Morioka

Morioka (盛岡市; Morioka-shi) is the capital of the Préfecture of Iwate in Japan.

In 2007, its population is estimated at 300.164 inhabitants, for an total surface area of 886,47 km ².

The city was founded on April 1st 1889.

History

A long time ago, Morioka belonged to the territory of the Emishi people (or Aïnus). In 803, Sakanoue No Tamuramaro, which had the role of conquering Aïnus, made contruire the Castle of Shiwa, and the area passed gradually under the control of the Empire.

At the end of the Heian period, Morioka was under the control of the Clan of Oshu Fujiwara, established in Hiraizumi, the south of Morioka. The Clan was destroyed by the shogun Minamoto No Yorimoto, and the Clan of Kudo succeeded to him. For the period of Muromachi, the Clan of Nambu extended his territory on the basis of north and built the Castle of Kozukata, which will change its name into “Morioka” during the 17th century.

During the war of Boshin, Morioka will conclude from alliances in favor of the shogun - in particular with Aizu - and will fight against the imperial troops.

Geography

Morioka is located in the basin of the Kitakami river - longest of the area of Tôhoku - which crosses the city. Splendid Mont Iwaté is located at the North-West of Morioka.

Transport

In the beginning, the station of Morioka was the northern terminus of Shinkansen de Tôhoru. In 2002, the line was extended until Hachinohe. However the station preserved its big role within the traffic in the north of Tôhoru. Shinkansen d' Akita also passes by this station.

Morioka is served by the trunk roads 4,46,106,282,396 and 455.

Food

The noodles of Morioka - as the jajamen , the reimen and the wankosoba - constitute one of principal tourist attractions. The brewery is also a prosperous industry of the city. Nambu Senbei , a variety of rice pudding, is regarded as a local delicacy.

Religious temples and other places

The Hoonji temple was built in Sannohe by the 13th lord of the Clan of Nambu, Moriyuki, in 1394, and was transported in Morioka by the 27e lord of the same clan, Toshinao. He was regarded as the principal temple among the 280 other regents by the Nambu Clan. Its main feature is Rakando (statues of the entry), built in 1735 and rebuilt in 1858. The central statue Rushana-butsu would have been built by Kodo-daishi. Among Rakando, 500 Rakans (holy personalities which collected the offerings) which were contruites with Kyoto and brought later to Morioka, rest on a series of five lines of racks which extend all around the part. Today, this temple is recognized like a place of worship for the Zen monks.

The Mitsuishi Temple (literally the “Temple of the three rocks”) comprises three large rocks in the ground surrounded by chains which symbolize the history of “Oni No Tegata” - a legend explaining the name of the area, Iwate. If one believes the legend of it, there was a demon which tormented and harassed often the local populations. When people requested to obtain the protection of the spirits of Mitsuishi, the demon was connected instantaneously with the rocks and had to make the promise not to torment the populations never again. As a sign of its promise, the demon left a print of its hand on one of the rocks, thus giving its name to Iwate, which means “hand rock literally”. Still today, after a downpour, one says that the print of the hand of the demon is still visible.

Twinning

Famous characters

Authors:

Ishikawa Takuboku
Kenji Miyazawa

Politicians:

Takashi Hara
Inazo Nitobe
Mitsumasa Yonai

Athletes:

Large Sasuke
Taka Michinoku

External bonds

Official site of Morioka (in Japanese with an english language version and allemande)

See too

Random links: