital)鳥取市765.31192,912
Yonago米子市132.42148,720

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

NameArea (km2)PopulationDistrictTypeMap
RōmajiKanji
Chizu智頭町224.617,031Yazu DistrictTown
Daisen大山町189.8316,357Saihaku DistrictTown
Hiezu日吉津村4.23,439Saihaku DistrictVillage
Hino日野町133.983,202Hino DistrictTown
Hōki伯耆町139.4411,071Saihaku DistrictTown
Hokuei北栄町56.9414,718Tōhaku DistrictTown
Iwami岩美町122.3211,382Iwami DistrictTown
Kōfu江府町124.522,950Hino DistrictTown
Kotoura琴浦町139.9717,219Tōhaku DistrictTown
Misasa三朝町233.526,407Tōhaku DistrictTown
Nanbu南部町114.0310,888Saihaku DistrictTown
Nichinan日南町340.964,665Hino DistrictTown
Wakasa若桜町199.313,209Yazu DistrictTown
Yazu八頭町206.7116,985Yazu DistrictTown
Yurihama湯梨浜町77.9416,837Tōhaku DistrictTown

Mergers

See main article: List of mergers in Tottori Prefecture.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[11] [12] Tottori is the least populated prefecture in Japan.

Economy

Tottori Prefecture is heavily agricultural and its products are shipped to the major cities of Japan. Some of the famous products are the nashi pear, nagaimo yam, Japanese scallion, negi, and watermelon. The prefecture is also a major producer of rice.

Language

Historically, the region had extensive linguistic diversity. While the standard Tokyo dialect of the Japanese language is now used in Tottori Prefecture, several other dialects are also used. Many of them are grouped with Western Japanese, and include the Chugoku and Umpaku dialects.[13]

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Tottori.

Education

Universities

Colleges

Noted places

Tottori City

Daisen

Daisen and Yonago

Yonago and Sakaiminato

Misasa

Sakaiminato

Iwami

Chizu

Nanbu

Transportation

Rail

Roads

Expressway and toll roads

National highways

Ports

Airports

Prefectural symbols

The symbol is derived from the first mora in Japanese for "" combined with the picture of a flying bird, and symbolizes peace, liberty, and the advancement of the Tottori prefecture. It was enacted in 1968 to celebrate the 100th year from the first year of the Meiji Era.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020年度国民経済計算(2015年基準・2008SNA) : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 . 2023-05-18 . 内閣府ホームページ . ja.
  2. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tottori Prefecture" in ; "Chūgoku" at .
  3. Nussbaum, "Tottori" at .
  4. Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Japan . Tottori Prefecture . 2012-04-07 . 2012 . Shogakukan . Tokyo . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ . 2007-08-25 .
  5. http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/chugoku/tottori/yonago-daisen/d8jk7l000002t1q0.html Muki-Banda Remains
  6. Encyclopedia: Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系) . Mukibanda-iseki (妻木晩田遺跡) . 2012-04-07 . 2012 . Shogakukan . Tokyo . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ . 2007-08-25 .
  7. Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Japan . Tottori Plain . 2012-04-07 . 2012 . Shogakukan . Tokyo . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ . 2007-08-25 .
  8. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in .
  9. Encyclopedia: Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) . Tottori-ken (鳥取県) . 2012-04-07 . 2012 . Shogakukan . Tokyo . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ . 2007-08-25 .
  10. Web site: General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture . . 31 August 2012.
  11. http://www.citypopulation.de/Japan-Tottori.html Tottori 1995-2020 population statistics
  12. http://www.demographia.com/db-japanpref.htm Tottori 1920-2000 population statistics
  13. Encyclopedia: Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) . Tottori-ken: seikatsu bunka (鳥取(県): 生活文化) . 2012-04-07 . 2012 . Shogakukan . Tokyo . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ . 2007-08-25 .