[For Seniors] Liven Things Up! 3-Choice Ranking Quiz

Nagasaki Prefecture (Japan’s Coastline Length | Japan Maritime Public Relations Association）

Because Hokkaido is so large, it’s easy to imagine that it has a long coastline. Nagasaki, however, doesn’t have a strong image of size, so its coastline length might come as a surprise. The reason for its long coastline is the large number of islands—about 40 in total, including Tsushima and Iki. You could say it’s a prefecture that has developed alongside the sea, with each of these islands being popular tourist destinations.

Kochi PrefectureForest Area | Prefectural Data Ranking）

With 84% of the prefecture covered by forests, it ranks among Japan’s leading forested prefectures, and a variety of initiatives are underway to make use of its rich natural environment. Thanks to its long history as forestland, it also yields sturdy logs imbued with history—another key point—making it an area where the forestry industry is thriving.

Oita Prefecture

It’s said that Oita Prefecture has over 5,000 hot spring sources. They account for about 20% of all sources in Japan, and the prefecture is known as one of Japan’s leading “onsen prefectures.” The municipalities with the most hot spring sources, in order, are Beppu City, Yufu City, and Kokonoe Town.

Saga Prefecture

Nori (seaweed) is a signature ingredient of Saga Prefecture. The Ariake Sea, into which many rivers flow and which is rich in nutrients, is very well suited to nori farming. Incidentally, Hyogo Prefecture ranks second and Fukuoka Prefecture third in nori production. The amount of nori harvested in these three prefectures accounts for about 60% of all nori produced in Japan.

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture has the highest matsutake mushroom harvest in Japan. Within Nagano, Ueda City is known as one of the leading matsutake-producing areas in the prefecture. The matsutake harvest peaks in September. The first of the season typically appears around July, and the season is said to end around October.

Mie Prefecture

The answer is Mie Prefecture. The prefectural capital of Mie is Tsu City. Since its name is a single hiragana character, “tsu,” it’s the shortest among all prefectural capitals in Japan. Incidentally, the prefectural capitals of Ibaraki and Shiga are Mito City and Ōtsu City, respectively.

Chiba Prefecture

Chiba Prefecture ranks second for liking white rice, and it seems many people there also like yogurt. Perhaps these two foods help keep them in good condition. In prefectures that rank high for liking greasy foods and sweet drinks, or for overeating, there appear to be many people with weak stomachs and intestines.