View source for Sendai

{{Short description|City in Tōhoku, Japan}}
{{About|the capital city of [[Miyagi Prefecture]]|the former city of Sendai in Kagoshima Prefecture|Satsumasendai, Kagoshima|other uses|Sendai (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Sendai
| official_name                   = 
| native_name                     = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|仙台市}}}}
| settlement_type                 = [[List of capitals in Japan|Prefecture capital]] and [[Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan|designated city]]
| image_skyline                   ={{Multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 290
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow = 1/2/2/2
| image1 = SendaiCity Skylines from Mukaiyama2018.jpg
| alt1   = Sendai skyline
| image2 = Sendai castle01s3872.jpg
| alt2   = Aoba Castle
| image3 = Sendai Tanabata 2023.jpg
| alt3   = Sendai Tanabata
| image4 = Zuiho-den 20230806.jpg
| alt4   = Zuihō-den Mausoleum
| image5 = Sendai Station West Exit 2021.jpg
| alt5   = Downtown of Sendai（Sendai Station）
| image6 = Akiu spa Hotel zuiho 2008.jpg
| alt6   = Akiu Onsen 
| image7 = Sendai pageant of starlight.JPG
| alt7   = SENDAI Pageant of Starlight
}}
| imagesize                       = 
| image_alt                       = 
| image_caption                   = From top left: Sendai Skyline, [[Aoba Castle]], [[Tanabata|Sendai Tanabata Festival]] in Ichibanchō, [[Zuihōden]], [[Sendai Station (Miyagi)|Sendai Station West Exit]], [[Akiu Great Falls|Akiu Onsen]], and {{ill|SENDAI Pageant of Starlight|ja|SENDAI光のページェント}}
| image_flag                      = Flag of Sendai, Miyagi.svg
| flag_alt                        = 
| image_seal                      = Symbol of Sendai, Miyagi.svg
| seal_alt                        = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_alt                      = 
| image_blank_emblem              = 
| nickname                        = City of Trees
| motto                           = 
| image_map                       = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=9}}
| image_map1                      = Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = Location of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture
| pushpin_map                     = Japan
| pushpin_label_position          = 
| pushpin_map_alt                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = &nbsp;
| coordinates                     = {{coord|38|16|5.6|N|140|52|9.9|E|region:JP-04|display=it}}
| coor_pinpoint                   = <!-- to specify exact location of coordinates (was coor_type) -->
| coordinates_footnotes           = 
<!-- location -->| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]
| subdivision_type3               = 
| subdivision_name3               = <!-- established -->
| established_title               = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date                = 
| founder                         = 
| named_for                       = <!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type                       = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat                            = <!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes            = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party                    = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = [[Kazuko Kōri]]
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 -->
| total_type                      = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref                       = 
| area_magnitude                  = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 786.30
| area_land_km2                   = 
| area_water_km2                  = 
| area_water_percent              = 
| area_note                       = 
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 1098335
| population_as_of                = August 1, 2023
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| population_demonym              = <!-- demonym, ie. Liverpudlian for someone from Liverpool -->
| population_note                 = 
| population_metro_footnotes      = 
| population_metro                = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->| timezone1                       = [[Japan Standard Time]]
| utc_offset1                     = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->| postal_code_type                = 
| postal_code                     = 
| area_code_type                  = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code                       = <!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1                 = Symbols
| blank_info_sec1                 = &nbsp;
| blank1_name_sec1                = • Tree
| blank1_info_sec1                = [[Zelkova serrata|Japanese zelkova]]
| blank2_name_sec1                = • Flower
| blank2_info_sec1                = [[Lespedeza|Japanese clover]]
| blank3_name_sec1                = • Bird
| blank3_info_sec1                = 
| blank4_name_sec1                = • Insect
| blank4_info_sec1                = 
| blank5_name_sec1                = • Fish
| blank5_info_sec1                = 
| blank6_name_sec1                = 
| blank6_info_sec1                = 
| blank7_name_sec1                = 
| blank7_info_sec1                = <!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2                 = Phone&nbsp;number
| blank_info_sec2                 = 022-261-1111
| blank1_name_sec2                = Address
| blank1_info_sec2                = 3-7-1 Kokubun-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken 980-8671
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                         = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes                       = 
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Sendai
| pic =
| piccap =
| picupright =
| kanji = 仙台
| kyujitai =
| katakana = センダイ
| hiragana = せんだい
| romaji = Sendai
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Sendai'''|仙台市|Sendai-shi|{{IPA|ja|seꜜn.dai, sen.daꜜi.ɕi||TomJ-Sendai.ogg}}}} is the capital [[Cities of Japan|city]] of [[Miyagi Prefecture]] and the largest city in the [[Tōhoku region]]. {{As of|2023|08|01}}, the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households,<ref name="City of Sendai Estimated Population and Demographics">{{cite web |script-title=ja:推計人口及び人口動態 |trans-title=Population estimates and demographics|url=http://www.city.sendai.jp/chosatoke/shise/toke/jinko/suike.html |website=City of Sendai |access-date=1 April 2023 |language=ja}}</ref> making it the [[List of cities in Japan|twelfth most populated city in Japan]].

The modern city was founded in 1600 by the ''[[daimyō]]'' [[Date Masamune]]. It is nicknamed the {{Nihongo|''City of Trees''|杜の都|Mori no Miyako}}; there are [[Japanese zelkova]] trees lining many of the main thoroughfares such as {{Nihongo|Jōzenji Street|定禅寺通|Jōzenji dōri}} and {{nihongo|Aoba Street|青葉通|Aoba dōri}}.
In the summer, the [[Sendai Tanabata Festival]], the largest [[Tanabata]] festival in Japan, is held. In winter, the trees are decorated with thousands of lights for the {{nihongo|Pageant of Starlight|光のページェント|Hikari no pējento}}, lasting through most of December. The city is also home to [[Tohoku University]], one of the former [[Imperial Universities]]. On 11 March 2011, coastal areas of the city suffered catastrophic damage from a [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|magnitude 9.0 offshore earthquake]],<ref name="USGS">{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/|title=Magnitude 8.9 - NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN|publisher=US Geological Survey|date=11 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313154037/https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/|archive-date=13 March 2011}}</ref><ref name="UKFO">{{cite web|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=565364382|title=Japanese earthquake update - Government response|publisher=UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office|date= March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314205829/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=565364382 |archive-date=2011-03-14 }}</ref><ref name="TELG">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8382734/Japan-earthquake-timeline-of-the-disaster-from-tsunami-to-nuclear-crisis.html|publisher=The Telegraph|title=Japan earthquake: timeline of the disaster, from tsunami to nuclear crisis|date=15 March 201}}]</ref> which triggered a destructive [[tsunami]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/tsunami-surges-across-japan-following-89-earthquake-20110311-1bqym.html|title=Killer tsunami surges across Japan after 8.9 quake|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 March 2011}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Edo period ===
Although the Sendai area was inhabited as early as 20,000 years ago, the history of Sendai as a city begins from 1600, when the ''[[daimyō]]'' [[Date Masamune]] relocated. Masamune was not happy with his previous stronghold, [[Iwadeyama, Miyagi|Iwadeyama]], which was located in the northern portion of his territories and was difficult to access from [[Edo]] (modern-day Tokyo). Sendai was an ideal location, being in the centre of Masamune's newly defined territories, upon the major road from Edo. [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] gave Masamune permission to build a new castle in Aobayama after the [[Battle of Sekigahara]]. The previous ruler of the Sendai area had used a castle located on Aobayama. At this time Sendai was written as {{Nihongo2|千代}} ("a thousand generations" or "eternity"). Masamune changed the ''[[kanji]]'' to "{{lang|ja|仙臺}}", which later became "{{lang|ja|仙台}}" (literally: "hermit/wizard" plus "platform/plateau" or figuratively, "hermit on a platform/high ground"). The character came from a Chinese poem that praised a palace created by the [[Emperor Wen of Han China]] (reigned 180–157 BCE), comparing it to a mythical palace in the [[Kunlun Mountains]]. Tradition says that Masamune chose this ''kanji'' so that the castle would prosper as long as a mountain inhabited by an immortal hermit.

