View source for Tōhoku region

{{Short description|Portion of Honshu island, Japan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{redirect|Tohoku}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Tōhoku region
| native_name            = {{nobold|東北地方}}
| native_name_lang       = ja
| official_name          = 
| settlement_type        = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| image_skyline          = Tohoku Region in Japan.svg
| image_alt              = Map showing the Tōhoku region of Japan. It comprises the northeast area of the island of Honshu.
| image_caption          = Tōhoku region in Japan
| image_map              = {{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=y|frame-width=255|frame-height=255|zoom=5|frame-lat=39.5|frame-long=140|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=1|stroke-color=#333333|id=Q129465|title=Tōhoku region}}
| image_map1             = Japan Tohoku Map.svg
| map_caption1           = Prefectures and major cities in Tōhoku
| map_alt                = 
| map_caption            = 
| pushpin_map            = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|38.90|N|140.67|E|region:JP_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint          = 
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Sendai]]
|subdivision_type2= Largest city
| unit_pref              = Metric
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 66951.97
| area_land_km2          = 
| area_water_km2         = 
| area_water_percent     = 
| area_note              = 
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 
| population_footnotes   = 
| population_total       = 8331385
| population_as_of       = August 1, 2023
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est         = 
| pop_est_as_of          = 
| population_demonym     = 
| population_note        = 
| demographics_type1              = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes         = <ref name="esri.cao.go.jp">{{cite web|script-title=ja:県民経済計算（平成23年度 - 令和２年度）（2008SNA、平成27年基準計数）＜47都道府県、4政令指定都市分＞|url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kenmin/files/contents/main_2020.html|lang=ja}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1            = Total
| demographics1_info1   = [[Japanese yen|JP¥]]35.159 trillion<br />[[US$]]323 billion
| timezone1              = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1            = +09:00
}}

The {{nihongo|'''Tōhoku region'''|東北地方|Tōhoku-chihō|{{IPA|ja|toːhokɯ̥ tɕiꜜhoː|IPA}}}}, '''Northeast region''', {{nihongo|'''Ōu region'''|奥羽地方|Ōu-chihō}}, or {{nihongo|'''Northeast Japan'''|東北日本|Tōhoku Nihon}} consists of the northeastern portion of [[Honshu]], the largest [[Japanese archipelago|island]] of [[Japan]]. This [[List of regions of Japan|traditional region]] consists of six [[Prefectures of Japan|prefectures]] ({{tlit|ja|ken}}): [[Akita Prefecture|Akita]], [[Aomori Prefecture|Aomori]], [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]], [[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]], [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]], and [[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tōhoku" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 970|page=970}}</ref>

Tōhoku retains a reputation as a remote, scenic region with a harsh [[climate]]. In the 20th century, [[tourism]] became a major industry in the Tōhoku region.

==History==
{{main|Mutsu Province|Dewa Province}}

===Ancient and classical period===
[[File:Sanhira.jpg|thumb|Northern Fujiwara]]
In mythological times, the area was known as Azuma ({{lang|ja|吾妻}}, {{lang|ja|あづま}}) and corresponded to the area of [[Honshu]] occupied by the native [[Emishi]] and [[Ainu people|Ainu]]. The area was historically the [[Dewa Province|Dewa]] and the [[Mutsu Province|Michinoku]] regions,<ref>Hanihara, Kazuro. [http://202.231.40.34/jpub/pdf/jr/IJ0102.pdf "Emishi, Ezo and Ainu: An Anthropological Perspective,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002111556/http://202.231.40.34/jpub/pdf/jr/IJ0102.pdf |date=2011-10-02 }} ''Japan Review'', 1990, 1:37 (PDF p. 3).</ref> a term first recorded in {{nihongo|''Hitachi-no-kuni Fudoki''|常陸国風土記}} (654). There is some variation in modern usage of the term "Michinoku".<ref>McCullough, Helen Craig. (1988). {{Google books|D5Oqj3TsMlUC|''The Tale of the Heike'', p. 81|page=81}}; excerpt, "Furthermore, in the old days, the two famous eastern provinces, Dewa and Michinoku, were a single province made up of sixty-six districts, of which twelve were split off to create Dewa."</ref>

Tōhoku's initial historical settlement occurred between the seventh and ninth centuries, well after Japanese [[Heian period|civilization]] and [[Culture of Japan|culture]] had become firmly established in central and southwestern Japan. The last stronghold of the [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] [[Emishi]] on Honshu and the site of [[Sengoku period|many battles]], the region has maintained a degree of autonomy from Kyoto at various times throughout history.

