General Information of Toyama Prefecture
Toyama Prefecture is about 300 km away from Tokyo, located in the middle of the coastal side of Japan Sea, consisting of 15 municipalities, such as Toyama City, Kurobe City, Takaoka City and Nanto City. It has a population of approximately 1 million, equivalent to 1% that of Japan as a whole.
Geography
The land area has steep mountains such as the 3,000m (9,850ft)-class Tateyama mountain range, and the sea area has a depth of over 1,200m (3,930ft), and the terrain is very varied with large differences in elevation.
Industry
Toyama City has been known as the “City of Medicine” since the reign of Lord Masatoshi Maeda. After the Meiji Restoration, glass containers were needed for the mass production and sale of medicines, and glass crafts also developed there.
Takaoka City is known as a town of manufacturing, with a thriving industry of casting crafts using tin and copper as raw materials. It is also a thriving city for alminum manufacturing. Nanto City is renowned for the UNESCO’s World Heritage villages where they make the washi paper (traditional Japanese paper).
Agriculture and Fisheries
Toyama Prefecture ranks second in rice production in Japan. Koshihikari is a famous variety of rice grown in Toyama Prefecture. It is a delicious rice with a well-balanced texture and a sweet taste. The rice has a good shine and uniform grains, and the grains contain an abundance of delicious water.
Fishing is also thriving in towns along Toyama Bay such as Himi City and Uozu City. In these towns, there are fixed net fishing grounds about 20 minutes by boat from the fishing port, so boats consume less fuel and can land fresh fish.
Historical Background
Toyama Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the west. In the Edo period, Ishikawa used to be part of the Kaga domain as well as Toyama Prefecture (except the area of current Toyama city). Therefore, Toyama Prefecture has been influenced both politically and culturally by the Kaga domain since 17th century.
Characteristics of Toyama Prefecture residents
The people of Toyama Prefecture have a well-established image of being serious, hardworking, modest, conservative, and down-to-earth.
This type of characteristics are believed to be based on the teachings of Jodo Shinshu, which had a strong influence on the people of Ecchu (the old name of Toyama Prefecture). During the Edo period, most of Ecchu (Toyama Prefecture) was under the control of the Kaga Domain and was a branch domain.
Furthermore, the people of Toyama Prefecture lived extremely hard lives due to repeated famines and natural disasters.
There were severe restrictions on entertainment, and they struggled desperately to survive. Perhaps this is what gave birth to the temperament of “simple and steady” and “hard work and diligence” that is still relevant today.
In addition, Jodo Shinshu sect teaches that if you work hard every day, you can go to paradise. If you do that, good things will happen in this life too…
It is said that this outlook on life and way of thinking took root among the people of Etchu (Toyama Prefecture), and eventually gave rise to the Toyama prefecture’s character of working hard and diligently.
Here are the outcomes of their characteristics: Toyama Prefecture’s home ownership rate (the percentage of home-owning households among all ordinary households living in a residential area) is 76.7 higher than the national average of 66.3%. Especially in rural areas, people have a strong attachment to home ownership, and owning a large house tends to be seen as a sign of status. The idea that “you become a real person when you build your own home” is deeply rooted in the people of Toyama Prefecture.
The people in Toyama Prefecture is also said to spend a lot of money on not only their houses but also Buddhist altars, and even on ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.
Although they are humble and quiet, they have a very competitive side. Toyama women in particular are said to be strong-willed and determined. Therefore, Toyama Prefecture has a high employment rate for women (aged 15-64) among all prefectures at 72.0%, ranking 3rd in the nation (according to the Reference of Population Census 2015).
Toyama Prefecture’s famous tourist destinations.
Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route
Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route is a collective name of some spectacle places which include as high as 3,000m mountain range called Tateyama Rempo, high land area called Murodo and Kurobe dam which is the largest in Japan. In spring, many tourists flock to Murodo plateau to see a huge snow wall called Yuki no Otani. Moreover, summer is the best season for mount climbing and autumn for foliage excursion.
Kurobe Gorge
Kurobe Gorge is the deepest V-shaped gorge in Japan. Along the hill side of mountains, a diesel train track stretches to the heart of the gorge. Many people visit the gorge in summer and autumn when people refresh themselves with cool air.
Gokayama -UNESCO World Heritage Site
This is a village registered as a World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is surrounded by severe mountain terrain with no modern facilities such as supermarket, convenience store and shopping complex. the locals cope with the severeness of nature by collaborating with their own family and neighbors. The village is characterized by tiny but strong A-shaped houses.
Great Buddha Statue in Takaoka
The city of Takaoka is very close to Kanazawa which used to be the capital of Kaga domain during Edo period. Therefore, it was greatly influenced by its culture. In 17th century, the Kaga domain enjoyed its prosperity; the lord Maeda collected many artisans and merchants and encouraged them to concentrate on their work. As a result, the city came to flourish as well as many fine pieces of the traditional craft. This Buddhist statue is one of them, which made by bronze processing which was also one of their specialties.