Masamune ordered the construction of [[Aoba Castle|Sendai Castle]] in December 1600 and the construction of the surrounding [[castle town]] in 1601. The grid plan roads in modern-day central Sendai are based upon his plans.

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Gallery" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Sendai castle01s3872.jpg|[[Aoba Castle]]
File:仙台城下絵図.jpg|Map of the area around Sendai Castle
File:Sendai Zuiho-den Tor 2.jpg|[[Zuihōden]]
File:Sendai Tōshō-gū haiden.jpg|[[Sendai Tōshōgū]]
</gallery>

=== Modern era ===
The first railway line between Sendai and Tokyo, now the [[Tōhoku Main Line]], opened in 1887, bringing the area within a day's travel from Tokyo for the first time in history. [[Tohoku University|Tohoku Imperial University]], the region's first university, was founded in Sendai in 1907 and became the first Japanese university to admit female students in 1913.

Sendai was incorporated as a city on 1 April 1889, with the post-[[Meiji restoration]] creation of the modern municipalities system following the [[abolition of the han system]]. At the time of incorporation, the city's area was {{convert|17.45|km2}} and its population was 86,000. The city grew, however, through seven annexations that occurred between 1928 and 1988. The city became a [[City designated by government ordinance|designated city]] on 1 April 1989; the city's population exceeded one million in 1999.

Sendai was considered to be one of Japan's greenest cities, mostly because of its great numbers of trees and plants. Sendai became known as The City of Trees before the [[Meiji Restoration]], after the feudal [[Sendai Domain]] encouraged residents to plant trees in their gardens. As a result, many houses, temples, and shrines in central Sendai had {{Nihongo|'''household forests'''|屋敷林|yashikirin}}, which were used as resources for wood and other everyday materials.

In 1925, the [[Senseki Line]] to [[Sendai Station (Miyagi)|Sendai Station]] became the first underground railway segment in Japan, preceding the opening of the [[Tokyo Metro Ginza Line]] (Asia's first subway line) by two years.

The [[2nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|2nd Infantry Division]] was known as the "Sendai Division" as it was based in Sendai, and recruited locally. During the Second World War it was involved in many different campaigns, but one of the most important was the [[Battle of Guadalcanal]]. During the [[bombing of Sendai during World War II]] by the United States on 10 July 1945, much of the historic center of the city was burned, with 2,755 inhabitants killed and 11,933 houses destroyed in the city.

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Gallery" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Sendai map circa 1930.PNG|A city map of 1927, Japanese language edition
File:Tohoku Imperial University,1913.jpg|[[Tohoku University|Tohoku Imperial University]]
File:Basho no Tsuji circa 1930.JPG|Basho no Tsuji (1930)
File:Sendai after the 1945 air raid.JPG|[[Bombing of Sendai during World War II]]
File:Tohoku Daigaku Honbu.jpg|[[Tohoku University]] Katahira Campus
</gallery>

===Postwar development===
Following World War II, the city was rebuilt, and Sendai became a vital transportation and logistics hub for the Tōhoku region with the construction of major arteries such as the [[Tōhoku Expressway]] and [[Tōhoku Shinkansen]].

In the early 1950s, the [[United States Army, Japan]] operated Camp Schimmelpfennig and Camp Sendai in the city.

Sendai has been subject to several major earthquakes in recent history, including the [[1978 Miyagi earthquake]], which was a catalyst for the development of Japan's current earthquake resistance standards, and the [[2005 Miyagi earthquake]]. Most recently, the coastal area of Sendai, including [[Sendai Airport]], was severely damaged in the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]].<ref name="USGS"/><ref name="UKFO"/><ref name="TELG"/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/world/asia/14sendai.html | work=The New York Times | first=Martin | last=Fackler | title=At Sendai City Hall, a Relief Center, Thousands Wait and Wonder What's Next | date=13 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598|title=Japan earthquake: Tsunami hits north-east|publisher=BBC|date=11 March 2011}}</ref> The tsunami reportedly reached as far as [[Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai|Wakabayashi Ward]] Office, {{convert|8|km|sp=us}} from the coastline. Thousands were killed, and countless more were injured and/or made homeless. Sendai's port was heavily damaged and temporarily closed, reopening on 16 April 2011.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Kyodo News]]|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110417a5.html|title=Sendai port reopens for business|via=[[The Japan Times]]|date=17 April 2011|page=1}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Gallery" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Sendai City War Reconstruction Memorial Hall cropped.jpg|Sendai City War Reconstruction Memorial Hall
File:SH-60B helicopter flies over Sendai.jpg|An aerial view of Sendai harbour after the earthquake, 12 March 2011
File:Hinomaru-Sendai Bus OP-13 and OP-11 Rakuten Eagles Victory Parade 2013.jpg|[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] (2013)
</gallery>

==Geography==
Sendai is located at lat. 38°16'05" north, long. 140°52'11" east. The city's area is {{cvt|788.09|km2}}, and stretches from the [[Pacific Ocean]] to the [[Ōu Mountains]], which are the east and west borders of Miyagi Prefecture. As a result, the city's geography is quite diverse. Eastern Sendai is a plains area, the center of the city is hilly, and western areas are mountainous. The highest point in the city is [[Mount Funagata]] which stands {{convert|1500|m|0|abbr=off}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]]. Unique among Japan's large coastal cities, Sendai's city core is built on a terrace at {{cvt|40.|–|60.|m}} elevation.

The Sendai basin area is {{convert|939|km2|0|abbr=on}} (the mountainous area is {{convert|675|km2|0|abbr=on}}, the plain area is {{convert|245|km2|0|abbr=on}} and the water body is {{convert|20|km2|0|abbr=on}}). The basin consists of urban areas, paddy fields and forests. The mid and upstream areas have forests. The [[Natori River]] flows through the area and reaches Sendai Bay after {{convert|55|km|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Chen | first = Yangbo | chapter = Study Basin | title = GIS and Remote Sensing in Hydrology, Water Resources and Environment  | publisher =  International Association of Hydrological Sciences | date = 1 September 2004 | pages = 392–393 | isbn = 978-1901502725 }}</ref>

The {{nihongo|'''Hirose River'''|広瀬川|Hirose-gawa}} flows {{convert|45|km|0|abbr=off}} through Sendai. The river is well known as a symbol of Sendai, especially because it appears in the lyrics of Aoba-jō Koi-uta (青葉城恋唄; literally, ''The Aoba Castle Love Song''), a popular song sung by Muneyuki Satō. [[Aoba Castle]] was built close to the river to use the river as a natural [[moat]]. The river frequently flooded until the 1950s, but dams and levees constructed in the 1960s and 1970s have made such floods rare.

Most mountains in Sendai are dormant volcanoes, much older than the more famous [[Mount Zaō]] and [[Naruko (volcano)|Naruko]] volcanoes in nearby municipalities. However, many [[hot springs]] can be found in the city, indicating [[hydrothermal circulation|hydrothermal activity]]. The Miyagi Oki [[earthquake]] occurs offshore Sendai once every 25 to 40 years. The 7.2 magnitude [[2005 Miyagi earthquake]], which occurred on August 16, 2005, had an epicenter close to the ''Miyagi Oki'' earthquake area. However, the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion concluded that it was not the ''Miyagi Oki'' earthquake, saying "...the recent event is not thought to be this earthquake. This is because the magnitude of the earthquake was small, and the source area, which was estimated from the aftershock distribution and seismic waves, didn't cover the whole expected source region. Although, the recent event ruptured a part of the focal region of the expected earthquake."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jishin.go.jp/main/chousa/05aug_miyagi/index-e.htm|title=Earthquake Off-shore of Miyagi Prefecture on August 16, 2005|publisher=Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion|date=17 August 2005|access-date=March 18, 2011}}</ref> In 2011, the 9.0 magnitude [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 Tōhoku earthquake]] occurred offshore Sendai, resulting in a devastating tsunami.

===Wards===
Sendai has five [[Wards of Japan|wards]] ("ku"), which were created when it became a [[Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan|designated city]] in 1989. The city consciously avoided names that included directions (e.g., north {{Nihongo2|{{linktext|北}}}}, center {{Nihongo2|{{linktext|中央}}}}) when it chose names for the new wards.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="810px"
! colspan="8" | Wards of Sendai
|-
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" | Place Name
!
!
!
!
!Map of Sendai
|-
! style="width: 190px;" |[[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
! style="width: 190px;" |[[Kanji]]
!Color
!Population
!''Land area in km<sup>2</sup>''
!Pop. density
''per km<sup>2</sup>''
!
|-
| style="text-align: center;" "width: 20px;" | 1
|[[Aoba-ku, Sendai|Aoba-ku]] - (administrative center)
|青葉区
|[[File:Japan_WardColour_0x40x100.png|16x16px]] blue
<br />
|296,551
|302.278
|981
| rowspan="5" |[[File:Sendai wards.png|alt=|border|center|399x399px|A map of Sendai's Wards]]
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
|[[Izumi-ku, Sendai|Izumi-ku]]
| 泉区
|[[File:Japan WardColour 100x0x0.svg|16x16px]] red
<br />
|215,048
|146.61 
|1,470
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 3
|[[Miyagino-ku, Sendai|Miyagino-ku]]<br />
| 宮城野区
|[[File:Japan_WardColour_100x80x0.png|16x16px]] yellow
|196,086
|58,19
|3,370
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 4
|[[Taihaku-ku, Sendai|Taihaku-ku]]
| 太白区
|[[File:Japan WardColour 100x40x0.svg|16x16px]] orange
<br />
|226,069
|228.39
|997
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 5
|[[Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai|Wakabayashi-ku]]
| 若林区
|[[File:Japan_WardColour_60x80x0.png|16x16px]] light green
|137,494
|50.86 
|2,700
|}

=== Cityscape ===
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" heights="130" perrow="3" caption="Gallery">
File:DownTown of SendaiCity01.jpg|View of Sendai from [[Aer (Sendai)|AER]] (2019)
File:Night view from Mukaiyama.JPG|Sendai night skyline from Mukaiyama (2012)
File:211028_Sendai_Station_Sendai_Miyagi_pref_Japan02s5.jpg|[[Sendai Station (Miyagi)|Sendai Station]] (2021)
File:Kokubuncho-dori ave. viewed from Jozenji-dori ave. cropped.jpg|Kokubunchō (2010)
File:Koutoudai Park3.jpg|Kōtōdai Park (2007)
</gallery>

{{wide image|Sendai City Panorama from Site of Sendai Castle Keep Tower Base 2010-05-31.jpg|2000px|City view from the Sendai Castle on Mount Aoba|right|dir=rtl}}

===Climate===
Sendai has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa''), which features warm and wet summers, and cool and dry winters. Sendai summers are not as hot as [[Tokyo]] to the south, while the winters are much milder than [[Sapporo]] to the north, but retains significant seasonal differences in temperature and rainfall. Extremes range from {{cvt|−11.7|to|37.4|°C}}. Of Japan's prefectural capitals, Sendai experiences the fewest days of extreme temperatures (highs outside {{cvt|0|-|30|C}}) at 19.6 per year, compared to Tokyo's average of 49.

Winters are cool and relatively dry, with January temperatures averaging {{convert|1.5|°C|1}}. Snowfall is much lower than cities on the [[Sea of Japan]] coast, such as [[Niigata (city)|Niigata]] and [[Tottori (city)|Tottori]]. Summers are very warm and much of the year's precipitation is delivered at this time, with an August average of {{convert|24.1|°C|1}}. The city is rarely hit by [[typhoon]]s, and experiences only 6 days with more than {{convert|10|cm|in|0}} of rainfall on average. Sendai's [[monsoon]] season usually begins in late April to early October, which is later than in most cities in Japan. During this season, cold winds from the Okhotsk air mass, called "[[Yamase]]", blow in and depress daytime highs.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/agrmet1943/52/5/52_5_949/_article/-char/ja/|title=Classification of the Yamase (cold northeasterly wind around northeastern Japan) based upon its air-mass vertical structures|author=Hiromitsu Kanno|journal=Tenki|volume=40|page=|doi=10.2480/agrmet.52.949|language=ja|doi-access=free}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Sendai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1926−present)
| single line = Y
| metric first = Y
| Jan record high C = 17.9
| Feb record high C = 21.1
| Mar record high C = 24.2
| Apr record high C = 29.9
| May record high C = 33.2
| Jun record high C = 35.1
| Jul record high C = 36.7
| Aug record high C = 37.3
| Sep record high C = 37.4
| Oct record high C = 30.3
| Nov record high C = 24.4
| Dec record high C = 21.8
| Jan record low C = -11.7
| Feb record low C = -11.5
| Mar record low C = -8.9
| Apr record low C = -5.0
| May record low C = -0.3
| Jun record low C = 5.4
| Jul record low C = 9.0
| Aug record low C = 12.9
| Sep record low C = 5.6
| Oct record low C = -0.1
| Nov record low C = -5.0
| Dec record low C = -10.8
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 42.3
| Feb precipitation mm = 33.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 74.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 90.2
| May precipitation mm = 110.2
| Jun precipitation mm = 143.7
| Jul precipitation mm = 178.4
| Aug precipitation mm = 157.8
| Sep precipitation mm = 192.6
| Oct precipitation mm = 150.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 58.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 44.1
| year precipitation mm = 1276.7
| Jan mean C = 2.0
| Feb mean C = 2.4
| Mar mean C = 5.5
| Apr mean C = 10.7
| May mean C = 15.6
| Jun mean C = 19.2
| Jul mean C = 22.9
| Aug mean C = 24.4
| Sep mean C = 21.2
| Oct mean C = 15.7
| Nov mean C = 9.8
| Dec mean C = 4.5
| year mean C = 12.8
| Jan high C = 5.6
| Feb high C = 6.5
| Mar high C = 10.0
| Apr high C = 15.5
| May high C = 20.2
| Jun high C = 23.1
| Jul high C = 26.6
| Aug high C = 28.2
| Sep high C = 25.0
| Oct high C = 19.8
| Nov high C = 14.1
| Dec high C = 8.3
| year high C = 16.9
| Jan low C = -1.3
| Feb low C = -1.1
| Mar low C = 1.4
| Apr low C = 6.3
| May low C = 11.7
| Jun low C = 16.1
| Jul low C = 20.2
| Aug low C = 21.6
| Sep low C = 18.0
| Oct low C = 11.9
| Nov low C = 5.6
| Dec low C = 0.9
| year low C = 9.3
| Jan humidity = 66
| Feb humidity = 64
| Mar humidity = 61
| Apr humidity = 63
| May humidity = 70
| Jun humidity = 79
| Jul humidity = 83
| Aug humidity = 81
| Sep humidity = 78
| Oct humidity = 72
| Nov humidity = 68
| Dec humidity = 68
| year humidity = 71
| Jan sun = 149.0
| Feb sun = 154.7
| Mar sun = 178.6
| Apr sun = 193.7
| May sun = 191.9
| Jun sun = 143.7
| Jul sun = 126.3
| Aug sun = 144.5
| Sep sun = 128.0
| Oct sun = 147.0
| Nov sun = 143.4
| Dec sun = 136.3
| year sun = 1836.9
| Jan snow cm = 21
| Feb snow cm = 18
| Mar snow cm = 11
| Apr snow cm = 1
| May snow cm = 0
| Jun snow cm = 0
| Jul snow cm = 0
| Aug snow cm = 0
| Sep snow cm = 0
| Oct snow cm = 0
| Nov snow cm = 0
| Dec snow cm = 9
| year snow cm = 59
| unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 7.6
| Feb precipitation days = 7.2
| Mar precipitation days = 9.1
| Apr precipitation days = 9.2
| May precipitation days = 10.2
| Jun precipitation days = 12.3
| Jul precipitation days = 15.5
| Aug precipitation days = 12.7
| Sep precipitation days = 13.0
| Oct precipitation days = 9.6
| Nov precipitation days = 7.4
| Dec precipitation days = 7.9
| year precipitation days = 121.7
| Jan dew point C = -4
| Feb dew point C = -4
| Mar dew point C = -2
| Apr dew point C = 4
| May dew point C = 10
| Jun dew point C = 16
| Jul dew point C = 20
| Aug dew point C = 21
| Sep dew point C = 18
| Oct dew point C = 11
| Nov dew point C = 4
| Dec dew point C = -1
| source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=34&block_no=47590&year=&month=&day=&view=|script-title=ja:平年値（年・月ごとの値)|trans-title=Normal values (yearly and monthly values)|publisher= [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]| access-date = May 19, 2021|language=ja}}</ref>
| source 2 = Time and Date (dewpoints, 1985-2015)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/sendai/climate
|title = Climate & Weather Averages in Sendai
|publisher = Time and Date
|access-date = 25 July 2022}}</ref>
| source = 
}}
<div style="width: 80%;"></div>
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Sendai.tab
| title=Sendai temperature
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical population
|type        = Japan
|align       = right
|width       = 
|state       = 
|shading     = 
|percentages = 
|footnote    = 
|1920 | 190013
|1925 | 221709
|1930 | 252017
|1935 | 278821
|1940 | 284132
|1945 | 331570
|1950 | 380217
|1955 | 414775
|1960 | 459876
|1965 | 520059
|1970 | 598950
|1975 | 709326
|1980 | 792036
|1985 | 857335
|1990 | 918398
|1995 | 971297
|2000 | 1008130
|2005 | 1025098
|2010 | 1045903
|2015 | 1082159
|2020 | 1096704
}}
{{As of|2023|03|01}}, the city had an estimated population of 1,097,407 and a population density of 1,397 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="City of Sendai Estimated Population and Demographics" /> The city's total area was 786.35&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

The 2000 National Census revealed that 88.5% of the city's population (892,252 people) lived in a 129.69&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> area, which is 16.6% of the city's total area. The population density in this area was 6,879.9 persons per km<sup>2</sup>, more than 5 times higher than the city's average population density at that time, 1,286.6 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. Approximately 10,000 people in Sendai were non-Japanese citizens.

Sendai had 525,828 households in 2020. The average household had approximately 2.07 members. The average household was becoming smaller every year, because single-member households were increasing. At this time Sendai had more people in their early 50s and in their 20s and early 30s than in other age groups. This is a result of the first and second baby booms in Japan, and university students. The average age in Sendai is 38.4, which makes the city one of the youngest major cities in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.city.sendai.jp/chosatoke/shise/toke/jinko/documents/r0109.xlsx|script-title=ja:推計人口及び人口動態 - 令和元年9月1日現在|trans-title=Estimated population and demographics|date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>

== Governance ==
[[File:Sendai City Hall 2023.jpg|thumb|Sendai City Hall|alt=]]
Sendai's political system is similar to other cities in Japan, because the [[Local Autonomy Law]] makes all municipalities uniform in terms of organization and power. However, Sendai is a designated city, so it has the same jurisdiction as [[Prefecture#Japanese sense of prefecture|prefectures]] in some areas.

Sendai has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city legislature. The [[city council|Sendai City Assembly]] members are elected from 5 elective districts, which correspond to the city's 5 wards. The number of assembly members allocated to each ward is based upon population. As of May 2005, the city has 60 assembly members; 17 from Aoba Ward, 11 from Miyagino, 8 from Wakabayashi, 13 from Taihaku, and 11 from Izumi. The City Assembly elects an Assembly Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Sendai has two vice mayors, who are not elected by the populace. Miyagi contributes 24 seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Miyagi 1st district and the Miyagi 2nd district of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

=== List of mayors of Sendai (1889 to present) ===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable"
! width="2%"|'''#'''
! width="25%"|'''Name'''
! width="13%"|'''Took office'''
! width="13%"|'''Left office'''
|-
|1-2
|Yoji Endo<br />(遠藤庸治)
|12 April 1889
|7 March 1898
|-
|3
|Yoshiaki Satomi<br />(里見良顕)
|8 April 1898
|13 March 1903
|-
|4
|Tomohiro Hayakawa<br />(早川智寛)
|2 April 1903
|1 July 1907
|-
|5
|Takayoshi Wadachi<br />(和達孚嘉)
|2 July 1907
|2 July 1910
|-
|6
|Yoji Endo<br />
|11 December 1910
|4 November 1914
|-
|7
|Kiichi Yamada<br />(山田揆一)
|25 May 1915
|24 May 1919
|}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable"
! width="2%"|'''#'''
! width="25%"|'''Name'''
! width="13%"|'''Took office'''
! width="13%"|'''Left office'''
|-
|8-9
|Takesaburo Kanomata<br />(鹿又武三郎)
|17 July 1919
|26 July 1927
|-
|10
|Ryunosuke Yamaguchi<br />(山口龍之助)
|13 August 1927
|7 June 1930
|-
|11-13
|Tokusaburo Shibuya<br />(渋谷徳三郎)
|31 August 1930
|30 August 1942
|-
|14
|Takeshi Imamura<br />(今村武志)
|23 September 1942
|14 May 1946
|-
|15-18
|Eimatsu Okazaki<br />(岡崎栄松)
|17 June 1946
|17 December 1957
|-
|20-25
|Takeshi Shimano<br />(島野　武)
|2 February 1958
|6 November 1984
|}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable"
! width="2%"|'''#'''
! width="25%"|'''Name'''
! width="13%"|'''Took office'''
! width="13%"|'''Left office'''
|-
|26-28
|Toru Ishii<br />(石井亨)
|23 December 1984
|3 July 1993
|-
|29-31
|Hajimu Fujii<br />(藤井黎)
|22 August 1993
|21 August 2005
|-
|32
|Katsuhiko Umehara<br />(梅原克彦)
|22 August 2005
|21 August 2009
|-
|33-34
|Emiko Okuyama<br />(奥山恵美子)
|22 August 2009
|21 August 2017
|-
|35
|Kazuko Kori<br />(郡和子)
|22 August 2017
|present
|}
{{col-end}}

== Economy ==
[[File:Sendai Metropolitan Employment Area.svg|thumb|200px|Sendai [[Urban Employment Area|MEA]]]]
Sendai is the center of the Tōhoku region's economy, and is the base of the region's logistics and transportation. The [[GDP]] in Greater Sendai, Sendai [[Urban Employment Area|Metropolitan Employment Area]] (1.6 million people), is US$61.7 billion in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.csis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/UEA/uea_data_e.htm|title = Metropolitan Employment Area (MEA) Data|author = Yoshitsugu Kanemoto|publisher = Center for Spatial Information Science, The [[University of Tokyo]]|access-date = 2016-06-22|archive-date = 2018-06-15|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180615111107/http://www.csis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/UEA/uea_data_e.htm|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.oecd.org/conversion/exchange-rates.htm|title=Conversion rates – Exchange rates|publisher=OECD Data}}</ref> Sendai city by itself has a nominal GDP of approximately US$50 billion {{As of|2015|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.city.sendai.jp/chosatoke/shise/toke/tokesho/h30-01/documents/11-1_4.xlsx|script-title=ja:経済活動別 市内総生産（名目）|trans-title=Gross city product by economic activity (nominal)|date=May 2018|access-date=June 30, 2019|language=ja}}</ref> The city's economy heavily relies upon retail and services – the two industries provide approximately two thirds of the employment and close to half of the establishments.

