Tottori Prefecture

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**Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県 *Tottori-ken*)**
Image:Map of Japan with highlight on 31 Tottori 鳥取県.svg
Capital	Tottori (city)
Region	Chūgoku
Island	Honshū
Governor	Yoshihiro Katayama
Area	3,507.19 km² (41^st)
- % water	0.7%
Population (December 1, 2002)
- Population	618,727 (47^th)
- Density	176 /km²
Districts	5
Municipalities	19
ISO 3166-2	JP-31
Website	www.pref.tottori.jp/ english/
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Nijisseiki nashi pear blossom (Pyrus pyrifolia)
- Tree	Daisenkyaraboku (Taxus cuspidata)
- Bird	Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Image:PrefSymbol-Tottori.png Symbol of Tottori Prefecture

Image:Tottori sand dune p4 2430.jpg

The Tottori Sand Dunes.

Image:TottoriMapCurrent.png

Map of Tottori Prefecture.

Tottori Prefecture (鳥取県, Tottori-ken^?) is located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Culture
6 Sports
7 Tourism
8 Prefectural symbols
9 Miscellaneous topics
10 External links

History

Geography

Tottori is home to the Tottori Sand Dunes (鳥取砂丘; tottori-sakyū), Japan's only large dune system.

Cities

Four cities are located in Tottori Prefecture:

Towns and villages

Towns and villages in each district:

Hino District

Hino

Kōfu

Nichinan

Iwami District

Iwami

Saihaku District

Tōhaku District

Yazu District

Chizu

Wakasa

Yazu

Mergers

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On September 1, 2004 the towns of Tōhaku and Akasaki from Tōhaku District merged to form the new town of Kotoura.

On October 1, 2004 the towns of Saihaku and Aimi from Saihaku District merged to form the new town of Nanbu.

On October 1, 2004 the towns of Hawai and Tōgō and the village of Tomari (all from Tōhaku District) merged to form the new town of Yurihama.

On November 1, 2004 the municipalities of Fukube and Kokufu (from Iwami District), Aoya, Ketaka and Shikano (from Ketaka District) and Kawahara, Mochigase and Saji (from Yazu District) merged into the city of Tottori. Ketaka District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

On January 1, 2005 the towns of Mizokuchi from Hino District and Kishimoto from Saihaku District merged to form the new town of Hōki in Saihaku District.

On March 22, 2005 the town of Sekigane from Tōhaku District merged into the city of Kurayoshi.

On March 28, 2005 the towns of Nakayama, Daisen, and Nawa from Saihaku District merged to form the new town of Daisen.

On March 31, 2005 the towns of Kōge, Funaoka and Hattō from Yazu District merged to form the new town of Yazu.

On March 31, 2005, the city of Yonago merged with the town of Yodoe from Saihaku District to form the new city of Yonago.

On October 1, 2005 the towns of Daiei and Hōjō from Tōhaku District merged to form the new town of Hokuei.

Economy

Tottori Prefecture is heavily agricultural and its products are shipped to major cities. Some of the famous products are nashi pear, nagaimo, rakkyo, negi (shiro-negi, Welsh onion), and watermelon.

Demographics

Culture

Shan-shan festival

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Tottori.

Football (soccer)

Gainare Tottori (Yonago)

Tourism

Prefectural symbols

The symbol is derived from the first mora in Japanese for "と" combined with the picture of a flying bird, and symbolizes peace, liberty, and the advancement of the Tottori prefecture. It was enacted in 1968 to celebrate the 100^th year from the first year of the Meiji Era.