The {{nihongo|''Northern Fujiwara''|奥州藤原氏|Ōshū Fujiwara-shi}} were a Japanese [[kuge|noble]] [[Japanese clans|family]] that ruled the Tōhoku region during the 12th century as their own realm. They kept their independence vis-à-vis the [[Imperial Court in Kyoto]] by the strength of their warrior bands until they were overwhelmed by [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] in 1189.<ref name=aaa>{{Cite book |author-last=Frédéric |author-first=Louis |author-link=Louis Frédéric |translator-last=Hwang |translator-first1=Alvaro David |chapter=O Japão |title=Dicionário e Civilização |location=Rio de Janeiro |publisher=Globo Livros |year=2008 |pages=223–224 |isbn=9788525046161 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pKqDbBSLuSoC&q=Fujiwara+no+Yasuhira&pg=PA293 |access-date=2020-11-03 |archive-date=2022-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061955/https://books.google.com/books?id=pKqDbBSLuSoC&q=Fujiwara+no+Yasuhira&pg=PA293 |lang=pt-BR |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Feudal period===
====Christianity in Tōhoku====
[[File:Tetsubin1571.jpg|thumb|[[Cast iron]] [[teapot]]s like this one sit atop [[stove]]s during the long [[winter]]s in Tōhoku.]]
[[Date Masamune]] (1567–1636), feudal lord of [[Date clan]], expanded trade in the Tōhoku region.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=The Way of Bushido |title=Date Masamume 伊達 政宗 The One-Eyed Dragon! |url=https://wayofbushido.com/bushido-blog/f/date-masamume-%E4%BC%8A%E9%81%94-%E6%94%BF%E5%AE%97-the-one-eyed-dragon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326161207/https://wayofbushido.com/bushido-blog/f/date-masamume-%E4%BC%8A%E9%81%94-%E6%94%BF%E5%AE%97-the-one-eyed-dragon |archive-date=26 March 2023 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=- The Way of Bushido - Samurai Resources for the Modern Age |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Minta |first=WAttention |date=2020-05-25 |title=More than Just a Warrior: Date Masamune {{!}} Samurai Spirit - Alive and Well in Tohoku, Japan |url=https://wattention.com/wat07-samurai-date-masamune/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=WAttention.com |language=ja}}</ref> Although initially faced with attacks by hostile clans, he managed to overcome them after a few defeats and eventually ruled [[Sendai Domain|one of the largest fiefdoms]] of the later [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. He built many palaces and worked on many projects to beautify the region.<ref name=":0" /> He is also known to have encouraged foreigners to come to his land.<ref name=":1" /> 

Even though he funded and promoted an envoy to establish relations with the Pope in Rome, he was likely motivated at least in part by a desire for foreign technology, similar to that of other lords, such as [[Oda Nobunaga]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Álvarez |first=Jorge |date=2025-03-11 |title=The Story of the Keichō Embassy: The Japanese Who Traveled to Spain and Rome in the 17th Century |url=https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/03/the-story-of-the-keicho-embassy-the-japanese-who-traveled-to-spain-and-rome-in-the-17th-century/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=LBV Magazine English Edition |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=A brief history of the Keicho Embassy |url=https://samuraismediterraneos.com/en/samurais-mediterraneos/a-brief-history-of-the-keicho-embassy |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Luxury Real Estate Barcelona. Houses for sale and rent {{!}} HJAPÓN |language=en-US}}</ref> He showed sympathy for Christian missionaries and traders in Japan. In addition to allowing them to come and preach in his province, he released the prisoner and missionary [[Luis Sotelo|Padre Sotelo]] from the hands of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Date Masamune allowed Sotelo as well as other missionaries to practice their religion and win converts in Tōhoku.<ref name=":2" />

Once [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] (1543–1616) outlawed Christianity, Masamune reversed his position, and though disliking it, let Ieyasu persecute Christians in his domain.<ref name=":2" /> For 270 years, Tōhoku remained a place of tourism, trade and prosperity. [[Matsushima]], for instance, a series of tiny islands, was praised for its beauty and serenity by the wandering [[haiku]] poet [[Matsuo Bashō]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

===Early modern period===
[[File:AizuCastle.jpg|thumb|[[Aizuwakamatsu Castle]] after the [[Battle of Aizu]], 1868 photograph]]
The [[haiku]] [[poet]] [[Matsuo Bashō]] (1644–1694) wrote ''[[Oku no Hosomichi]]'' (''The Narrow Road to the Deep North'') during his travels through Tōhoku.