Sendai is frequently called a branch-office economy{{By whom|date=June 2019}}, because very few major companies are headquartered in the city. Various authorities are cooperating to alleviate this problem, primarily by encouraging high-tech ventures from [[Tohoku University]], which is well known for its science and engineering departments. There are also incentives for startups available from the prefectural government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/region/miyagi.html|title=Miyagi: General Business Information|publisher= Japan External Trade Organization|date=September 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507152647/https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/region/miyagi.html|archive-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>

[[Tohoku Electric Power]], a major regional supplier of electric power, has its headquarters in Sendai and also operates the [[Shin-Sendai Thermal Power Station]] located within the city.

Sendai's economic growth rate has stabilized since the 2011 Japan earthquake. The growth rate was only 0.4% in 2011 after the quake created economic turmoil in coastal areas. The year after, in 2012 the rate spiked to 10.4% after reconstruction efforts. It has since fallen to a closer trend to what is expected of 3.7% in 2013.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.city.sendai.jp/kezai-chose/kurashi/machi/kezaikoyo/kezai/documents/2016koukaiban.pdf|title=Industry in Sendai 2016|date=2016|website=Sendai City|access-date=November 11, 2016|archive-date=February 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214205738/http://www.city.sendai.jp/kezai-chose/kurashi/machi/kezaikoyo/kezai/documents/2016koukaiban.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Tourism in 2016 attracted an estimated 2.229 million visitors to Sendai.<ref name=":0" />

== Education ==
[[File:Kawauchicampus.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Tohoku University]] Kawauchi Campus]]
Sendai is sometimes called an {{Nihongo|"Academic City"|学都|gakuto}} because the city has many universities relative to its population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city.sendai.jp/kikaku/kokusai/english/kankou.html|title= Overview of Sendai City|publisher=City of Sendai|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506082435/http://www.city.sendai.jp/kikaku/kokusai/english/kankou.html |archive-date=2008-05-06 }}</ref>

Universities located within Sendai include:
* [[Miyagi Gakuin Women's University]]
* [[Miyagi University]]
* [[Miyagi University of Education]]
* [[Tohoku Gakuin University]]
* [[Tohoku Fukushi University]]
* [[Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University]]
* [[Tohoku University]]

Schools in the city include [[Tohoku International School]].

== Transport ==
[[File:RailwayRouteMapInSendaiCity.svg|thumb|200px|Sendai transport map]]

===Airport===
The city is served by [[Sendai Airport]] (located in neighboring [[Natori, Miyagi|Natori]]), which has international flights to several countries, and the Port of Sendai. A rail link to Sendai began service on March 18, 2007. [[Ibex Airlines]] headquarters is also located near the airport.

===Railway===
[[JR East]]'s [[Sendai Station (Miyagi)|Sendai Station]] is the main transport hub for the city. The station is served by seven JR lines and is a major station on the [[Tōhoku Shinkansen|Tōhoku]] and [[Akita Shinkansen]] lines. An underground passage connects the station to the [[Sendai Subway]]. The subway has two lines— [[Sendai Subway Namboku Line|Namboku]] ("north-south") and [[Sendai Subway Tōzai Line|Tōzai]] ("east-west") with a total of 30 stations. When completed in 2015, [[Yagiyama Zoological Park Station|Yagiyama station]] became the highest-elevated subway station in the country, at {{Convert|136.4|m|sp=us}}.
* [[File:JR logo (east).svg|22px]] [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East)
**'''[[Tōhoku Shinkansen]]''': {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}}
**'''[[Tōhoku Main Line]]''': {{STN|Minami-Sendai|x}} – {{STN|Nagamachi|x}} – {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}} – {{STN|Higashi-Sendai|x}} – {{STN|Iwakiri|x}}
**'''[[Jōban Line]]''': {{STN|Minami-Sendai|x}} – {{STN|Nagamachi|x}} – {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}}
**'''[[Senzan Line]]''': {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}} – {{STN|Tōshōgū|x}} – {{STN|Kita-Sendai|x}} – {{STN|Kitayama|x|Miyagi}} – {{STN|Tōhokufukushidaimae|x}} – {{STN|Kunimi|x|Miyagi}} – {{STN|Kuzuoka|x}} – {{STN|Rikuzen-Ochiai|x}} – {{STN|Ayashi|x}} – {{STN|Rikuzen-Shirasawa|x}} – {{STN|Kumagane|x}} – {{STN|Sakunami|x}} – {{STN|Yatsumori|x}} – {{STN|Okunikkawa|x}} 
**'''[[Senseki Line]]''': {{STN|Aoba-dōri|x}} – {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}} – {{STN|Tsutsujigaoka|x|Miyagi}} – {{STN|Miyaginohara|x}} – {{STN|Rikuzen-Haranomachi|x}} – {{STN|Nigatake|x}} – {{STN|Kozurushinden|x}} – {{STN|Fukudamachi|x}} – {{STN|Rikuzen-Takasago|x}} – {{STN|Nakanosakae|x}}
*'''[[Sendai Subway]]''' (All stations)

===Bus===
In addition to the public bus system, a loop bus called Loople runs between tourism hotspots around the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://loople-sendai.jp/en/|title=Homepage|publisher=Loople Sendai}}</ref>

===Highways===
The [[Tōhoku Expressway]] runs north–south through western Sendai, and is connected to other highways, such as the Sendai-Nambu Road, Sendai-Tobu Road, Sanriku Expressway (Sendai-Matsushima Road), and Sendai Hokubu Road.
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E4}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E6|dab1=ST}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E45|dab1=S}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E48|dab1=S}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|4}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|6}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|45}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|47}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|48}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|286}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|346}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|457}}

===Port===
Ferries connecting [[Tomakomai, Hokkaido|Tomakomai]] and [[Nagoya]] stop at the Port of Sendai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.taiheiyo-ferry.co.jp/english/koro/sendai.html|title=Access information on Port of Sendai|publisher=Taiheiyo Ferry}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:211028 Sendai Airport Sendai Miyagi prefecture Japan01bs.jpg|[[Sendai Airport]]
File:Sendai_Station_20230806.jpg|[[Sendai Station (Miyagi)|Sendai Station]]
File:International Center Station south1 exit 20160105.jpg|[[International Center Station]]
File:Miyakoh-Sendai-Highwaybuscenter.jpg|Sendai Highway Buscenter
File:MiyagiKendo23Go2007-10.jpg|[[Sendai-Tōbu Road]] ([[Ring road#Asia|Gurutto Sendai]])
File:SendaiPortCentralPark and Port of Sendai.JPG|Sendai Port
</gallery>

== Culture ==
===Streets===
[[File:SendaiTanabata1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Sendai Tanabata Festival]]
[[File:せんだい光のページェント.JPG|200px|alt=|thumb|Sendai Pageant of Starlight]]
[[File:DainenjiDateTomb2005-10-6.jpg|thumb|200px|Dainenji]]
[[File:The miyagi museum of art01s3872.jpg|thumb|200px|The Miyagi Museum of Art]]
The most well-known streets in Sendai, {{Nihongo|Jozenji-Dori|定禅寺通り}} and {{Nihongo|Aoba-Dori|青葉通り}}, are both lined with [[Japanese Zelkova|Japanese zelkovas]]. These are symbols of "The City of Trees". Jozenji-Dori has a promenade and a few sculptures. It is a place of relaxation. Many events and festivals, such as the Sendai Pageant of Starlight and the Jozenji Street Jazz Festival, take place on Jozenji-Dori and in {{Nihongo|Kōtōdai Park|匂当台公園}}. Aoba-Dori is the main business road in Sendai. Other major roads in the city include Hirose-Dori ([[ginkgo]]), and Higashi-Nibancho-Dori.

