Niigata Prefecture

{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}}

{{redirect|Niigata, Japan|the city|Niigata (city)}}

{{Expand Japanese|新潟県|date=December 2016}}

{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Niigata Prefecture

| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|新潟県}}}}

| settlement_type = Prefecture

| translit_lang1 = Japanese

| translit_lang1_type = Japanese

| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|新潟県}}

| translit_lang1_type1 = Rōmaji

| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Niigata-ken}}

| image_skyline = {{Multiple image

| border = infobox

| total_width = 290

| image_style = border:1;

| perrow = 2/2/2

| image1 = 東光寺駅付近の風景 - panoramio (1).jpg

| caption1 = Echigo Plain

| image2 = Akakura_Onsen_Ski_Area.jpg

| caption2 = Ski Resort in Myōkō

| image3 = 二ツ亀.jpg

| caption3 = Futatsugame in Sado Island

| image4 = 160717 Tsukioka Onsen Shibata Niigata pref Japan02s3.jpg

| caption4 = Tsukioka Onsen

| image5 = Find47 Niigata-Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel-m.jpg

| caption5 = Kiyotsu Gorge

| image6 = Iyahiko-jinja 1.JPG

| caption6 = Yahiko Shrine

}}

| image_flag = Flag of Niigata Prefecture.svg

| flag_size = 100px

| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Niigata Prefecture.svg

| blank_emblem_size = 70px

| blank_emblem_type = Seal

| image_map = Map of Japan with highlight on 15 Niigata prefecture.svg

| coordinates =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Japan}}

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Chūbu (Kōshinetsu) (Hokuriku)

| subdivision_type2 = Island

| subdivision_name2 = Honshu

| seat_type = Capital

| seat = Niigata

| parts_type = Subdivisions

| parts_style = para

| p1 = Districts: 9

| p2 = Municipalities: 30

| leader_title = Governor

| leader_name = Hideyo Hanazumi

| area_total_km2 = 12584.18

| area_water_percent = 0.2

| area_rank = 5th

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 2131009

| population_as_of = July 1, 2023

| population_rank = 15th

| population_density_km2 = auto

| demographics_type2 = GDP

| demographics2_footnotes = {{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算(2015年基準・2008SNA) : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}

| demographics2_title1 = Total

| demographics2_info1 = JP¥ 9,185 billion
US$ 84.3 billion (2019)

| iso_code = JP-15

| website = {{URL|http://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/}}

| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes

| country = Japan

| bird = Crested ibis (Nipponia nippon)

| fish =

| flower = Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana)

| tree = Camellia (Camellia japonica)

}}

| anthem = Niigata kenminka

}}

{{Nihongo|Niigata Prefecture|新潟県|Niigata-ken}} is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Niigata-ken" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|Japan Encyclopedia, p. 711|page=711}} Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 (1 July 2023) and is the fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area at {{cvt|12,584.18|sqkm}}. Niigata Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the southwest, Gunma Prefecture to the south, Fukushima Prefecture to the east, and Yamagata Prefecture to the northeast.

Niigata is the capital and largest city of Niigata Prefecture, with other major cities including Nagaoka, Jōetsu, and Sanjō.Nussbaum, "Niigata" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 711|page=711}} Niigata Prefecture contains the Niigata Major Metropolitan Area centered on Niigata with a population of 1,395,612, the largest metropolitan area on the Sea of Japan coast and the twelfth-largest in Japan. Niigata Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region and features Sado Island, the sixth largest island of Japan in area following the four main islands and Okinawa Island.

History

{{See also|Historic Sites of Niigata Prefecture}}

{{stack|File:Linsenji 1.jpg}}

Until after the Meiji Restoration, the area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province (on the mainland) and Sado Province.Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}} During the Sengoku period, the Nagao clan, who were at times vassals to the Uesugi, ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata from Kasugayama Castle. The most notable member of the Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora, later and better known as Uesugi Kenshin. He unified the leaders of Echigo Province and became its sole ruler. By taking the surname Uesugi, he also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively brought their realm under his control.

The city of Niigata is now the third largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan, after Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. It was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry. It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea. A freighter from North Korea visits Niigata once a month, in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country.

The Etsuzankai organization, led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in the 1960s and 1970s. These included the Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo.

On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture and was measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya.