===Contemporary period===

In the 1960s, [[ironworks]], [[steelmaking]], [[cement]], [[chemical industry]], [[Pulp and paper industry|pulp]], and [[Oil refinery|petroleum refining]] industries began developing. The region is traditionally known as a less developed area of Japan.<ref>Dentsu. (1970). [https://books.google.com/books?id=vtQTAQAAMAAJ&q=traditionally+backward ''Industrial Japan, '' Issues 18–26, p. 58] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061955/https://books.google.com/books?ei=XaJuUe6PItWo4AOg7ICoCA&id=vtQTAQAAMAAJ&dq=Joetsu+region&q=traditionally+backward |date=2022-10-07 }}; retrieved 2013-4-17.</ref>

The catastrophic [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami]] on March 11, 2011, inflicted massive damage along the east coast of this region, causing {{2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami casualties dead}} and was the costliest natural disaster ever which left 500,000 people homeless along with radioactive emissions from the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]].

==Geography==
[[File:Tohoku-Region-Northern-Japan-ISS-Space.png|thumb|220x220px|The Tōhoku region and Hokkaido seen from space]]
[[File:Geofeatures_map_of_Tohoku_Japan_ja.svg|thumb|A geofeatures map of Tōhoku]]
Tōhoku, like most of Japan, is hilly or mountainous, with the [[Ōu Mountains]] running north–south. The inland location of many of the region's lowlands has led to a concentration of much of the population there. Coupled with coastlines that do not favor seaport development, this settlement pattern resulted in a much greater than usual dependence on land and rail transportation. Low points in the central mountain range make communications between lowlands on either side of the range moderately easy.

Tōhoku was traditionally considered the [[granary]] of Japan because it supplied [[Sendai]] and the [[Tokyo]]-[[Yokohama]] market with rice and other farming commodities. Tōhoku provided 20 percent of the nation's rice crop.
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Gallery" heights="130px" perrow="3">
Mt._Iwate_and_Morioka.jpg|[[Mount Iwate]] dominates the city of [[Morioka]]
Otani, Mishima, Onuma District, Fukushima Prefecture 969-7517, Japan - panoramio.jpg|Rice paddies in [[Aizu]] in early summer
DaiichiTadamigawaBridge.jpg|[[Tadami River]] and [[Tadami Line]] in autumn
蔵王の樹氷 (Snow Monsters (Soft rime) at Zao) 08 Feb, 2011 - panoramio.jpg|Snow monsters on [[Mount Zaō]]
Tohoku Region Japan 2003.png|Satellite image of Tōhoku region
</gallery>

===Subdivision===
The most often used subdivision of the region is dividing it to {{nihongo|"North Tōhoku"|北東北|Kita-Tōhoku}} consisting of Aomori, Akita, and Iwate Prefectures and {{nihongo|"South Tōhoku"|南東北|Minami-Tōhoku}} consisting of Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures.

==Climate==
The climate is colder than in other parts of Honshū due to the stronger effect of the [[Siberian High]], and permits only one crop a year on paddy fields. The [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific coast]] of Tōhoku, however, is generally much less snowy than the region's popular image and has among the smallest seasonal temperature variation in Japan. The city of Iwaki, for instance, has daily mean temperatures ranging from {{cvt|3.0|°C}} in January to {{cvt|23.9|°C}} in August.

{{clear}}

==Cities and populated areas==
===Core cities===
*[[Sendai]] (population: 1,098,000)
*[[Iwaki, Fukushima|Iwaki]] (population: 322,000)
*[[Kōriyama]] (population: 322,000)
*[[Akita (city)|Akita]] (population: 300,000)
*[[Morioka]] (population: 284,000)
*[[Aomori (city)|Aomori]] (population: 265,000)
*[[Yamagata, Yamagata|Yamagata]] (population: 242,000)
*[[Hachinohe]] (population: 216,000)
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Gallery" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Night view from Mukaiyama.JPG|[[Sendai]]
File:View of Iwaki station in Iwaki city - panoramio 78.jpg|[[Iwaki, Fukushima|Iwaki]]
File:郡山市中心市街地.JPG|[[Kōriyama]]
Aizuwakamatsu_14-Nov-2020.jpg|[[Aizuwakamatsu]]
</gallery>

===Other cities===
{{Div col|colwidth=14em}}
*[[Aizuwakamatsu]]
*[[Daisen, Akita|Daisen]]
*[[Date, Fukushima|Date]]
*[[Fukushima (city)|Fukushima]]
*[[Goshogawara]]
*[[Hachimantai, Iwate|Hachimantai]]
*[[Hanamaki, Iwate|Hanamaki]]
*[[Hachinohe]]
*[[Higashimatsushima]]
*[[Higashine, Yamagata|Higashine]]
*[[Hirakawa, Aomori|Hirakawa]]
*[[Hirosaki]]
*[[Ichinoseki, Iwate|Ichinoseki]]
*[[Ishinomaki]]
*[[Iwanuma]]
*[[Kakuda, Miyagi|Kakuda]]
*[[Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi]]
*[[Kaminoyama, Yamagata|Kaminoyama]]
*[[Katagami, Akita|Katagami]]
*[[Kazuno, Akita|Kazuno]]
*[[Kesennuma]]
*[[Kitaakita]]
*[[Kitakami, Iwate|Kitakami]]
*[[Kitakata, Fukushima|Kitakata]]
*[[Kuji, Iwate|Kuji]]
*[[Kurihara, Miyagi|Kurihara]]
*[[Kuroishi, Aomori|Kuroishi]]
*[[Minamisōma]]
*[[Misawa, Aomori|Misawa]]
*[[Miyako, Iwate|Miyako]]
*[[Motomiya, Fukushima|Motomiya]]
*[[Murayama, Yamagata|Murayama]]
*[[Mutsu, Aomori|Mutsu]]
*[[Nagai, Yamagata|Nagai]]
*[[Nan'yō, Yamagata|Nan'yō]]
*[[Natori, Miyagi|Natori]]
*[[Nihonmatsu, Fukushima|Nihonmatsu]]
*[[Nikaho, Akita|Nikaho]]
*[[Ninohe, Iwate|Ninohe]]
*[[Noshiro, Akita|Noshiro]]
*[[Obanazawa, Yamagata|Obanazawa]]
*[[Oga, Akita|Oga]]
*[[Ōdate]]
*[[Ōfunato, Iwate|Ōfunato]]
*[[Ōsaki, Miyagi|Ōsaki]]
*[[Ōshū, Iwate|Ōshū]]
*[[Rikuzentakata, Iwate|Rikuzentakata]]
*[[Sagae, Yamagata|Sagae]]
*[[Sakata, Yamagata|Sakata]]
*[[Semboku, Akita|Semboku]]
*[[Shinjō, Yamagata|Shinjō]]
*[[Shiogama]]
*[[Shirakawa, Fukushima|Shirakawa]]
*[[Shiroishi, Miyagi|Shiroishi]]
*[[Sōma, Fukushima|Sōma]]
*[[Sukagawa, Fukushima|Sukagawa]]
*[[Tagajō]]
*[[Takizawa, Iwate|Takizawa]]
*[[Tamura, Fukushima|Tamura]]
*[[Tendō, Yamagata|Tendō]]
*[[Tome, Miyagi|Tome]]
*[[Tomiya, Miyagi|Tomiya]]
*[[Tōno, Iwate|Tōno]]
*[[Towada, Aomori|Towada]]
*[[Tsugaru, Aomori|Tsugaru]]
*[[Tsuruoka, Yamagata|Tsuruoka]]
*[[Yamagata, Yamagata|Yamagata]]
*[[Yokote, Akita|Yokote]]
*[[Yonezawa, Yamagata|Yonezawa]]
*[[Yurihonjō]]
*[[Yuzawa, Akita|Yuzawa]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|width=12em
|shading=on
|percentages=on
|1884 |3957085
|1898 |4893747
|1920 |5793974
|1940 |7164674
|1950 |9021809
|1955 |9334442
|1970 |9031197
|1975 |9232875
|1980 |9572088
|1985 |9730352
|1990 |9738284
|1995 |9834124
|2000 |9817589
|2010 |9335636
|2020 |8611195 
|2023 |8400960
|footnote=Note: All figures since 1920 are October, except 2023 which is 1/1.
|source=Japan Census figures except latest which from [[:ja:東北地方]]
}}

The population decline of Tōhoku, which began before the year 2000, has accelerated, now including previously dynamic [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]. Despite this, [[Sendai]] City has grown, in part due to relocations of people affected by the 2011 disaster. The population decline of Aomori, Iwate and Akita Prefectures, Honshu's three northernmost, began in the early 1980s after an initial loss of population in the late 1950s. Fukushima Prefecture, prior to 1980, had traditionally been the most populated, but today Miyagi is the most populated and urban by far.

==Points of interest==

===Natural features===
*[[Hakkōda Mountains]]
*[[Lake Tazawa]]
*[[Lake Towada]]
*[[Kitakami River]]
*The islands of [[Matsushima|Matsushima Bay]]
*[[Mount Bandai]]
*[[Mount Hayachine]]
*[[Mount Iwaki]]
*[[Mount Osore]]
*[[Oirase River]] Valley
*[[Sanriku Coast]]

===Parks===
*[[Bandai-Asahi National Park]]
*[[Miss Veedol|Miss Veedol Beach]]
*[[Sanriku Fukkō National Park]]
*[[Towada-Hachimantai National Park]]

===Historical features===
*[[Aizuwakamatsu Castle]]
*[[Chūson-ji]]
*[[Hirosaki Castle]]
*[[Mōtsū-ji]]
*[[Mount Osore]]
*[[Ōuchi-juku]]
*[[Three Mountains of Dewa]]
*[[Yama-dera]]

===Onsen===
*[[Iwaki Yumoto Onsen]]
*[[Ginzan Onsen]]
*[[Nyūtō Onsen]]
*[[Sukayu Onsen]]
*[[Zaō Onsen]]

===Festivals===
*[[Akita Kantō]]
*[[Aomori Nebuta Matsuri]]
*[[Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival]]
*[[Hachinohe Sansha Taisai]]
*[[Yamagata Hanagasa Festival]]

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Gallery" heights="130px" perrow="3">
Oirase-keiryu.jpg|[[Oirase River]] in [[Aomori Prefecture]]
Fukushima-Sakura in Tsuruga Castle, Aizuwakamatsu City-m.jpg|[[Aizuwakamatsu Castle]] in spring
Five tier pagoda at Mt. Haguro 2006-10-29.jpg|[[Mount Haguro]]
Yamagata-Ginzan Onsen-m.jpg|[[Ginzan Onsen]]
Kan_h03.jpg|[[Akita Kantō]] Festival
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[2006 Kuril Islands earthquake]]
*[[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]]
*[[List of regions of Japan]]
*[[Geography of Japan]]
*[[Tōhoku dialect]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC ''Japan Encyclopedia'']. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}. {{Oclc|58053128}}.
* {{Country study}} [https://www.loc.gov/item/91029874/ Japan].

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Tohoku region|Tōhoku region}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100213215610/http://www.pref.akita.jp/koho/foreign/en/index.html Akita Prefecture] Official website {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/foreigners/index.html Aomori Prefecture] Official website
* [http://wwwcms.pref.fukushima.jp/pcp_portal/PortalServlet;jsessionid=6AC237B11C572DB98137E4466997115C?DISPLAY_ID=DIRECT&NEXT_DISPLAY_ID=U000000&LANG_ID=13 Fukushima Prefecture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104103806/http://wwwcms.pref.fukushima.jp/pcp_portal/PortalServlet;jsessionid=6AC237B11C572DB98137E4466997115C?DISPLAY_ID=DIRECT&NEXT_DISPLAY_ID=U000000&LANG_ID=13 |date=4 November 2013 }} Official website {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/ Miyagi Prefecture] Official website {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/shokokanko/110012/kokusai/foreign/englishtop.html Yamagata Prefecture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530073913/http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/shokokanko/110012/kokusai/foreign/englishtop.html |date=30 May 2013 }} Official website {{in lang|en}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100420035631/http://www.pref.iwate.jp/~hp0312/seikatsu-sodan/en/index.html Iwate Prefecture] Living Guide for Foreign Nationals {{in lang|en}}

{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tohoku Region}}
[[Category:Tōhoku region| ]]