===Festivals===
The most [[Japanese festivals|famous festival]] in Sendai is Tanabata, which attracts more than 2 million visitors every year and is the largest [[Tanabata]] Festival in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sendai Tanabata Festival |url=https://www.sendaitanabata.com/en/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Sendai Tanabata Festival |language=en}}</ref> It is relatively quiet compared to other traditional Japanese festivals, because its main attractions are intricate Tanabata decorations.

The Aoba Matsuri Festival follows more typical Japanese festival traditions, with a [[mikoshi]], [[float (parade)|floats]], a samurai parade, and traditional dancing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aoba-matsuri.com/english/e-history.html|title=A History of Sendai Aoba Matsuri|date=2007|publisher=Aoba Festival Sendai}}</ref>

Local people burn their [[Japanese New Year|New Year]] decorations and pray for health in the new year during the Dontosai Festival, the oldest festival in Miyagi Prefecture.

Various contemporary festivals also take place in Sendai, such as the Jōzenji Streetjazz Festival, the Michinoku Yosakoi Festival, and the Sendai Pageant of Starlight. The Jōzenji Streetjazz Festival is one of the largest amateur music festivals in Japan. It began as a jazz festival in 1991, but soon began to accept applications from all genres. The Michinoku Yosakoi festival is a dance festival, derived from the [[Yosakoi Festival]] that takes place in [[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi]]. Trees in downtown Sendai are decorated with lights during the Sendai Pageant of Starlights. The event provided the idea for the Festival of Lights annually held in [[Riverside, California|Riverside]], Sendai's sister city. In 2005, the streets were lit up with one million miniature bulbs.

===Specialties and crafts===
[[File:Gyutan teishoku.JPG|thumb|left|200px|''[[Gyūtan]] [[teishoku]]'', a [[table d'hôte]] of beef tongue]]
Sendai is the origin of several foods, including ''[[gyūtan]]'' (beef tongue, usually grilled), [[hiyashi chūka]] (cold Chinese noodles), and [[robatayaki]] (Japanese-style barbecue). However, robatayaki was later introduced to [[Kushiro, Hokkaido|Kushiro]], which developed and popularized the dish. As a result, many people believe Kushiro is the origin of Robatayaki. Zundamochi (ずんだ餅, [[mochi]] balls with sweet, bright green edamame paste), and sasakamaboko (笹かまぼこ, [[kamaboko]] shaped like bamboo leaves) are also considered to be Sendai specialties. Sendai is also known for good [[sashimi]], [[sushi]], and [[sake]]. This is because Sendai is near several major fishing ports, such as [[Kesennuma, Miyagi|Kesennuma]], [[Ishinomaki, Miyagi|Ishinomaki]], and [[Shiogama]], and the fact that Miyagi Prefecture is a major producer of [[rice]]. There are many [[ramen]] restaurants in Sendai, and the area is known for a particular spicy [[miso]] [[ramen]]. Also, Sendai station offers the most types of [[ekiben]] of any station in Japan. In autumn, many people organise Imonikai, a sort of picnic by the river which involves making a potato stew called ''[[Imoni]]''. In winter, restaurants offer ''seri-nabe'' (せり鍋), a regional specialty that consists of ''[[Oenanthe javanica#Japan|seri]]'' and various ingredients mixed in a hotpot.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ja:【仙台名物】今が旬！セリ鍋がうまい店6選 |trans-title=[Sendai specialty] Now in season! 6 restaurants serving delicious parsley hotpot|url=https://s-style.machico.mu/pickup/22386 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=S-style Web |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=zh:水芹火鍋 |trans-title=Celery Hotpot|url=https://tw.visitmiyagi.com/feature/seri-hot-pot/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=tw.visitmiyagi.com |language=zh-tw}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |script-title=ja:名取のせり鍋特集　宮城仙台のご当地グルメ |trans-title=Special feature on Natori's parsley hotpot: Local gourmet food in Sendai, Miyagi |url=https://www.kankou.natori.miyagi.jp/feature/serinabe |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.kankou.natori.miyagi.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ja:〔仙台グルメ〕仙台せり鍋【冬】 |trans-title=[Sendai Gourmet] Sendai Japanese parsley hotpot [Winter]|url=https://www.sendaimiyagicp.jp/spot/k-0880/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=sendaimiyagicp.jp |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ja:せり鍋 |trans-title=Japanese parsley hotpot|url=https://www.sendaimiyagicp.jp/spot/k-0139/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website= sendaimiyagicp.jp |language=ja}}</ref>

Many crafts from Sendai were originally created under the influence of the Date family during the [[Edo period]]. Examples are Sendai Hira, a hand woven silk fabric, Tsutsumiyaki pottery, and [[washi|Yanagiu Washi paper]]. However, some crafts, such as umoregi zaiku (crafts created from fossil wood) were developed by low-ranking samurai who needed side jobs to survive. [[Kokeshi]] dolls were popularized by hot spring resorts that sold them as gifts. Some relatively recent developments include Sendai Tsuishu [[lacquer]]ware and Tamamushinuri lacquerware, both of which were developed after the [[Meiji Restoration]].

Sendai was also known for its production of [[Tansu]], clothing drawers made from wood with elaborate ironwork.

==Sites of interest==
[[File:Zuiho-den17s3872.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[Zuihōden]]]]
Sendai is home to historical sites related to the [[Date clan]]. The ruins of [[Sendai Castle]] are close to downtown on Aobayama, which also gives a panoramic view of the city. The [[Zuihōden]] is the tomb of [[Date Masamune]] and is home to artifacts related to the Date family. It is on a hill called Kyogamine, which is the traditional resting place for Date family members. In [[Aoba-ku, Sendai|Aoba-ku]], the [[Ōsaki Hachiman-gū]] ''shaden'', built in 1607 by Date Masamune, is designated a [[National Treasures of Japan|National Treasure]]. [[Mutsu Kokubun-ji Yakushidō]] is the [[provincial temple]] of [[Mutsu Province]].

[[File:SendaiJoOtemonSumiYagura2003-11.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Sendai Castle]]]]

Newer historical sites include the former home of [[Doi Bansui]], a famous lyricist, and a monument at Sendai City Museum that commemorates the Chinese writer [[Lu Xun]]. Another statue of Lu Xun can be found in the Tohoku University Katahira Campus, where Lu Xun studied medical science. Older historical sites include the Tōmizuka Tomb, a tomb that dates back to the late 4th century or early 5th century, and the Tomizawa Preserved Forest site, where the excavated remains of a [[Stone Age]] human settlement ([[Upper Palaeolithic]] – roughly 20,000 years ago) have been protected by a large museum structure, built in 1996. The nearby [[Site of Tagajō]] was an important early fort and administrative centre.