On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm struck the prefecture and its neighbors. At least 71 people died and more than 1,000 were injured. Also in 2006, a massive tsunami and earthquake damaged homes and caused casualties in the maritime areas of Niigata Prefecture, especially near Sado Island.

On July 16, 2007, another earthquake hit the area.

Niigata Prefecture hosts the Fuji Rock Festival, an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort. The three-day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians. It is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005.

Geography

{{stack|clear=true|

File:Map of Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Nagaoka from the sky.jpg

File:Oyashirazu tenkendangai.jpg]]

}}

Niigata Prefecture stretches about {{cvt|240.|km}} along the Sea of Japan, from the southwest to the northeast, with a coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado Island. Niigata Prefecture could be placed in either the Hokuriku or the Kōshinetsu, both of which are considered parts of the Chūbu region.

The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas: {{nihongo|Jōetsu region|上越}} in the south, {{nihongo|Chūetsu|中越}} in the center, {{nihongo|Kaetsu|下越}} in the north, and Sado Island. The mouth of the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, is located in Niigata Prefecture.

As of 1 April 2014, 25% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely Bandai-Asahi, Chūbu-Sangaku, Nikkō, and Oze National Parks; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami and Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Parks; and thirteen Prefectural Natural Parks.{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=1 April 2014 |access-date=14 February 2015}}

NiigataCityOpenData_kuusatsu002.jpg|Port of Niigata in Niigata City

NiigataCityOpenData denen005.jpg|Echigo Plain

Myokousan_from_hiutiyama_1996_6_29.jpg|Mount Myōkō

Senkakuwan_20170416-2.jpg|Senkakuwan in Sado Island

Find47 Niigata-Hasagi-trees of winter (Odiya City)-m.jpg|Paddy fields and mountains in Ojiya in winter

=Cities=

{{See also|List of cities in Niigata Prefecture by population}}

Twenty cities are located in Niigata Prefecture:

class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="2" |Name

! rowspan="2" |Area (km2)

! rowspan="2" |Population

! rowspan="2" |Map

Rōmaji

!Kanji

File:Flag of Agano, Niigata.svg Agano

|阿賀野市

|192.74

|41,204

|File:Agano in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Gosen Niigata.svg Gosen

|五泉市

|351.91

|48,458

|File:Gosen in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Itoigawa, Niigata.svg Itoigawa

|糸魚川市

|746.24

|41,333

|File:Itoigawa in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Joetsu, Niigata.svg Jōetsu

|上越市

|973.81

|189,430

|File:Joetsu in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Kamo Niigata.svg Kamo

|加茂市

|133.72

|25,971

|File:Kamo in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Kashiwazaki, Niigata.svg Kashiwazaki

|柏崎市

|442.03

|81,836

|File:Kashiwazaki in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Minamiuonuma Niigata.svg Minamiuonuma

|南魚沼市

|584.55

|55,354

|File:Minamiuonuma in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Mitsuke, Niigata.svg Mitsuke

|見附市

|77.91

|39,908

|File:Mitsuke in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Murakami Niigata.svg Murakami

|村上市

|1,174.26

|58,300

|File:Murakami in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Myoko Nigata.svg Myōkō

|妙高市

|445.63

|31,374

|File:Myoko in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Nagaoka, Niigata.svg Nagaoka

|長岡市

|891.06

|266,539

|File:Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Niigata, Niigata.svg Niigata (capital)

|新潟市

|726.45

|797,591

|File:Niigata in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Ojiya Niigata.svg Ojiya

|小千谷市

|155.19

|34,704

|File:Ojiya in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Sado, Niigata.svg Sado

|佐渡市

|855.26

|55,474

|File:Sado in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Sanjo, Niigata.svg Sanjō

|三条市

|431.97

|95,706

|File:Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Shibata, Niigata.svg Shibata

|新発田市

|533.1

|96,236

|File:Shibata in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Tainai Niigata.svg Tainai

|胎内市

|264.89

|28,495

|File:Tainai in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Tokamachi Niigata.svg Tōkamachi

|十日町市

|590.39

|53,333

|File:Tokamachi in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Tsubame, Niigata.svg Tsubame

|燕市

|110.96

|77,382

|File:Tsubame in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Uonuma, Niigata.svg Uonuma

|魚沼市

|946.76

|35,027

|File:Uonuma in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

=Towns and villages=

These are the towns and villages in each district:

class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="2" |Name

! rowspan="2" |Area (km2)

