Morioka

Morioka is located in the {{Interlanguage link|Kitakami Basin|ja|北上盆地}} in central Iwate Prefecture, at the confluence of three rivers, the Kitakami, the Shizukuishi and the Nakatsu. The Kitakami River is the second largest river on the Pacific side of Japan (after the Tone River) and the longest in the Tōhoku region. It runs through the city from north to south and has a number of dams within the city boundaries, including the Shijūshida Dam and Gandō Dam. An active volcano, Mount Iwate, dominates the view to the northwest of the city. Mount Himekami is to the north and Mount Hayachine can sometimes be seen to the southeast.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Iwate Prefecture

• Hachimantai
• Hanamaki
• Iwaizumi
• Kuzumaki
• Miyako
• Shiwa
• Shizukuishi
• Takizawa
• Yahaba

Per Japanese census data,[https://www.citypopulation.de/Japan-Iwate.html Morioka population statistics] the population of Morioka peaked at around the year 2000 and has slightly declined since.

{{Historical populations

| 1960 | 155,575

| 1970 | 226,868

| 1980 | 272,814

| 1990 | 292,632

| 2000 | 302,857

| 2010 | 298,572

| 2020 | 289,731

|align = none

| footnote =

}}

Morioka has a cold, humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) characterized by warm, short summers and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Morioka is {{convert|10.2|°C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{convert|1314|mm|in}} with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are at their highest on average in August, at around {{convert|23.7|°C}}, and lowest on average in January, at around {{convert|-2.4|°C}}.[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/iwate/morioka-4691/ Morioka climate data]

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|collapsed = Y

|location = Morioka (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1923−present)

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 13.2

|Feb record high C = 15.2

|Mar record high C = 21.0

|Apr record high C = 29.0

|May record high C = 33.6

|Jun record high C = 33.7

|Jul record high C = 37.2

|Aug record high C = 36.6

|Sep record high C = 34.7

|Oct record high C = 29.2

|Nov record high C = 21.3

|Dec record high C = 17.9

|Jan record low C = -20.6

|Feb record low C = -17.7

|Mar record low C = -17.1

|Apr record low C = -7.8

|May record low C = -2.0

|Jun record low C = 1.3

|Jul record low C = 4.3

|Aug record low C = 7.4

|Sep record low C = 2.5

|Oct record low C = -3.4

|Nov record low C = -8.6

|Dec record low C = -17.7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 49.4

|Feb precipitation mm = 48.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 82.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 85.4

|May precipitation mm = 106.5

|Jun precipitation mm = 109.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 197.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 185.4

|Sep precipitation mm = 151.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 108.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 85.6

|Dec precipitation mm = 70.2

|year precipitation mm = 1279.9

|Jan mean C = -1.6

|Feb mean C = -0.9

|Mar mean C = 2.6

|Apr mean C = 8.7

|May mean C = 14.5

|Jun mean C = 18.8

|Jul mean C = 22.4

|Aug mean C = 23.5

|Sep mean C = 19.3

|Oct mean C = 12.6

|Nov mean C = 6.2

|Dec mean C = 0.8

|year mean C = 10.6

|Jan high C = 2.0

|Feb high C = 3.2

|Mar high C = 7.5

|Apr high C = 14.4

|May high C = 20.3

|Jun high C = 24.1

|Jul high C = 27.1

|Aug high C = 28.4

|Sep high C = 24.3

|Oct high C = 17.9

|Nov high C = 10.9

|Dec high C = 4.5

|year high C = 15.4

|Jan low C = -5.2

|Feb low C = -4.8

|Mar low C = -1.8

|Apr low C = 3.2

|May low C = 9.1

|Jun low C = 14.2

|Jul low C = 18.8

|Aug low C = 19.8

|Sep low C = 15.2

|Oct low C = 7.9

|Nov low C = 1.8

|Dec low C = -2.5

|year low C = 6.3

|Jan humidity = 73

|Feb humidity = 71

|Mar humidity = 67

|Apr humidity = 65

|May humidity = 68

|Jun humidity = 74

|Jul humidity = 80

|Aug humidity = 79

|Sep humidity = 80

|Oct humidity = 78

|Nov humidity = 76

|Dec humidity = 75

|year humidity = 74

|Jan sun = 115.6

|Feb sun = 124.8

|Mar sun = 157.8

|Apr sun = 171.4

|May sun = 188.0

|Jun sun = 161.3

|Jul sun = 130.5

|Aug sun = 145.3

|Sep sun = 128.8

|Oct sun = 141.3

|Nov sun = 117.7

|Dec sun = 103.7

|year sun = 1686.3

|Jan snow cm = 63

|Feb snow cm = 55

|Mar snow cm = 39

|Apr snow cm = 3

|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 = 6

|Dec snow cm = 44

|year snow cm = 209

|unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 11.9

|Feb precipitation days = 10.5

|Mar precipitation days = 13.2

|Apr precipitation days = 12.2

|May precipitation days = 12.3

|Jun precipitation days = 10.5

|Jul precipitation days = 14.6

|Aug precipitation days = 12.5

|Sep precipitation days = 12.5

|Oct precipitation days = 12.4

|Nov precipitation days = 13.8

|Dec precipitation days = 12.6

|year precipitation days = 149.0

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=33&block_no=47584&year=&month=&day=&view=

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency

| access-date = May 19, 2021}}https://twitter.com/sayakasofiamori/status/1759319506797875444 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}}}

File:171103 Morioka Castle Morioka Iwate pref Japan20s3.jpg

The area of present-day Morioka has been continuously inhabited since the Japanese Paleolithic period. Numerous Jōmon, Yayoi and Kofun period tombs and remains have been found. The Emishi inhabited the area into the Heian period. During the Enryaku era of the Heian period, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, was ordered north to Shiwa Castle in 803 AD, as a military center to extend the domination of the imperial dynasty over Mutsu Province. The area was later ruled by the Abe clan until their destruction during the Former Nine Years War at the hands of the Minamoto and Kiyohara clans. The Kiyohara were in turn defeated in the Gosannen War and the area came under the control of the Ōshū Fujiwara Clan based in Hiraizumi, to the south of Morioka. After the Ōshū Fujiwara were destroyed by Minamoto no Yoritomo at the start of the Kamakura period, the area was disputed by several samurai clans until the Nanbu clan, based in Sannohe to the north, expanded their territory during the Sengoku period and built Kozukata Castle in 1592.

Following the Battle of Sekigahara and the formal recognition of Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate, Kozukata Castle was renamed Morioka Castle.{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Dijitaru Daijisen | script-title = ja:不来方 | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2013-02-01 | year = 2013 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = ja | trans-title = Kozukata | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }} Its name was changed from {{Nihongo2|森岡}} to {{Nihongo2|盛岡}} (both read as "Morioka"){{Cite web |url=http://www.bunka.pref.iwate.jp/seikatsu/chimei/data/shimei.html |title=【地名の由来】市名 |access-date=2013-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316201021/http://www.bunka.pref.iwate.jp/seikatsu/chimei/data/shimei.html |archive-date=2014-03-16 |url-status=dead }} During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration, Morioka Domain was a key member of the pro-Tokugawa Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei.

After the start of the Meiji period, the former Morioka Domain became Morioka Prefecture in 1870, and part of Iwate Prefecture from 1872. With the establishment of the modern municipality system on April 1, 1889, the city of Morioka was established as the capital of Iwate Prefecture. The city was connected by train to Tokyo in 1890. The city emerged from World War II with very little damage, having been subject to only two minor air raids during the war.[http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/daijinkanbou/sensai/situation/state/tohoku_02.html Ministry of Home Affairs of Japan] {{in lang|ja}}

On January 10, 2006, the village of Tamayama was merged into Morioka. Morioka was proclaimed a core city in 2008, with increased local autonomy.

During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Morioka was hit by a 6.1 earthquake, and numerous aftershocks, but with little damage other than extensive power outages.http://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-61-magnitude-quake-hits-near-morioka-japan-2011-03-11 - retrieved March 14, 2011

File:Morioka City Hall.jpg

Morioka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 38 members. Morioka contributes ten seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Iwate first district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

• Iwate Medical University
• Iwate University

Morioka has eight public high schools operated by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education.

• Morioka First High School
• Morioka Second High School
• Morioka Third High School
• Morioka Fourth High School
• Morioka South High School
• Morioka Agricultural High School
• Morioka Industrial High School
• Morioka Commercial High School

There is also one public high school operated by the city government and ten private high schools

22px East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Shinkansen

• Morioka Station

22px East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line

• {{STN|Iwate-Iioka|x}} - {{STN|Senbokuchō|x}} - Morioka

22px East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tazawako Line (Akita Shinkansen)

• Morioka - Maegata

22px East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Yamada Line

• Morioka - {{STN|Kamimorioka|x}} - {{STN|Yamagishi|x}} - {{STN|Kamiyonai|x}}

22px East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Hanawa Line

• Morioka - {{STN|Kōma|x|Iwate}}

20px Iwate Ginga Railway Line

• Morioka – {{STN|Aoyama|x|Iwate}} – {{STN|Kuriyagawa|x}} – {{STN|Shibutami|x}} – {{STN|Kōma|x|Iwate}}

• {{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E4}} – Morioka-Minami IC, Morioka IC
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|4}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|46}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|106}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|281}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|282}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|396}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|455}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|456}}