===Museums===
[[File:Sendai Unino-mori Aquarium 2015-07.JPG |thumb|200px|[[Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium]]]]
[[Sendai City Museum]] displays artifacts related to the Date family and the history of Sendai. Date Masamune's famous suit of armour and artifacts related to [[Hasekura Tsunenaga]]'s visit to Rome ([[National Treasures of Japan]]) are sometimes on display.

The [[Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium]], which opened in 2015 as a successor to the [[Marinepia Matsushima Aquarium]], is focusing on raising the [[Sanriku]] fish, the [[blue sharks]].

The [[Miyagi Museum of Art]] is Sendai's largest art museum. A total of 24 sculptures have been installed in public locations in Sendai through its 'City of Sculptures' project.

The [[Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum]] in the southern part of the city preserves a fossilized forest where the remains of human habitation from 20,000 years ago can be seen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city.sendai.jp/kyouiku/iseki/museum-e.html|title=General Information|publisher=City of Sendai|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329125853/http://www.city.sendai.jp/kyouiku/iseki/museum-e.html|archive-date=29 March 2013}}</ref>

The Sendai City War Reconstruction Memorial Hall is dedicated to remembering the air raid of July 1945 in which most of Sendai was destroyed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hm-sendai.jp/sisetu/sensai/|title=Homepage|publisher= Sendai City War Reconstruction Memorial Hall|language=ja}}</ref>

Other museums include the {{ill|3M Sendai City Science Museum|ja|仙台市科学館|vertical-align=sup}}, {{ill|Sendai Literature Museum|ja|仙台文学館|vertical-align=sup}} and Tohoku University's Museum of Natural History.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.museum.tohoku.ac.jp/index.html|title=Homepage|publisher=Tohoku University Museum Homepage|language=ja}}</ref>

===Natural sites===
[[File:SaikachiGawa2005-11b.jpg|thumb|left|Saikachi Gawa]]
Western Sendai is home to many sites of natural beauty, many of them found around Akiu Onsen and [[Sakunami]], which are [[onsen|hot spring resorts]]. Sites around the Akiu area include the [[Akiu Great Falls]], sometimes counted as one of Japan's three great waterfalls, and the Rairai Gorge, known for its autumn colours. The Futakuchi Gorge contains waterfalls that have been designated as natural monuments and the Banji Cliffs, an example of [[basalt|columnar basalt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gojapango.com/travel/sendai.htm|title=Sendai Hotel|publisher=GoJapanGo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427075049/http://www.gojapango.com/travel/sendai.htm|archive-date=27 April 2012}}</ref>

The Sakunami area is also known for its natural environment, with [[cherry blossom]]s in the spring, and autumnal colours. The nearby Hōmei Shijuhachi Taki Falls is the name of waterfalls found in the higher reaches of the Hirose River. The origin of the name "Hōmei" (鳳鳴, "[[Fenghuang|Chinese phoenix]] cry") is said to come from ancient local inhabitants' claim that the sound of the waterfalls was similar to the legendary bird's call.
[[File:Matsushima miyagi z.JPG|thumb|[[Matsushima]]]]

The Tatsunokuchi Gorge offers a view of a [[petrified wood]] next to the Otamaya-bashi bridge. Nishi Park and Tsutsujigaoka Park are appreciated for their cherry blossom in the spring. The Hirose River and the Gamo tideland are home to diverse wildlife.

[[Matsushima]], which is one of the [[Three Views of Japan]], is near Sendai, in [[Matsushima, Miyagi|Matsushima]].

===Other sites===
[[Sendai Mediatheque]] is a multipurpose facility that houses the city library, galleries, and film studio facilities open for use by the general public. The building was designed by [[Toyo Ito]] and is known for its innovative architecture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smt.jp/en/smt/|title=about Sendai mediatheque|website=smt.jp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024222111/http://www.smt.jp/en/smt/ |archive-date=2007-10-24 }}</ref>

The AER Building, Miyagi Prefectural Office, and SS30 Building have observation decks that offer panoramic views. The Sendai Trust Tower is the tallest building in Tohoku and [[Hokkaido]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Uminomori Aquarium opened in July 2015, built near the Port of Sendai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uminomori.jp/umino/en/index.html|title=Joestu Aquarium Umigatari|publisher=Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium|language=ja}}</ref>

The [[Sendai Daikannon]] is an approximately {{cvt|100.|m}} high [[Guanyin|Kannon]] statue. The statue was built during Japan's [[economic bubble|bubble economy]] by a now defunct company. It was once the tallest statue in the world.

Sendai also contains a [[Peace Pagoda]], built by [[Nipponzan-Myōhōji-Daisanga]] in 1974.
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==Religion==
===Buddhism===
Buddhist temples in Sendai include [[Mutsu Kokubun-ji]], [[Saihō-ji (Sendai)|Saihō-ji]], and [[Mutsu Kokubun-niji]].

===Shinto===
Shinto shrines in Sendai include [[Miyagiken Gokoku Shrine]], [[Tsubonuma Hachiman Shrine]], [[Futahashira Shrine]], and [[Sendai Tōshōgū]], a memorial shrine of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].

===Catholicism===
The Catholic Church has been associated with Sendai since 1613, the year in which [[Date Masamune]], ''daimyō'' of Sendai, built a galleon to send an [[Japanese warship San Juan Bautista|embassy to the Pope in Rome]] headed by [[Hasekura Tsunenaga]].<ref>Charles Ralph Boxer, The Christian Century in Japan, 1549–1650, (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967), p.314</ref> Although the embassy was successful in its aim of establishing relations with the Holy See, Masamune's plans were frustrated by the suppression of Christianity in Japan. The [[Diocese of Sendai]] (previously the Diocese of Hakodate) was established in 1891, only two years after the promulgation of a new constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion in Japan, in 1889. The Bishop of Sendai currently oversees the four northern prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate and Aomori, serving 11,152 Catholics in 56 parishes. Mototerakoji, the Cathedral of the diocese, is located a few blocks north of Sendai Station.

==Sports==
[[File:Sendai-Stadion 2019 Inside.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Yurtec Stadium Sendai]]]]
[[File:Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi(2018).jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Miyagi Baseball Stadium]]]]
[[File:Arena of the Kameiarena sendai.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Kamei Arena Sendai]]]]
[[File:XebioArena bjgame.150322.JPG|thumb|200px|left|[[Xebio Arena Sendai]]]]
Although the [[Chiba Lotte Marines|Lotte Orions]] briefly used Sendai as a temporary home for the franchise from 1973 to 1977, the city was largely ignored by professional sports until 1994. In that year, the [[Tohoku Electric Power]] [[Association football|football]] team was changed into a club team, Brummel Sendai, with the goal of eventually being promoted into the [[J.League]]. The team achieved this goal when the J. League expanded in 1999 with the creation of a second division. The name of the team was simultaneously changed to [[Vegalta Sendai]]. Currently the city also host semi-professional outfit [[Sony Sendai FC]].

In 2005, the number of professional sports teams based in Sendai suddenly increased to three. The [[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] was introduced as a new [[Pacific League]] baseball franchise after widely publicized turmoil involving the merger of the [[Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes|Kintetsu Buffaloes]] and the [[Orix Buffaloes|Orix Blue Wave]] developed into the [[2004 NPB realignment|first strike]] in [[Nippon Professional Baseball]]. Additionally, the [[Japan Basketball League]], which began its inaugural season in November 2005, included the [[Sendai 89ers]] among its first six teams.