! rowspan="2" |Population

! rowspan="2" |District

! rowspan="2" |Type

! rowspan="2" |Map

Rōmaji

!Kanji

File:Flag of Aga, Niigata.svg Aga

|阿賀町

|952.89

|10,386

|Higashikanbara District

|Town

|File:Aga in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Awashimaura, Niigata.svg Awashimaura

|粟島浦村

|9.78

|353

|Iwafune District

|Village

|File:Awashimaura in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Izumozaki, Niigata.svg Izumozaki

|出雲崎町

|44.38

|4,190

|Santō District

|Town

|File:Izumozaki in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Kariwa, Niigata.svg Kariwa

|刈羽村

|26.27

|4,578

|Kariwa District

|Village

|File:Kariwa in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Seiro, Niigata.svg Seirō

|聖籠町

|37.58

|14,025

|Kitakanbara District

|Town

|File:Seiro in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Sekikawa, Niigata.svg Sekikawa

|関川村

|299.61

|5,291

|Iwafune District

|Village

|File:Sekikawa in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Tagami, Niigata.svg Tagami

|田上町

|31.71

|11,481

|Minamikanbara District

|Town

|File:Tagami in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Tsunan, Niigata.svg Tsunan

|津南町

|170.21

|9,349

|Nakauonuma District

|Town

|File:Tsunan in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Yahiko, Niigata.svg Yahiko

|弥彦村

|25.17

|7,824

|Nishikanbara District

|Village

|File:Yahiko in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

File:Flag of Yuzawa, Niigata (white).svg Yuzawa

|湯沢町

|357.29

|7,926

|Minami-Uonuma District

|Town

|File:Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg

=Mergers=

{{main|List of mergers in Niigata Prefecture}}

List of governors of Niigata Prefecture (from 1947)

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

  • Shohei Okada (岡田正平) - from 15 April 1947 to 29 April 1955
  • Kazuo Kitamura (北村一男) - from 30 April 1955 to 30 November 1961
  • Toichiro Tsukada (塚田十一郎) - from 7 December 1961 to 28 March 1966
  • Shiro Watari (亘四郎) - from 8 May 1966 to 30 April 1974
  • Takeo Kimi (君健男) - from 1 May 1974 to 19 April 1989

{{col-2}}

  • Kiyoshi Kaneko (金子清) - from 4 June 1989 to 9 September 1992
  • Ikuo Hirayama (平山征夫) - from 25 October 1992 to 24 October 2004
  • Hirohiko Izumida (泉田裕彦) - from 25 October 2004 to 24 October 2016
  • Ryuichi Yoneyama (米山隆一) - from 25 October 2016 to 27 April 2018
  • Hideyo Hanazumi (花角英世) - from 12 June 2018 to present

{{col-end}}

Economy

=Agriculture, forestry and fishing=

File:400dpi (800x538) 魚沼産コシヒカリ 航空写真.jpg

The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata ranks first in rice output, followed by Hokkaido and Akita.{{Cite web |url=https://www.komenet.jp/faq/ot_kenbetu.html |title= お米Q&A : お米の都道府県別生産量上位10位はどこですか? - 米ネット|author= |date= |website= |publisher= |access-date= December 15, 2024|quote=}} The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan.

Rice-related industries are also very important to the prefectural economy. Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake, senbei, mochi, and arare. In sake production, the prefecture comes third after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures.

The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp known as koi.

Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azaleas and cut lilies in Japan, and is increasing the production of cut flowers and flower bulbs. Along with Toyama Prefecture, it produces the highest volume of tulips in the country.

=Mining and manufacturing=

File:史跡佐渡金山_-_panoramio.jpg]]

Crude oil is produced in Niigata Prefecture, although Japan relies heavily on petroleum imported from other countries. Kerosene heaters are also produced for use in the cold Niigata winters.

Kinzan, on Sado Island, was an active gold mine until it was closed in 1989.

Sanjō and Tsubame produce 90 percent of all the silverware made in Japan. The two cities are second after Osaka in the production of scissors, kitchen knives, nail clippers and wrenches.

