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Up Date(2004/08/17） About FukushimaWhere is Fukushima, Japan?
 Japan lies
alongside of the east coast of the Eurasian Continent and it is an island country
made up with four major islands & some 3,900 smaller islands, surrounded by
the ocean. People often describe its total area as being about the same as that
of the California State, USA. Fukushima Prefecture is located at the southern
tip of the northeastern region on the main island called Honshu. Access
to Fukushima
Fukushima Pref. stretches over between approx. 175 kilometers
& 350 kilometers north of Tokyo. The prefectural capital also called Fukushima
can be reached within 1 hr 45 mins by shinkansen or the bullet train, and a little
over 3 hours via the Tohoku Expressway (toll 6,500 yen for 255 km). Fukushima
Airport operates international flight services to Seoul, Korea (2.5 hrs. flight
time) & Shanghai, China (3 hrs), and also domestic services to & from
major cities including Sapporo, Osaka & Nagoya.
Fukushima is the
third largest prefecture in Japan and has a total of 90 cities, towns & villages.
Its population is approx. 2.13 million and around 60 % live in the larger cities.
Almost 70 % of Prefectural land is covered with forest. There are two major mountain
ranges running north to south dividing the prefecture from east to west into three
regions, coastal, central & inland Aizu. Each region has a unique climate
& geographic features that characterize the people's lifestyle & culture.
Coastal Region
As the region is located at the southern most part of
the northeastern region of Japan, it is fairly mild throughout the year. The average
temperature for winter wavers between 2-3°C while temperatures rise up to
mid 20s in the summer. Mostly dry & sunny winters with little snowfall, while
in the summer sandy beaches prove to be the popular summer destination for all.
Central Region
Hot & humid in summer, cold & windy in winter. Plenty
of snow makes for excellent ski resorts in the mountain areas. Weather here is
somewhat extreme. Although the average temperature in summer is around 25 degrees,
it sometimes hits the season's record of around 37-9 degrees in the whole nation
and it can get down to minus 2 to 3 in winter with the average winter temperatures
are around 3 degrees.
Aizu Region
Surrounded by high mountains, weather in this region is
characterized as having a cool pleasant summer but a severe snowy winter. Villages
in this region are sometimes snowed under as deep as three metres while it gets
pretty hot in summer in the basin areas like Aizuwakamatsu City. Average summer
temperatures in the city are around 25 degrees and drop to below zero in winter.
| People of Fukushima
99 % out
of the 2.13 million Fukushima citizens are Japanese and 1 % are those with foreign
backgrounds. Most people recognize themselves as Buddhist or Shintoist and although
people with other religious backgrounds remain low in population, there are people
who attend Christian churches & there is also a small Muslim population as
well. English language is taught at junior & senior high schools but is rarely
spoken in people's daily life.
Fukushima people value family ties. A
typical family may consist of mother, father, children & grandparents, since
it has long been a Japanese tradition that the first son of the family lives with
& takes care of his elderly parents in his home even after starting his own
family. As people become more appreciative of diverse lifestyles and are flexible
in choosing what best suits their own needs, there is an increasing number of
nuclear families especially in urban areas. | |
Fukushima's Industry
Fukushima's vast land area contributes to the
growth in the various industrial fields based on the characteristics of each locale.
While manufacturing & agriculture has been traditionally the key drive for
Fukushima's industry, IT & other hi-tech R&D oriented industries are increasingly
taking a significant role to produce high added-value products & services. Located
in the southern most part of northeastern Japan, the climate, combined with clean
air & pure water is a major contribution towards Fukushima's primary industry,
agriculture, forestry & fishery. As the chosen nickname "Fruit Kingdom"
suggests, Fukushima is a home to a wealth of fresh fruits including peaches, apples
& pears. Many of Japan's other agricultural products such as rice, vegetables,
flowers & dairy products are also produced here. If you are a seafood lover,
take a trip to the Pacific coast and enjoy super-fresh delicacies available at
attractive prices in many of the local restaurants & fish marts. Traditional
industries such as craft making, pottery & sake brewing have been passed down
from generation to generation and pride & craftsmanship are the genuine treasure
of Fukushima. Not only do they contribute to the local economies but such traditional
industries also attract a renewed interest in this modern age. |
| Life & Culture in Fukushima
People in Fukushima
enjoy & take advantage of the combination of urban infrastructure and the
abundant natural environment. Social infrastructure such as railways, highways
& expressways make both internal & external access easy. Cultural, business
& academic conferences & fairs are held at the convention halls in the
major cities, while theaters, art galleries & museums often become venues
of popular plays & major exhibitions. Sports & outdoor activities
are also popular pastime for Fukushima people. Its abundant nature combined with
extensive leisure facilities fulfills people's thirst for any type of outdoor
activities; golf, swimming, tennis, baseball, hiking, surfing, fishing, camping,
skiing, you name it. Our governor, a big fan of golf himself, always tells his
guests how lucky he is to live in a prefecture where you can enjoy playing golf
& skiing on the same day. (Climate in the coastal region is fairly mild and
remains warm in winter, while silver snowcapped mountains in the central &
Aizu regions are famous winter scenes for Fukushima.) At the FIFA World
Cup 2002, Fukushima played proud host to the Argentine National Team during the
period of May-June. Furthermore, worth mentioning is the rich traditional
culture & local festivals that are well-preserved & very much a part of
the residents' daily lives. Not only well-known traditional Japanese activities
such as tea ceremony & flower arrangement but also distinctive local customs
& warrior culture are prominent. Aizu is home to a feudal clan that once occupied
the land for centuries and the samurai (warriors) code or Bushido that
strictly valued loyalty, bravery, courageousness & the quality of pride. Every
season, festivals are held throughout the Prefecture, some are to express gratitude
for a prosperous splendid harvest & natural blessings and others to celebrate
the healthy growth of children. Each ceremony is coloured with seasonal beauty. |
| Fukushima and the International Community
As the Governor always emphasizes "the 21st century is an era of dynamic
exchange," Fukushima puts nurturing international relationships high on agenda.
The Prefecture currently has bilateral friendships with New Zealand, BC, Canada
& Hubei Province, China, and aims at expanding the circle even further. While
business & tourism has been the major arena for such exchange, school/education
is growing in importance as this is where our children, the ones who shoulder
the future, develop individual minds and characteristics as members of the international
community. Last but not least, Fukushima people being honest, friendly &
warmhearted, welcome our friends from around the world, so COME & JOIN us
in the circle of FRIENDSHIP! | | Links
Official site of Fukushima
Prefecture
Net
Gallery
Japan
Information Network
See the information on cities and towns available
in English.
Aquamarine
Fukushima, Fukushima's marine museum |
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