Annual sporting events include the Sendai Cup, an international football tournament for U-18 teams, and the Sendai International [[Half marathon|Half Marathon]]. In 2006 of the Sendai International half marathon, Mizuki Noguchi, who won the women's marathon gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, took part in and won the race in a surprising course record.

Various sporting venues can be found in Sendai, such as [[Hitomebore Stadium Miyagi]] (venue of [[2002 FIFA World Cup]]), [[Yurtec Stadium Sendai]], [[Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi|Miyagi Baseball Stadium]], [[Kamei Arena Sendai|Sendai City Gymnasium]], [[Koshin Gom Athlete Park Sendai|Sendai Athletic Stadium]], [[Shellcom Sendai]] and [[Sendai Hi-Land Raceway]]. The city is also known as the origin of [[figure skating]] in Japan, and both 2006 Olympic gold medalist [[Shizuka Arakawa]] and two-time Olympic gold medalist (2014, 2018) [[Yuzuru Hanyu]] trained in Sendai during their childhood. [[Tohoku Fukushi University]] and Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School are well known for their strong sports programs, the latter for [[High school baseball in Japan|baseball]].

In 2006, Sendai hosted some games of the [[2006 FIBA World Championship]]. Before that, the city had some experience at hosting international basketball events such as the [[1994 ABC Championship for Women|1994]] and [[2004 FIBA Asia Championship for Women|2004]] editions of the [[FIBA Women's Asia Cup]]. [[Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling]] is a joshi wrestling company based in sendai.
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===Baseball===
*[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] ([[Pacific League|Pa.League]])

===Basketball===
*[[Sendai 89ers]] ([[B.League]])

===Football===
*[[MyNavi Sendai]] ([[WE League|WE.League]])
*[[Vegalta Sendai]] ([[J.League]])

===Futsal===
*[[Voscuore Sendai]] ([[F.League]])

===Volleyball===
*Ligare Sendai ([[V.League (Japan)|V.League]])

==International relations==
===Sister cities===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}
Sendai has a long history of international relationships. Its affiliation with [[Riverside, California]] dates back to March 9, 1957. Sendai is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref name=sisters>{{cite web |title=Sendai's International Sister and Friendship Cities|url=http://www.city.sendai.jp/koryu/foreignlanguage/en/friendship.html|website=city.sendai.jp|publisher=City of Sendai|access-date=2024-02-03}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Acapulco]], [[Guerrero]], Mexico (since 1973)
*{{flagicon|China}} [[Changchun]], China (since 1980)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Dallas]], United States (since 1997)
*{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Gwangju]], South Korea (since 2002)
*{{flagicon|Belarus}} [[Minsk]], Belarus (since 1973)
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Rennes]], France (since 1967)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Riverside, California|Riverside]], United States (since 1957)

===Friendship cities===
Sendai also cooperates with:<ref name=sisters/>
*{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Oulu]], Finland (since 2005)
*{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Tainan]], Taiwan (since 2006)

===International events===
The [[Sendai International Music Competition]] takes place every three years, welcoming participants from around the world.

Sendai has hosted international conferences about disaster management, as is recognized as a model city for disaster risk prevention.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sendai-resilience.jp/en/bosaikankyo/|title=Aiming to Make Sendai a "Disaster-Resilient and Environmentally-Friendly City"|publisher= Disaster-Resilient and Environmentally-Friendly City Promotion Office}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2015}}
[[File:Hanyu - 2018 Olympics.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Yuzuru Hanyu]]]]
[[File:Ai Fukuhara WTTC 2016 (cropped).jpg|thumb|180px|[[Ai Fukuhara]]]]
* [[Akitoshi Saito]], Japanese [[professional wrestler]] who currently works for [[Pro Wrestling Noah]] (Currently lives in [[Nagoya, Aichi]])
* [[Hirohiko Araki]], [[manga]] artist; creator of ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]''. The fictional city of Morioh that appears in ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' is based on Sendai.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sankei.com/life/news/170813/lif1708130019-n1.html|script-title=ja:「Ｍ県Ｓ市杜王町」ジョジョの世界、仙台と一体 原画展開幕、原作者の荒木飛呂彦氏があいさつ|trans-title="Morioh Town, S City, M Prefecture" The world of JoJo is integrated with Sendai. Original artwork unveiled, original author Hirohiko Araki gives a speech|language=ja|publisher=[[Sankei Shimbun]]|date=August 13, 2017|access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Junichi Inagaki]], singer-songwriter
* [[Miho Arakawa]], voice actress
* [[Abroad in Japan|Chris Broad]], British YouTuber based in Sendai
* [[Mika Doi]], voice actress
* [[Mimori Yusa]], singer-songwriter
* [[Yuzuru Hanyu]], figure skater and two-time [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] champion ([[2014 Winter Olympics|2014]]-[[2018 Winter Olympics|2018]])
* [[Eugen Herrigel]] lectured at [[Tohoku Imperial University]] from 1924 until 1929<ref>{{cite book|title=Shots in the Dark: Japan, Zen, and the West|author=Shoji Yamada|publisher= University of Chicago Press|page=92|isbn= 9780226947655}}</ref>
* [[Sharmeleon|Sharla Hinskens]], Canadian YouTuber based in Sendai
* [[Kanata Hongō]], actor and model
* [[Karen Iwata]], member of girl-group [[AKB48]]
* [[Monkey Majik]], band, formed and based in Sendai
* [[Hikaru Minegishi]], footballer
* [[Yūsei Oda]], voice actor
* [[Minene Sakurano]], [[manga]] artist; creator of ''[[Mamotte Shugogetten]]''
* [[Kimi Sato]], composer
* [[Somei Satoh]], composer
* [[Satomi Satō]], voice actress
* [[Shizuka Arakawa]], figure skater and [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] Champion ([[2006 Winter Olympics|2006]])
* [[Yoko Kanno]], composer
* [[Ayumi Ishida (Morning Musume member)|Ayumi Ishida]], former member of girl-group [[Morning Musume]]
* [[Ai Fukuhara]], table tennis player
* [[Tomokazu Harimoto]], table tennis player
* [[Shun Sato (figure skater)|Shun Sato]], figure skater and 2019 [[Junior Grand Prix Final]] Champion
* [[Dash Chisako]] Wrestler in sendai girls pro wrestling
* [[Sendai Sachiko]] former wrestler in sendai girls pro wrestling
*[[Sendai Shirō]] – intellectually disabled man worshipped as a [[Hitogami]] associated with business prosperity<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unseen-japan.com/sendai-shiro/|title=Sendai Shirō: The Silent Man Who Made Everyone Smile|publisher=Unseen Japan|first=Nyri|last=Bakkalian|date=23 August 2023|access-date=23 October 2025}}</ref>
* [[Mone Chiba]], figure skater
* [[Sasaki Toyoju]], feminist and anti-prostitution activist
* [[Sandwichman (owarai)|Sandwichman]], comedy duo consisting of [[Mikio Date]] and [[Takeshi Tomizawa]]<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:サンドウィッチマンの伊達みきおさん、富澤たけしさんへ第2期仙台観光アンバサダーを委嘱しました|trans-title=Sandwichman's Mikio Date and Takeshi Tomizawa have been appointed as the second Sendai Tourism Ambassadors |url=https://www.city.sendai.jp/contentsoushutsu/ambassador/sandwichman.html |website=city.sendai.jp |publisher=City of Sendai |access-date=2024-06-14 |language=Japanese |date=2024-03-10}}</ref>
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==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sendai, Miyagi}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Sendai}}
*[http://www.city.sendai.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
*[https://www.sentabi.jp Sendai traveling information]
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[[Category:Cities in Miyagi Prefecture]]
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