Akita Prefecture Day

What Is Akita Prefecture Day?

Every August 29th is "Akita Prefecture Day" (秋田県の記念日, Akita-ken no Kinenbi) in Japan. The name "Akita Prefecture" was first used on the 14th day of the 7th month of Meiji 4 -- August 29, 1871, on the modern calendar -- when the "Abolition of Domains and Establishment of Prefectures" (廃藩置県, haihan chiken) took place. Akita Prefecture established the day in 1965 to encourage residents to look back on their prefecture's history and to nurture pride in their home region and a sense of self-government.

How "Akita Prefecture" Was Born

Today's Akita Prefecture took shape through the abolition of domains and the mergers of prefectures that followed.

• Five prefectures created: On August 29, 1871 (modern calendar), the Kubota (Akita) Domain became Akita Prefecture, and Honjo, Iwasaki, Kameda and Yashima Prefectures were created alongside it.
• Merged within the same year: In December 1871 (modern calendar), these five prefectures were combined with Kazuno District from Esashi Prefecture and other areas to form a new Akita Prefecture, with roughly today's borders.
• Origin of the name "Akita": The "Nihon Shoki" records that Abe no Hirafu visited the area in 658 and wrote it as "Agita" (齶田). This is considered the beginning of the name "Akita." One theory says it refers to terrain shaped like a jaw (ago).

Events for Prefecture Day

Around Prefecture Day, the prefecture has offered free admission to its cultural, sports and tourist facilities and opened up prefectural facilities not normally open to the public. It gives residents a chance to get to know Akita's history and facilities.

Fun Facts About Akita

• Lake Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake: With a maximum depth of 423.4 meters, it is the deepest lake in Japan.
• "Akitakomachi" rice: Bred by crossing Koshihikari with "Ou No. 292," it was adopted as a recommended variety by Akita Prefecture in 1984.
• Oga no Namahage: In this New Year's Eve tradition, masked figures visit homes in each community. It is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, and in 2018 it was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as part of "Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes."
• The Korakukan theater: Korakukan in the town of Kosaka is a wooden playhouse built in 1910 as a welfare facility for workers of the Kosaka Mine. Combining a Western-style exterior with a traditional Japanese interior, it is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
• Kiritanpo and magewappa: "Kiritanpo," mashed rice wrapped around cedar skewers and grilled, is a well-known local dish of northern Akita, and "Odate Magewappa" bentwood boxes made from Akita cedar are a nationally designated traditional craft.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Try Akita dishes such as kiritanpo hot pot or iburigakko (smoked pickled radish)
• Look up what prefecture your own area became when the domains were abolished
• Add Lake Tazawa or the Oga Peninsula to your list of places to visit
• Ask a coworker or friend from Akita for their local recommendations

Looking Back on More Than 150 Years of Akita

August 29th is the day the name "Akita Prefecture" was born when the domains were abolished. Just as today's Akita came from merging several prefectures, every region has a history behind its present shape. Today, why not enjoy a taste of Akita and also take a look at how your own town came to be?