 Saga Prefecture (佐賀県, Saga-ken) - Located
in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It
touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The
western part of the prefecture is a region famous for
producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of
Karatsu, Imari, and Arita. The capital is the city of Saga.
Kyūshū's smallest prefecture, Saga is located on the
northwest corner of the island, bordered by the Genkai Sea
and the Tsushima Strait to the north and the Ariake Sea to
the south. Saga's proximity to mainland Asia has made it an
important gateway for the transmission of culture and trade
throughout Japanese history. Largely rural outside of the
two largest cities of Saga and Karatsu, agricultural and
forested lands comprise over 68% of the total prefectural
land area.
Northernmost point: Enuonohana, Kakarajima, Karatsu -
33°36′N, 129°51′E
Easternmost point: Iida-machi, Tosu - 33°23′N, 130°32′E
Southernmost point: Ōurakō, Tara - 32°57′N, 130°13′E
Westernmost point: Ōse, Madarashima, Karatsu - 33°34′N,
129°44′E
Geographical features
Plains
Saga Plains
Mountains
Sefuri Mountains, Tara Mountains
Mount Kyōga (1,076 m, the highest point in Saga), Mount
Sefuri (1,056 m), Tenzan (1,046 m), Taradake (996 m ), Mount
Ihara (962 m), Kinzan (957 m), Raizan (955 m), Mount Hagane
(900 m)
Rivers and lakes
Chikugo River (15.5 km in Saga), Kase River (57.5 km),
Matsuura River (45.3 km), Rokkaku River (43.6 km)
Hokuzan Dam, Kase River Dam
Seas
East China Sea: Ariake Sea, Isahaya Bay
Sea of Japan: Genkai Sea, Karatsu Bay, Imari Bay,
Peninsulas
Higashimatsuura Peninsula, part of Kitamatsuura Peninsula
Islands
Genkai Sea: Takashima, Kashiwajima, Ogawajima, Kakarajima,
Matsushima, Madarajima, Kabeshima, Mukushima
Ariake Sea: Okinoshima
Land use
Total area: 2439.31 km² ,
Forest, rough lands: 49.2% - 1/3 of the national average.
Forested area: 1096.9 km² - From 2000, 42nd in the country.
Arable land: 39.1% - 2 times the national average.
Residential: 6.8% - 1.4 times the national average.
Other: 4.9% - Roughly the same as the national average.
 In ancient times the area composed by Nagasaki Prefecture
and Saga Prefecture was called Hizen Province. The current
name dates from the Meiji Restoration. Rice farming culture
has prospered here since ancient times, and vestiges can be
seen at the ruins of Nabatake in Karatsu and the Yoshinogari
site in Yoshinogari.
Feudal period
From the Kamakura period to the Muromachi period it is
thought that over 100 feudal clans existed. Also exerting
great influence during this time was a samurai clan
operating along the Genkai Sea called the Matsuratō. Upon
entering the Sengoku period, the Ryūzōji clan expanded their
control to include all of Hizen and Chikugo Provinces, and
part of Higo and Chikuzen Provinces. After the death of
daimyo Takanobu Ryūzōji, Naoshige Nabeshima took control of
the political situation, and by 1607 all of the Ryūzōji
clan's domain was under the control of the Nabeshima clan.
In the Edo period this area was called the Saga Domain (佐賀藩
Saga-han), and it included three sub-domains: the Hasunoike,
Ogi and Kashima Domains. Also within the current borders of
Saga Prefecture during this time were the Karatsu Domain
(唐津藩 Karatsu-han) and two territories of the Tsushima-Fuchū
Domain (対馬府中藩 Tsushimafuchū-han). Saga Domain and its
sub-domains continued to be ruled by the Nabeshima clan, its
various illegitimate family lineages and members of the
former Ryūzōji clan, and politically the area was relatively
stable. However, the cost of defending Nagasaki was
increasing and, difficult from the start, the financial
situation was worsened by the great Kyōhō famine and the
Siebold Typhoon of 1828. Nevertheless, due to the large area
of reclaimed land from the Ariake Sea arable land was able
to increase significantly and by the 1840s the annual koku
of Saga Domain increased to about 670,000, twice that of 200
years before.
Around the middle of the 19th century, Naomasa Nabeshima
strove to set right the domain's financial affairs, reduce
the number of government officials, and encourage local
industry such as Arita porcelain, green tea, and coal. Also,
thanks to the proximity of the international port of
Nagasaki, new technologies were introduced from overseas,
such as the reverberatory furnace and models of steam
locomotives.
After the Boshin war, many people from Saga Domain assisted
in the Meiji Restoration. In the Meiji era the modernization
of coal mines in Kishima and Higashimatsuura districts,
among others, progressed bolstered by the construction of
railroads.
Agricultural, forestry, and coastal fisheries products form
a large portion of the prefectural economy. Regional
agricultural specialties include Saga beef, onions, and
strawberries. The prefecture is the largest producer of
mochigome (sticky rice) and greenhouse mandarin oranges in
Japan.
According to 2002 figures, regional trade exports are
focused primarily towards North America (29.3%), Western
Europe (26.1%), and the Newly Industrializing Economies of
South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore (19.9%).
Imports come principally from North America (40.6%), the
ASEAN nations (23.3%), and the People's Republic of China
(12.2%).
Arita, Imari and Karatsu are famous for the beautiful
porcelain that is created there. The top porcelain houses in
the country are located in these areas, including Imaemon
Porcelain, Genemon Porcelain and Fukagawa Porcelain.
Festivals
Saga International Balloon Fiesta
The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is held at the
beginning of November every year just outside of Saga City
along the Kase River. This is a very popular event and
attracts competitors from all over the world.
Karatsu Kunchi
The Karatsu Kunchi is held at the beginning of November in
Karatsu City. This is Saga's most famous festival and
attracts around 500,000 visitors every year.
Kashima Gatalympics
The Kashima Gatalympics is held every May in Hama Town, a
part of Kashima City. This event involves playing a variety
of sports in the mudflats of the Ariake Sea.
Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival
The Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival is held for 3 days every year
near the end of October. Located in Imari City, the festival
is one of the three great fighting festivals in Japan. In
the festival a crashing battle takes place between the two
huge portable shrines, the Ara-mikoshi and the Danjiri. The
name "Ton-Ten-Ton" represents the sound of drums used in the
festival.
Ten cities are located in Saga Prefecture:
Imari
Kanzaki
Karatsu
Kashima
Ogi
Saga (capital)
Takeo
Taku
Tosu
Ureshino
Information source: “Saga Prefecture.” wikipedia.org. Article
date: 3 Mar. 2008. Retrieved: Wikipedia. 4 Mar. 2008 <Saga Prefecture>. |
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