Okayama Prefecture

Prior to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the area of present-day Okayama Prefecture was divided between Bitchū, Bizen and Mimasaka Provinces. Okayama Prefecture was formed and named in 1871 as part of the large-scale administrative reforms of the early Meiji period (1868–1912), and the borders of the prefecture were set in 1876. == Geography ==

Okayama Prefecture borders Hyōgo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, and Hiroshima Prefecture. As of 1 April 2014, 11% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Daisen-Oki and Setonaikai National Parks; the Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park; and seven Prefectural Natural Parks. Cities Fifteen cities are located in Okayama Prefecture: Towns and villages These are the towns and villages in each district: Mergers ==Demographics==

Per Japanese census data, and, Okayama prefecture has had continual negative population growth since 2005 == Education ==

Universities • Okayama • Notre Dame Seishin University • Okayama Shoka University • Okayama University • Okayama University of Science • Sanyo Gakuen University • Shujitsu University • Shujitsu Junior College • Kurashiki • Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare • Kurashiki Sakuyo University • Okayama Gakuin University • Soja • Okayama Prefectural University • Tsuyama • Mimasaka University • Niimi • Niimi Public University High schools • Okayama • Kurashiki High School • Okayama Asahi Senior High School • Okayama Takahashi High School • Okayama Ichinomiya Senior High School • Okayama Hosen Senior High School • Okayama Joto Senior High School • Okayama Sakuyo High School • Okayama Sozan Senior High School == Transportation ==

Rail • JR West • Ako Line • Geibi Line • Inbi Line • Hakubi Line • Kibi Line • Kishin Line • Sanyo Shinkansen • Sanyo Line • Tsuyama Line • Uno Line • JR West and JR Shikoku • Honshi-bisan Line • Seto-Ōhashi Line • Chizu Express • Ibara Railway • Mizushima Rinkai Railway Tramways • Okayama Electric Tramway Roads Expressways • Chugoku Expressway • Okayama Expressway • Sanyo Expressway • Seto Central Expressway • Tottori Expressway • Yonago Expressway National highways • Route 2 (Osaka-Kobe-Himeji-Bizen-Okayama-Kurashiki-Asakuchi-Onomichi-Hiroshima-Shūnan-Shimonoseki-Kitakyushu) • Route 30 (Okayama-Uno-Takamatsu • Route 53 (Okayama-Tsuyama-Tottori) • Route 179 • Route 180 (Okayama-Takahashi-Niimi) • Route 181 (Tsuyama-Maniwa-Yonago-Yasugi-Matsue) • Route 182 • Route 183 • Route 250 (Okayama-Setouchi-Ako-Aioi-Takasago-Akashi) • Route 313 (Fukuyama-Takahashi-Maniwa-Kurayoshi) • Route 373 • Route 374 • Route 429 • Route 430 • Route 482 (Kyotango-Toyooka-Wakasa-Kagamino-Maniwa-Kōfu of Tottori • Route 484 Airport • Okayama Airport == Culture ==

• Bizen-yaki (Bizen pottery) • Bizen Osafune/Bitchu Aoe swords Association with Momotarō legend Okayama Prefecture is closely associated with the folklore hero, Momotarō. This tale is said to have roots in the legendary story of Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto and Ura which explains that the Prince Ura of Kudara used to live in Kinojo (castle of the devil) and was a cause of trouble for the people living in the village. The emperor's government sent Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto (Momotarō) to defeat Ura. The city of Okayama holds an annual Momotarō-matsuri, or Momotarō Festival. Arts • Inryoji Temple • Hayashibara Museum of Art • Okayama Orient Museum • Okayama Prefectural Museum • Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art • Okayama Symphony Hall • Yumeji Art Museum == Sports ==

. The sports teams listed below are based in Okayama. Football • Fagiano Okayama FC (Okayama city) • Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC (Kurashiki) Volleyball • Okayama Seagulls (Okayama city) Basketball • Tryhoop Okayama (B3 League, Okayama city) == Tourism ==

Some tourist attractions are: • , Kurashiki • , Ibara Town (following dissolution of Bisei Town) • Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, Takahashi • Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland, Kurashiki • Kakuzan Park, Tsuyama • Koraku-en Japanese garden in Okayama • Ki Castle, Sōja • Maki-do Cave, in Niimi • Ohara Museum of Art, Kurashiki • Okayama Castle, Okayama • Shizutani School, Bizen ==Notable people==

• Yuko Arimori (born 1966), marathon runner • Kenji Doihara (1883–1948), army officer • Tesshō Genda (born 1948), voice actor • Morihiro Hashimoto (1977–2017), darts player • Naoki Hoshino (1892–1978), politician • Koshi Inaba (born 1964), singer • Masaki Kajishima (born 1962), creator of Tenchi Muyo! • Shiro Kawase (1889–1946), admiral • Sadahiko Miyake (1891–1956), general • Chiura Obata (1885–1975), artist • Mori Takashi, former member of Gentouki • Yōji Takikawa (born 1949), pedagogist • Mutsuo Toi (1917–1938), perpetrator of the Tsuyama massacre • Inukai Tsuyoshi (1855–1932), former Prime Minister of Japan • Jiro Watanabe (born 1955), boxer • Takeo Yasuda (1889–1964), lieutenant general • Eisuke Yoshiyuki (1906–1940), author • Fujii Kaze (born 1997), singer • Nishimura Riki, also known as Ni-ki of ENHYPEN (born 2005), K-pop idol, dancer, singer, rapper • Issei Mamehara (born 2002), singer, dancer, member of JO1 ==Notes==