• The Iwate Museum of Art in Morioka displays works by three notable local artists, Tetsugoro Yorozu, Shunsuke Matsumoto and Yasutake Funakoshi, as well as holding exhibitions on national and international themes.
• Rock-Breaking Cherry Tree - designated a natural monument of Japan.
• Iwate Prefectural Museum
• Site of Morioka Castle, National Historic Site[https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/401/141 Morioka Castle Ruins] Agency for Cultural Affairs {{in lang|ja}}
• Shiwa Castle ruins, National Historic Site{{cite web|url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/171335|title=志波城跡 しわじょうあと|work=Cultural Heritage Online|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|language=ja|access-date=25 December 2016}} {{in lang|ja}}
• Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building, Important Cultural Property{{cite web|url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/184246|title=岩手銀行（旧盛岡銀行）旧本店本館|work=Cultural Heritage Online|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|language=ja|access-date=25 April 2020}} {{in lang|ja}}
• Morioka Hachimangū

• Iwate Morioka Stadium
• Morioka Racecourse
• Morioka Takaya Arena

• Iwate Big Bulls, basketball team
• Iwate Grulla Morioka, football team

File:Sansa Odori 3.JPG

• Hōon-ji is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple which was originally built at Sannohe by the 13th lord of the Nambu clan, Nambu Moriyuki, in 1394, and brought to Morioka by the 27th lord, Nambu Toshinao. It was considered the head temple among the 280 operated by the Nambu clan. A notable feature is the Rakan-dō, built in 1735 and rebuilt in 1858. Its central statue Rushana butsu is reported to be made by Kōbō-daishi. Within the Rakan-dō are statues of the 500 Rakan, which were made in Kyoto and later brought to Morioka. Included are representations of Kublai Khan and Marco Polo. It is an active Zen training temple for monks.
• Mitsuishi Jinja is a Shinto shrine which has three large rocks on the grounds with shackles around them to represent the story of 'Oni no tegata', which is a legend explaining the origin of the name of Iwate prefecture. According to the legend, there was once an Oni or demon who often tormented and harassed the local people. When the people prayed to the spirit of Mitsuishi for protection, the demon was immediately shackled to the rocks and made to promise never to trouble the people again. As a sign of this promise, the demon left a handprint on one of the rocks, thus giving rise to the name Iwate, literally meaning "rock hand".
• Morioka Hachiman Shrine
• Sakurayama is a Shinto shrine 20 feet above (6 meters) featuring a massive rock.{{clarify|reason="above" what|date=May 2018}}

Morioka attracts tourists with local noodles such as jajamen, reimen, and wanko soba. Brewing is also a thriving industry of the city. Nambu senbei, a type of rice cracker, is considered a local specialty.

File:じゃじゃ麺.jpg|Morioka jajamen

File:Morioka_Reimen2.jpg|Morioka reimen

File:Wanko_soba.jpg|Wanko soba

• Iwate Asahi Television
• Iwate Broadcasting Company
• Iwate Menkoi Television
• Iwate Nippo
• Television Iwate

• {{flagdeco|Canada}} Victoria, British Columbia, Canada {{cite web|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=03&n=Iwate%20Prefecture|title=International Exchange|work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)|language=en|access-date=21 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222103408/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=03&n=Iwate%20Prefecture|archive-date=22 December 2015}} (sister city since 1985)

{{More citations needed section|date=July 2013}}

• The Great Sasuke, professional wrestler
• Takuboku Ishikawa, poet
• Takuya Kawamura, professional basketball player
• Yusei Kikuchi, professional baseball player
• Taka Michinoku, professional wrestler
• Yōko Mihara, actress
• Milano Collection A.T., professional wrestler{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/prof/mirano.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618201640/http://www.njpw.co.jp/prof/mirano.html |script-title=ja:ミラノコレクションA.T.|trans-title=Milano Collection A.T.|archive-date=2010-06-18|access-date=2014-02-03|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|language=ja}}
• Inazō Nitobe, author, educator, diplomat, and politician during the Meiji period and Taishō period
• Mitsuo Ogasawara, footballer
• Takatō Ōshima, engineer - made the first Western-style cannon in Japan
• Mikoi Sasaki, actress
• Yota Sato (boxer), professional boxer
• Hara Takashi, former Prime Minister of Japan{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Spencer |date=2005 |title=World War I: Encyclopedia, Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YqjfHLyyj8C&q=Hara%20Takashi%20morioka&pg=PA539 |page=539 |location=Santa Barbara |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1851094202}}
• Nishikigi Tetsuya, sumo wrestler
• Mitsumasa Yonai, former Prime Minister of Japan

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Morioka, Iwate}}

• {{wikivoyage-inline|Morioka}}
• [http://www.city.morioka.iwate.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Iwate}}

{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}

{{Most populous cities in Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Iwate Prefecture