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

Iwate Prefecture

It is said that Iwate Prefecture accounts for about 30% of Japan’s total charcoal production. Charcoal production flourished there because Iwate has an abundance of oak trees such as konara and kunugi, which are used as raw materials for charcoal. It is believed that charcoal has been produced in Iwate since the Heian period.

Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture has the most National Treasure buildings in Japan. Sixty-four buildings are designated as National Treasures. Nara ranks first in Japan for both National Treasure buildings and sculptures. Horyuji and Todaiji are well known, aren’t they? I’ve heard that the prefectures with the most National Treasures, in order, are Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara.

Iwate Prefecture

It’s valued because it’s easy to grow even in cold regions and can be preserved as pickles or dried daikon. In Iwate Prefecture, it’s said that people eat 5.35 of them per person per year. However, in recent years, opportunities to make pickles have decreased, and consumption has been declining.

Iwate Prefecture

Hokkaido has the largest area in Japan, and Iwate Prefecture is the second largest. Its area is 15,275 square kilometers. By the way, Fukushima Prefecture is the third largest. Although Iwate’s population isn’t very large, its area is indeed very large.

Nagasaki Prefecture

The prefecture with the largest number of islands in Japan is Nagasaki Prefecture, located in the Kyushu region. In 2022, when the government recounted Japan’s islands for the first time in 35 years, it announced that Nagasaki Prefecture has 1,479 islands among the more than 10,000 across the country. Nagasaki is home to islands of historical significance and tourism interest, such as the Goto Islands and Hashima, better known as “Gunkanjima” (Battleship Island). If you have the chance to visit Nagasaki, consider stopping by these islands.

Shimane Prefecture

Shimane Prefecture has the fewest universities in Japan, with two: Shimane University and the University of Shimane. Among all prefectures, as of the 2020 academic year, Shimane is the only one without any private universities. The prefecture with the most universities is Tokyo, which had 138 universities as of 2014. In addition, the university with the largest number of students is said to be Nihon University.

Wakayama Prefecture

In the 2023 mandarin orange production rankings, Wakayama Prefecture is first, Ehime Prefecture is second, and Shizuoka Prefecture is third. It’s said that Wakayama, Ehime, and Shizuoka together account for over 50% of Japan’s mandarin orange production. While Wakayama and Ehime are famous for mandarins, Shizuoka and Kumamoto are also significant producing regions.