Morioka

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Morioka peaked at around the year 2000 and has slightly declined since.

Climate

Morioka has a cold, humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) characterized by warm, short summers and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Morioka is 10.2 °C (50.4 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,314 millimetres (51.7 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are at their highest on average in August, at around 23.7 °C (74.7 °F), and lowest on average in January, at around −2.4 °C (27.7 °F).

History

Paleolithic-Feudal eras

The area of present-day Morioka has been continuously inhabited since the Japanese Paleolithic period. Numerous Jōmon, Yayoi, and Kofun period tombs and remains have been found. The Emishi inhabited the area into the Heian period. During the Enryaku era of the Heian period, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, was ordered north to Shiwa Castle in 803 AD, as a military center to extend the domination of the imperial dynasty over Mutsu Province. The area was later ruled by the Abe clan until their destruction during the Former Nine Years War at the hands of the Minamoto and Kiyohara clans. The Kiyohara were in turn defeated in the Gosannen War and the area came under the control of the Ōshū Fujiwara Clan based in Hiraizumi, to the south of Morioka. After the Ōshū Fujiwara were destroyed by Minamoto no Yoritomo at the start of the Kamakura period, the area was disputed by several samurai clans until the Nanbu clan, based in Sannohe to the north, expanded their territory during the Sengoku period and built Kozukata Castle in 1592.

Following the Battle of Sekigahara and the formal recognition of Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate, Kozukata Castle was renamed Morioka Castle. Its name was changed from 森岡 to 盛岡 (both read as "Morioka") During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration, Morioka Domain was a key member of the pro-Tokugawa Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei.

Modern era

After the start of the Meiji period, the former Morioka Domain became Morioka Prefecture in 1870, and part of Iwate Prefecture from 1872. With the establishment of the modern municipality system on April 1, 1889, the city of Morioka was established as the capital of Iwate Prefecture. The city was connected by train to Tokyo in 1890. The city emerged from World War II with very little damage, having been subject to only two minor air raids during the war.

On January 10, 2006, the village of Tamayama was merged into Morioka. Morioka was proclaimed a core city in 2008, with increased local autonomy.

During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Morioka was hit by a 6.1 earthquake, and numerous aftershocks, but with little damage other than extensive power outages.

Government

Morioka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 38 members. Morioka contributes ten seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Iwate 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education

Colleges and university

• Iwate Medical University
• Iwate University

High schools

Morioka has eight public high schools operated by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education.

• Morioka First High School
• Morioka Second High School
• Morioka Third High School
• Morioka Fourth High School
• Morioka South High School
• Morioka Agricultural High School
• Morioka Industrial High School
• Morioka Commercial High School

There is also one public high school operated by the city government and ten private high schools

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Shinkansen

• Morioka Station

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line

• Iwate-Iioka - Senbokuchō - Morioka

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tazawako Line (Akita Shinkansen)

• Morioka - Maegata

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Yamada Line

• Morioka - Kamimorioka - Yamagishi - Kamiyonai

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Hanawa Line

• Morioka - Kōma

Iwate Ginga Railway Line

• Morioka – Aoyama – Kuriyagawa – Shibutami – Kōma

Highway

• Tōhoku Expressway – Morioka-Minami IC, Morioka IC
• National Route 4
• National Route 46
• National Route 106
• National Route 281
• National Route 282
• National Route 396
• National Route 455
• National Route 456

Air

The nearest airport is served by Hanamaki Airport which is located approximately 41 km (25 mi) south of Morioka.

Local attractions

• The Iwate Museum of Art in Morioka displays works by three notable local artists, Tetsugoro Yorozu, Shunsuke Matsumoto and Yasutake Funakoshi, as well as holding exhibitions on national and international themes.
• Rock-Breaking Cherry Tree - designated a natural monument of Japan.
• Iwate Prefectural Museum
• Site of Morioka Castle, National Historic Site
• Shiwa Castle ruins, National Historic Site
• Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building, Important Cultural Property
• Morioka Hachimangū

Sports

Sports venues

• Iwate Morioka Stadium
• Morioka Racecourse
• Morioka Takaya Arena

Sports teams

• Iwate Big Bulls, basketball team
• Iwate Grulla Morioka, football team

Religion

Temples and shrines

• Hōon-ji is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple which was originally built at Sannohe by the 13th lord of the Nambu clan, Nambu Moriyuki, in 1394, and brought to Morioka by the 27th lord, Nambu Toshinao. It was considered the head temple among the 280 operated by the Nambu clan. A notable feature is the Rakan-dō, built in 1735 and rebuilt in 1858. Its central statue Rushana butsu is reported to be made by Kōbō-daishi. Within the Rakan-dō are statues of the 500 Rakan, which were made in Kyoto and later brought to Morioka. Included are representations of Kublai Khan and Marco Polo. It is an active Zen training temple for monks.
• Mitsuishi Jinja is a Shinto shrine which has three large rocks on the grounds with shackles around them to represent the story of 'Oni no tegata', which is a legend explaining the origin of the name of Iwate prefecture. According to the legend, there was once an Oni or demon who often tormented and harassed the local people. When the people prayed to the spirit of Mitsuishi for protection, the demon was immediately shackled to the rocks and made to promise never to trouble the people again. As a sign of this promise, the demon left a handprint on one of the rocks, thus giving rise to the name Iwate, literally meaning "rock hand".
• Morioka Hachiman Shrine
• Sakurayama is a Shinto shrine 20 feet above (6 meters) featuring a massive rock.

Cuisine

Morioka attracts tourists with local noodles such as jajamen, reimen, and wanko soba. Brewing is also a thriving industry of the city. Nambu senbei, a type of rice cracker, is considered a local specialty.

Media

• Iwate Asahi Television
• Iwate Broadcasting Company
• Iwate Menkoi Television
• Iwate Nippo
• Television Iwate

International relations

• Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (sister city since 1985)

Notable people

• The Great Sasuke, professional wrestler
• Takuboku Ishikawa, poet
• Takuya Kawamura, professional basketball player
• Yusei Kikuchi, professional baseball player
• Taka Michinoku, professional wrestler
• Yōko Mihara, actress
• Milano Collection A.T., professional wrestler
• Inazō Nitobe, author, educator, diplomat, and politician during the Meiji period and Taishō period
• Mitsuo Ogasawara, footballer
• Takatō Ōshima, engineer - made the first Western-style cannon in Japan
• Mikoi Sasaki, actress
• Haruka Chisuga, voice actress and singer
• Yota Sato (boxer), professional boxer
• Shinji Sōmai, film director
• Hara Takashi, former Prime Minister of Japan
• Nishikigi Tetsuya, sumo wrestler
• Mitsumasa Yonai, former Prime Minister of Japan
• Miyuki Tanobe, artist and painter