Shizuoka

Shizuoka-ken 静岡県

Shizuoka prefecture was established from the former provinces of Totomi, Suruga and Izu. With a population of 3,651,912, including about 83,093 foreign citizens, approximately 27,904 Brazilians, 4,414 Peruvians, 238 Argentines, 21 Uruguayans, 810 Americans, 32 Chileans, 198 Colombians, 79 Mexicans, 168 Canada, 16,526 Philippines, 11,581 Chinese, 4,746 Koreans, 1,495 Thailand, 9,259 Vietnam, 1,09 Sri Lanka, 90 Mongolia, 1,594 Nepal, 636 India, 3,031 Indonesia and others (2020 data).

Shizuoka is located in central Japan, with Monte Fuji to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south and Suruga Bay. In addition to the beautiful and exuberant nature, the rich historical and cultural, heritage, the Prefecture has a mild climate and extremely convenient access, which connects it with other regions of Japan.

The coastline of Shizuoka Prefecture stretches for 500 km from east to west, along the Enshu Sea and Suruga and Sagami Bays. To the north, the Province is surrounded by mountains of more than 3,000 meters, such as Mount Fuji and the Southern Alps.

Several rivers that run through the province, such as the Fuji, Ohi and Tenryu rivers that have their sources in these mountains.

Shizuoka’s industrial sector is primarily agrarian because of its location and ease of transport. The musical instrument and paper factories are the highlights. It is these factories that absorbed most of the Brazilian workforce. The favorable climate of Shizuoka Prefecture supports a varied agriculture, whose main products are tangerine, green tea and Japanese radish, the main ingredient of wasabi condiment. Fishing is highly developed at the main port in Shimizu District of Shizuoka City. Motor vehicles, ships, textiles, canned goods and musical instruments are the main products manufactured in Hamamatsu.

History

The area covered by present-day Shizuoka Prefecture was formerly divided into three regions called Totomi, Suruga and Izu. In the Edo period, the areas directly controlled by the Shogunate, corresponding to the states of Hatamoto (directly dependent on the Shogun) and the territories of the Daimyo (feudal lord) formed a complex matrix across the landscape.

At the time of the abolition of the han system and the establishment of provinces in July 1871, three provinces were formed within present-day Shizuoka: Nirayama (Izu), Shizuoka (Suruga, Totomi) and Horie (northern part of Lake Hamanako). In November of the same year, Nirayama Prefecture became part of Ashigara Prefecture, and a new province, Hamamatsu, was established in Enshu.

Then, with the dissolution of Ashigara Province in April 1876, the former provinces of Izu and Shizuoka merged, followed by the merger of the provinces of Hamamatsu and Shizuoka on August 21 of the same year. Thus, the current Shizuoka Prefecture was born.

Flag

The Symbol is a combination of the shape of Mount Fuji and the map of the Province.

Cities

Atami, Fuji, Fujieda, Fujinomiya, Fukuroi, Gotenba, Hamamatsu, Ito, Iwata, Izu, Izunokuni, Kakegawa, Kawazu, Kikugawa, Kosai, Makinohara, Mishima, Numazu, Omaezaki, Shimada, Shimizu, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Susono.