Trivia and fun facts about Niigata Prefecture: history, industries, and even some surprising national number ones?
In this article, we’ll be sharing lots of fun facts about Niigata Prefecture! From industry, agriculture, and history and culture to more casual topics like local gourmet foods, we’ve gathered a wide range of trivia related to Niigata.
We’ll also provide explanations for each piece of trivia throughout the article.
Please use this as a reference and deepen your knowledge! We think there will be things that even residents of Niigata will learn for the first time here, not just those from outside the prefecture—so please enjoy reading along.
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Trivia & Fun Facts about Niigata Prefecture: History, Industry, and Some Surprising Nation-Leading Facts? (11–20)
The name “Koshihikari” comes from an old name for Niigata Prefecture.
Koshihikari is strongly associated with Niigata Prefecture, partly thanks to the fame of Uonuma-grown Koshihikari.
However, Koshihikari actually originated in Fukui Prefecture, where it was also named.
To breed rice resistant to disease, varieties primarily cultivated in western Japan were crossed with leading Hokuriku varieties in Niigata Prefecture.
In Fukui, development progressed using seeds received from an experimental station.
The region that includes Niigata and Fukui was once called the Land of Koshi.
The name “Koshihikari” embodies the wish for a variety that would shine brightly in the Land of Koshi.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced a bunch of fun facts about Niigata Prefecture all at once. From industry and agriculture to local cuisine and Japan’s number-one records, you probably discovered lots of trivia you didn’t know before. Take this opportunity to learn plenty of these tidbits and impress your friends and family!


