Tottori Prefecture

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Tottori Prefecture

鳥取県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese鳥取県
 • RōmajiTottori-ken
Flag of Tottori Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Tottori Prefecture
Symbol
Location of Tottori Prefecture
Coordinates: 35°27′N 133°46′E / 35.450°N 133.767°E / 35.450; 133.767Coordinates: 35°27′N 133°46′E / 35.450°N 133.767°E / 35.450; 133.767
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku (San'in)
IslandHonshu
CapitalTottori
SubdivisionsDistricts: 5, Municipalities: 19
Government
 • GovernorShinji Hirai
Area
 • Total3,507.05 km2 (1,354.08 sq mi)
Area rank41st
Population
 (June 1, 2016)
 • Total570,569
 • Rank47th
 • Density163/km2 (420/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-31
Websitewww.pref.tottori.lg.jp
Symbols
BirdMandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
FlowerNijisseiki nashi pear blossom (Pyrus pyrifolia)
TreeDaisenkyaraboku (Taxus cuspidata)
The Tottori Sand Dunes

Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県, Tottori-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.[1] Tottori Prefecture is the least populous prefecture of Japan at 570,569 (2016) and has a geographic area of 3,507 km2 (1,354 sq mi). 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.[2] 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 second, 鳥, means "bird" and the first, 取 means "to get". Early residents in the area made their living catching the region's plentiful waterfowl. The name first appears in the Nihon shoki 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)[3]

History[]

See also: Historic Sites of Tottori Prefecture
Sanbutsu-ji

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[]

Map of Tottori Prefecture
     City      Town      Village
See also: List of cities in Tottori Prefecture by population
Cities in Tottori Prefecture
1
Kurayoshi
2
Sakaiminato
3
Tottori(capital)
4
Yonago
Tottori City
Sakaiminato

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:

Name Area (km2) Population Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Kurayoshi, Tottori.svg Kurayoshi 倉吉市 272.06 48,558 Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Sakaiminato, Tottori.svg Sakaiminato 境港市 29.02 33,888 Location of Sakaiminato city Tottori prefecture Japan.svg
Flag of Tottori, Tottori.svg Tottori (capital) 鳥取市 765.31 192,912 Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yonago, Tottori.svg Yonago 米子市 132.42 148,720 Yonago in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg

Towns and villages[]

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Name Area (km2) Population District Type Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Flag of Chizu Tottori.svg Chizu 智頭町 224.61 7,031 Yazu District Town Chizu in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Daisen Tottori.JPG Daisen 大山町 189.83 16,357 Saihaku District Town Daisen in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hiezu Tottori.svg Hiezu 日吉津村 4.2 3,439 Saihaku District Village Hiezu in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hino Tottori.JPG Hino 日野町 133.98 3,202 Hino District Town Hino in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hoki Tottori.JPG Hōki 伯耆町 139.44 11,071 Saihaku District Town Houki in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Hokuei Tottori.JPG Hokuei 北栄町 56.94 14,718 Tōhaku District Town Hokuei in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Iwami Tottori.JPG Iwami 岩美町 122.32 11,382 Iwami District Town Iwami in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kofu Tottori.svg Kōfu 江府町 124.52 2,950 Hino District Town Kofu in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Kotoura Tottori.JPG Kotoura 琴浦町 139.97 17,219 Tōhaku District Town Kotoura in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Misasa Tottori.JPG Misasa 三朝町 233.52 6,407 Tōhaku District Town Misasa in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Nanbu Tottori.JPG Nanbu 南部町 114.03 10,888 Saihaku District Town Nanbu in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Nichinan Tottori.JPG Nichinan 日南町 340.96 4,665 Hino District Town Nichinan in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Wakasa Tottori.JPG Wakasa 若桜町 199.31 3,209 Yazu District Town Wakasa in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yazu Tottori.JPG Yazu 八頭町 206.71 16,985 Yazu District Town Yazu in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Flag of Yurihama Tottori.JPG Yurihama 湯梨浜町 77.94 16,837 Tōhaku District Town Yurihama in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg

Mergers[]

Main article: List of mergers in Tottori Prefecture

Demographics[]

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

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 455,000—    
1930 489,000+7.5%
1940 484,000−1.0%
1950 600,000+24.0%
1960 599,000−0.2%
1970 569,000−5.0%
1980 604,000+6.2%
1990 616,000+2.0%
2000 613,289−0.4%
2010 588,667−4.0%
2020 560,517−4.8%

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[]

Axis Bird Stadium.

The sports teams listed below are based in Tottori.

Education[]

Universities[]

Colleges[]

Noted places[]

Tottori City[]

Sunaba Coffee House, a well known Coffeehouse in Tottori

Daisen[]

Panoramic view of Mount Daisen, Yonago

Daisen and Yonago[]

Yonago and Sakaiminato[]

View of Sakaiminato Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Hall and Character's Statue

Misasa[]

Sakaiminato[]

  • , a street in Sakaiminato dedicated to Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitaro manga character

Iwami[]

Chizu[]

Nanbu[]

  • , the largest flower park in Japan

Transportation[]

Rail[]

Roads[]

Expressway and toll roads[]

  • 　Tottori Expressway
  • 　Yonago Expressway
  • 　Sanin Expressway
  • 　Shidosaka Pass Road
  • 　Tottori-Toyooka-Miyazu Road

National highways[]

  • Route 9
  • Route 29 (Tottori-Shiso-Himeji)
  • Route 53 (Tottori-Tsuyama-Okayama)
  • Route 178
  • Route 179
  • Route 180
  • Route 181 (Yonago-Niimi-Okayama)
  • Route 183
  • Route 313
  • Route 373
  • Route 431
  • Route 482

Ports[]

  • Sakai Port - ferry route to Oki Island, and international container hub

Airports[]

Prefectural symbols[]

The symbol is derived from the first mora in Japanese for "と" 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.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tottori Prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 990, p. 990, at Google Books; "Chūgoku" at p. 127, p. 127, at Google Books.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, "Tottori" at p. 990, p. 990, at Google Books.
  3. ^ Aston, W. G., translator., ed. (1972), "XXX", Nihongi; chronicles of Japan from the earliest times to A.D. 697 (1st Tuttle ed.), Rutland, Vt.: C.E. Tuttle Co., p. 175, ISBN 978-0-8048-0984-9, OCLC 354027
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tottori Prefecture". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  5. ^ Muki-Banda Remains Archived 2012-09-04 at archive.today
  6. ^ "Mukibanda-iseki (妻木晩田遺跡)". Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  7. ^ "Tottori Plain". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  8. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tottori-ken (鳥取県)". Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (日本大���科全書(ニッポニカ) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  10. ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  11. ^ Tottori 1995-2020 population statistics
  12. ^ Tottori 1920-2000 population statistics
  13. ^ "Tottori-ken: seikatsu bunka (鳥取（県）: 生活文化)". Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-07.

References[]

External links[]

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