Niigata Prefecture may have been the first area in Japan to produce knitted textiles, although the earliest products may have been imported from China. A nuclear power plant, which formerly had the highest energy output in the world,{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} is located in the tiny village of Kariwa. It has been closed since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.{{cite news|title=Japanese Anti-nuclear Candidate Wins Election at Site of World's Biggest Atomic Power Station|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/japanese-anti-nuclear-candidate-wins-election-at-site-of-worlds-biggest-atomic-power-station|access-date=17 October 2016|agency=Reuters|work=The Guardian|date=17 October 2016}}

Demographics

File:Niigata prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg

{{historical populations|13=1890|14=1,693,727|15=1903|16=1,780,123|17=1913|18=1,911,308|19=1920|20=1,776,474|21=1925|22=1,849,807|23=1930|24=1,933,326|25=1935|26=1,995,777|27=1940|28=2,064,402|29=1945|30=2,389,653|31=1950|32=2,460,997|33=1955|34=2,473,492|35=1960|36=2,442,037|37=1965|38=2,398,931|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:[http://www.stat.go.jp/english/index.html Statistics Bureau of Japan]|39=1970|40=2,360,982|41=1975|42=2,391,938|43=1980|44=2,451,357|45=1985|46=2,478,470|47=1990|48=2,474,583|49=1995|50=2,488,364|51=2000|52=2,475,733|53=2005|54=2,431,459|55=2010|56=2,374,450|57=2015|58=2,305,098|59=2020|60=2,227,496|11=1880|12=1,546,338}}

In the Census of 2020, Niigata ranked as the 15th most populous prefecture. Its population decreased by 103,000 between 2015 and 2020 and this was the second largest decline after Hokkaido (157,000).{{Cite web |url=https://www.stat.go.jp/data/kokusei/2020/kekka/pdf/outline_01.pdf |title= 令和2年国勢調査 人口等基本集計結果 結果の概要|author= |date= |website= |publisher= Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau (Japan)|access-date= December 20, 2024|quote=}}

Culture

=Food=

File:Hegisoba_001.jpg

Niigata is known for the following regional specialities:

Tourism and sports

Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing, especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa, and going to onsen. Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata is accessible via ferry (taking one to two and a half hours) from Naoetsu or Niigata City.

Professional sports clubs include Albirex Niigata, a J-League Division 1 Football Club, and Niigata Albirex BB, a BJ (Basketball Japan) League team.

Naebatop.jpg|Naeba ski resort in Yuzawa

Iyahiko-jinja_1.JPG|Yahiko Shrine

Hotokusan_Inari_Taisha_Shrine_06.jpg|Hotokusan-inaritaisha shrine

Hasegawa Family Residence.jpg|Hasegawa Family Residence

Izumozaki_cityscape.jpg|Izumozaki-juku (Japanese historical highway Hokkokukaido)

Matunoyama_spa_Hinanoyado_Titose_roten.jpg|Matsunoyama Onsen

Tubame_spa_kawara_no_yu_2008.jpg|Tsubame Onsen

Sado_Shukunegi.jpg|Shukunegi district in Sado Island (Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings)

矢島経島たらい舟_-_panoramio.jpg|Tarai Bune in Sado Island

Bigswan stadium.jpg|Bigswan Stadium

Festivals

File:Nagaoka_Festival_Fireworks_2015_Phoenix_20150802.jpgs)]]

File:Takada_castle_ruins.JPG

  • Tokamachi Snow Festival- February
  • Murakami Taisai – July 6–7
  • Iwafune Taisai – October 18–19, in Murakami
  • Niigata Festival – August
  • Niigata General Dancing Event -September 21–25
  • Shirone Kite Festival – June
  • Sanjo Kite Festival – June
  • Nagaoka Festival (with fireworks) – August
  • Niigata Tanrei Sake-no-Jin - March
  • Echigo-Tsumari Festival - August and September (every third year){{cite web|url=http://www.echigo-tsumari.jp/eng/about/triennale_2015/|title=Triennale 2015 - Echigo-Tsumari Art Field|website=www.echigo-tsumari.jp}}

Education

= Universities =

Transport

= Rail =

=Roads=

==Expressways==

== National highways ==

=Ports=

  • Iwafune Port in Murakami- Ferry route to Awashima
  • Naoetsu Port in Joetsu - Ferry route to Ogi
  • Niigata Port – Ferry route to Sado Island (Ryotsu),{{Cite web|title=Access Map {{!}} 佐渡汽船公式サイト|url=https://www.sadokisen.co.jp/|access-date=2021-09-03|language=ja}} Tsuruga, Akita, Otaru and Tomakomai, with International Container hub port
  • Ogi Port - Ferry route to Naoetsu
  • Ryotsu Port – Ferry route to Niigata

