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Aomori, Japan

Aomori Prefecture
青森県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 青森県
 • Rōmaji Aomori-ken
Flag of Aomori Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Aomori Prefecture
Symbol of Aomori Prefecture
Location of Aomori Prefecture
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Island Honshu
Capital Aomori
Government
 • Governor Shingo Mimura
Area
 • Total 9,606.26 km2 (3,709.00 sq mi)
Area rank 8th
Population (2010-10-01)
 • Total 1,373,164
 • Rank 31st
 • Density 154/km2 (400/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-02
Districts 8
Municipalities 40
Flower Apple blossom (Malus domestica)
Tree Hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata)
Bird Bewick's swan (Cygnus bewickii)
Website www.pref.aomori.lg.jp

Aomori Prefecture (青森県 Aomori-ken?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region. The capital is the city of Aomori.

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as the northern part of Mutsu Province.

During the Edo period the Hirosaki clan began building a seaport at the current city of Aomori. There were green woods near the city which were used as landmarks for the ships that came into port. These green woods called aoi-mori is where Aomori got its name. The prefecture came into existence in 1871. The town of Aomori was established in 1889. The town was incorporated as a city in 1898 with a population of 28,000. On May 3, 1910 a fire broke out in the Yasukata district. Fanned by strong winds, the fire quickly devastated the whole city. The conflagration claimed 26 lives and injured a further 160 residents. It destroyed 5,246 houses and burnt 19 storage sheds and 157 warehouses. At 10:30 p.m. on July 28, 1945 a squadron of American B29 bombers bombed over 90% of the city.

Radio Aomori (RAB) made its first broadcast in 1951. Four years later, the first fish auctions were held. 1958 saw the completion of the Municipal Fish Market as well as the opening of the Citizen's Hospital. In the same year, the Tsugaru Line established a rail connection with Minmaya Village at the tip of the peninsula.

Various outlying towns and villages were incorporated into the growing city and with the absorption of Nonai Village in 1962, Aomori became the largest city in the prefecture.

In March 1985, after 23 years of labor and a financial investment of 700 billion yen, the Seikan Tunnel finally linked the islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō, thereby becoming the longest tunnel of its kind in the world. Almost exactly three years later, on March 13, railroad service was inaugurated on the Tsugaru Kaikyo Line.


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