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Kyoto Prefecture Banzai Japan Idol Group Visit there Website Kyoto Prefecture is Japan’s cultural center, including the former capital of Kyoto with its plethora of temples and shrines and its large population of practitioners of traditional crafts. As the location for the city of Kyoto, which was the imperial capital of Japan for a millennium, Kyoto Prefecture is steeped in history. It is one of just two urban prefectures (fu), based around the country’s important cities. The city of Kyoto lies in the southern part of the prefecture, and forms part of the heavily urbanized Kansai region center, together with Osaka and Kobe. The prefecture is divided roughly into two parts by the Tanba Mountains, with the north stretching toward the Sea of Japan coast. Kyoto Prefecture at a Glance Established in 1871 (formerly Yamashiro, Tanba, and Tango provinces) Capital: Kyoto Population: 2,578,000 (as of Oct. 2020) Area: 4,612 km2 The city of Kyoto is known for its many temples and shrines, several of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Among the most famous, Kiyomizudera dates back for over a millennium and offers a panoramic view of the city from its wooden stage. The Zen temple of Kinkakuji awes visitors with its golden pavilion, and was the model for Ginkakuji, which became associated with the flourishing of Higashiyama culture in the fifteenth century. To the south, Fushimi Inari Shrine is popular for its tunnels of vermilion torii. Floats make a stately progress through the city in the centerpiece of the Gion Festival in July, which is one of Japan’s most famous local observances. In the south of the prefecture, the city of Uji has a notable temple in Byōdōin. Originally the residence of the powerful leader Fujiwara no Michinaga, it later became a temple, and its fame is such that it appears on the ¥10 coin. In the north of the prefecture, Amanohashidate, a narrow sandbar covered in pines, is considered to be one of Japan’s traditional Three Scenic Views. Kyoto has sophisticated versions of many traditional Japanese crafts. Techniques associated with production of kimonos are particularly highly regarded, such as nishijin-ori silk weaving and kyō yūzen dyeing. The city is also known for ceramics, dolls, lacquer ware, and fans. At the same time the prefecture is a center for high-tech industry, and the home of companies like Nintendo and Kyocera. The city of Uji is renowned for its matcha green tea. Mayumaro is the mascot for Kyoto Prefecture, taking its name and appearance from a silkworm cocoon (mayu), due to the use of silk in local kimonos. Famous Figures Dōgen (1200–53): Founder of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism. Itami Jūzō (1933–97): Director, known for works including Tanpopo. Wada Emi (1937–2021): Costume designer who won an Academy Award for her work on the Kurosawa Akira film Ran. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGJMwixogyk

Osaka Prefecture Banzai Japan Idol Group Visit there Website Osaka Prefecture, at the center of Japan’s number-two urban conglomeration, is famous for its lively main city, popular castle, and manzai comedy double acts. As the heavily urbanized heart of the Kansai region, Osaka Prefecture is a commercial and cultural center in the west of Japan. It is one of only two urban prefectures (fu); a referendum to reorganize it into a metropolis (to) like Tokyo was narrowly rejected in 2020. Most of the population lives on Osaka Plain. Kansai International Airport is located on reclaimed land in Osaka Bay, in the west of the prefecture. Osaka Prefecture at a Glance Established in 1871 (formerly Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi provinces) Capital: Osaka Population: 8,838,000 (as of Oct. 2020) Area: 1,905 km2 Historically, the city of Osaka was Japan’s economic powerhouse. As the base for Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who succeeded in unifying Japan in the sixteenth century, it was also a political center for some years. The reconstructed Osaka Castle, originally built by Hideyoshi, attracts millions of visitors each year. The Minami district, especially its lively Dōtonbori street with its giant billboards and copious entertainment and shopping options, has come to symbolize the city today. Among Osaka’s popular food options are takoyaki (octopus pieces fried in batter) and okonomiyaki (a pancake-like dish that may be filled with meat or seafood and vegetables). In the Osaka Bay area of the city are leisure destinations like Universal Studios Japan and Osaka Aquarium. Nearby Sakai is home to the prefecture’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group of great tombs, including what is thought to be the burial mound of Emperor Nintoku, traditionally held to have reigned during the fourth century. Major electronics companies like Sharp and Panasonic have their head offices in Osaka Prefecture, but the area is also known for its many small and medium-sized enterprises manufacturing machinery parts and other products. Culturally, Osaka is associated with the bunraku puppet theater tradition that flourished in the city during the Edo period (1603–1868), as well as the quick quips of manzai comedy double acts. The Osaka Prefecture mascot Mozuyan is based on the mozu, or bull-headed shrike, which is the prefecture’s official bird. The suffix yan is an Osaka variation on the standard Japanese janai, usually used to invite agreement. Famous Figures Kawabata Yasunari (1899–1972): Author of Yukiguni (trans. by Edward Seidensticker as Snow Country), and Japan’s first winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Tezuka Osamu (1928–89): Manga artist and animator who created Astro Boy and many other famous characters. Ōsaka Naomi (1997–): Tennis player, and the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHOmBV4js_E

Hyōgo Prefecture Banzai Japan Idol Group Visit there Website Text Text Text Text https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHOmBV4js_E