=Airports=

Notable individuals

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

=Politics and military=

=Arts and culture=

  • Zeami Motokiyo (1363– 1443), aesthetician, actor, and playwright, exile to Sado Island
  • Ryōkan (1758–1831), Zen Buddhist monk and poet, from Izumozaki
  • Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto, (1874–1950), autobiographer and novelist, Professor of literature and taught Japanese language, culture and history at Columbia University, from Nagaoka
  • Yaichi Aizu (1881–1956), poet, calligrapher and historian, from Niigata City
  • Kokei Kobayashi (1883–1957), Nihonga painter, from Joetsu
  • Mimei Ogawa (1882–1961), author of short stories, children's stories, and fairy tales, from Joetsu
  • Koganei Yoshikiyo (1859–1944), anatomist and anthropologist, from Nagaoka
  • Kyusaku Ogino (1882-1975), doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, Niigata Takeyama Hospital
  • Kinichiro Sakaguchi (1897 – 1994), agricultural chemist and microbiologist, from Joetsu
  • Takashi Amano (1954-2015), photographer and aquarist, from Niigata
  • Tetsuji Morohashi (1883– 1982) chief editor of the Dai Kan-Wa jiten, a comprehensive dictionary of Chinese characters, from Sanjo
  • Tetsuo Harada (born 1949 Niitsu-shi), sculptor working in Paris France
  • Tsuchida Bakusen (1887–1936), Japanese painter, from Sado
  • Fubō Hayashi (1900–1935), novelist from Sado Island
  • Inoue Enryō (1858–1919), Buddhist philosopher, from Nagaoka
  • Junzaburō Nishiwaki (1894–1982), Japanese poet and literary critic, from Ojiya
  • Daigaku Horiguchi (1892-1981), poet and translator of French literature, from Nagaoka
  • Makoto Aida (born 1965), Artist, from Niigata City
  • Donald Keene (born 1922), Japanese scholar, historian, teacher, writer and translator of Japanese literature, Honorary Citizen of Kashiwazaki
  • Kodo (taiko group), Based in Sado

Actors, Actresses, Singers

  • Ken Watanabe (born 1959), stage, TV and film actor, from Uonuma{{Cite web |title=Ken Watanabe Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ken-Watanabe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818051145/https://www.britannica.com/facts/Ken-Watanabe |archive-date=2022-08-18 |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}
  • Princess Tenko (born 1959), magician, from Joetsu
  • Mina Fujii (born 1998), actress
  • Mikie Hara (born 1987), gravure idol and actress, from Murakami
  • Fumika Baba (born 1995), actress and model, from Niigata City
  • Maya Kobayashi (born 1979), journalist and newscaster, from Ojiya
  • Mao Kobayashi (actress) (born 1982), newscaster and former actress, from Ojiya
  • Miyuki Koizumi (born 1982), Model
  • Kazuyuki Sekiguchi (born 1955), bass player for the rock group Southern All Stars, from Agano
  • Makoto Ogawa (born 1987), former member of Morning Musume, actor and model, from Kashiwazaki
  • Koharu Kusumi (born 1992), former member of Morning Musume, actor and model, from Washima
  • Hitomi Saito (born 1981), former singer of leader of Melon Kinenbi, from Niigata City
  • Suneohair (born 1971), singer, from Nagaoka
  • Yasuyuki Okamura (born 1965), from Niigata Higashi High School
  • Double (singer), Japanese R&B singer
  • Negicco, based in Niigata City, Niigata
  • NGT48 based on Niigata City, Niigata
  • Rina Sawayama, singer and model, born in Niigata City, Niigata{{Cite news |last=Weiss |first=Alexandra |date=2018-08-02 |title=Rina Sawayama Is Not the Asian Britney Spears |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/style/rina-sawayama-pop-star.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210021400/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/style/rina-sawayama-pop-star.html |archive-date=2022-02-10 |issn=0362-4331}}

Pop culture, manga, voice actors

=Sports=

See also

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References

  • Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC Japan encyclopedia.] Cambridge: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition OCLC 58053128]