Yamagata

Yamagata Prefecture is a prefecture placed inside the Tohoku region of Japan. The aboriginal Ezo humans once inhabited the area now known as Yamagata. Yamagata and Akita Prefecture have been referred to as Dewa Province until the Meiji Restoration.During the Heian length 794–1185, the Fujiwara family dominated the location. Yamagata City flourished in the course of the Edo period 1603–1867 due to its reputation as a castle metropolis and publish station, famous for beni crimson safflower dye used in the production of handspun silk.

In 1689, the well-known haiku poet, Matsuo Basho visited Yamagata throughout his 5-month journey to the northern areas of Japan. Yamagata Prefecture has some of annual festivals and activities. The biggest is the hanagasa matsuri which takes place in Yamagata City on the first weekend in August, whilst heaps of human beings carry out the hanagasa dance in the town centre and attracts as much as 300,000 spectators. Yamagata City is the house of the bi-annual Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival in October.