Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

The Tohoku Region of Japan, as Peter Sees It

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
14 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

The main Japanese island of Honshu is divided into five regions, which are (moving from west to east), Chugoku, where Hiroshima is located; the oddly-named Kinki region, more commonly known as Kansai, where Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka sit; Chubu in the middle, with Nagoya as the major urban center; Kanto, the large plain holding Tokyo, Yokohama and J-List’s home prefecture of Gunma; and Tohoku (lit. “east-north”), the sprawling region above Tokyo. It’s the Tohoku region that’s seen the majority of sadness from the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (as it’s been officially named), with most of the dead and displaced located here. Since this part of Japan was likely unknown to most people before this tragedy, I thought I’d talk a little bit about it.Back during my bachelor days I saw quite a lot of Japan, and hitchhiked or took the train up to the Tohoku area many times, in part because it was relatively close by (just a couple hours from Gunma), and also because I’ve always been fascinated with enka, (iTunes Japan link), the “country music” of Japan. Just as country & western was born in the American south, enka is closely associated with the less urbanized Tohoku region, and I always loved these eerily beautiful sad songs. The Tohoku region was the domain of the Ainu, the aboriginal inhabitants of Japan, who were slowly absorbed as the “Yamato” Japanese civilization spread northward from Kyoto. The Ainu left their mark mainly on the accents of the region (they’re among the most colorful in Japan, and darned difficult for me to understand) and in place names that sound strange to the ear, written with kanji characters no one from Tokyo can read. I spent my first Japanese Christmas in Sendai (being from San Diego, I wanted to go somewhere where I could see snow), and was very impressed with the efficient, bustling provincial city of 1 million people, especially with its straight, wide streets. (I would later learn that Japanese cities with wide streets indicates cities that were heavily bombed during World War II, while cities that avoided large-scale bombing have narrow, inconvenient streets today.) The city of Sendai was founded by one of the most enigmatic characters in Japanese history, Masamune Date (dah-tay), the one-eyed samurai lord who was fascinated with Western technology, built Japan’s first Western-style sailing ship, sent a trade delegation to Rome via Mexico, and provided the inspiration for a character you might have heard of named Darth Vader. I can’t wait to see how awesome the city is once it gets back on its feet!

Some information on the Tohoku region of Japan.

Tags: earthquakehistoryTouhoku

More Posts Like This

Is A Nankai Megathrust Coming? Japan On Edge After Last Week's Earthquake
Your Friend in Japan

Is a Nankai Megathrust Coming? Japan on Edge after Last Week’s Earthquake

by Peter Payne
10 months ago

Japan is on edge after last week's magnitude 7.1 earthquake, which shook up Miyazaki Prefecture in the country's southernmost island...

Earthquakes In Japan
Your Friend in Japan

Earthquakes in Japan! What Happens When Japan Experiences a Disaster?

by Peter Payne
1 year ago

Japan started the year off on a sad note as a major earthquake struck the country on Jan 1st. Let's...

Isoroku Yamamoto From Zipang

Why Did I Watch a Film About Isoroku Yamamoto on Pearl Harbor Day?

1 year ago
Western Tourist Who Paid To Take A Photo With Samurai Armor Blog

Meet the First Weeb in History, Complete With Samurai Armor

2 years ago
Vinland Saga Season 2

Vinland Saga Ends! Why Was This Anime ‘Peak Fiction’?

2 years ago
Vinland Saga Season 2

Seven Reasons to Watch Vinland Saga!

2 years ago
Next Post
Screen Shot 2019 03 30 At 1.22.04

People who Give to Japan are Cool

Trending Today

Please Put Them On Takamine San PV2 5
News

The Power of No Panties, Please Put Them On, Takamine-san

3 months ago
Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
News

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime and Where to Watch Them

2 months ago
Haite Kudasai, Takamine San Episode 4 Featured Image
Featured

Haite Kudasai, Takamine-san, Episode 4 — Choose Your Own Adventurous Lingerie!

3 days ago
Shock! Manga Artists Who Also Created Hentai
Your Friend in Japan

Shock! 15 Famous Manga Artists Who Also Made Hentai

1 year ago
Nin Koro Web Cover
Featured

NinKoro — How to Get Away with Murder Ft Busty & Kawaii Waifus

1 month ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Happy News! J List's Fiscal Year End Sale Gives You The Best Anime Deals
Your Friend in Japan

Don’t Miss the Best Anime Deals in J-List’s Fiscal Year-End Clearance!

by Peter Payne
May 19, 2025

Fighting Words (and Spirit) Are Why You Should Watch Wind Breaker

Yandere Dark Elf, Episode 4 — Reverse Isekai Reunion Jams Up Love Nest!

Can Kowloon Generic Romance Awaken Nostalgia for a Past You Never Lived?

Criminals Beware Detectives These Days Are Crazy!

Makina-san a Love Bot?!, Episode 7 — I Swear It’s Eye Candy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.