How much do you know? A local quiz collection about Iwate Prefecture for elementary school students

2038m

Mt. Iwate is 2,038 meters tall. It is the highest mountain in Iwate Prefecture. It is a stratovolcano thought to have formed about 700,000 years ago, and it is also selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains.

Iwate Prefectural Information Exchange Center

It’s a multi-purpose complex located at the west exit of Morioka Station that houses a driver’s license center, an event plaza, a library, a convenience store, conference rooms, and a child-rearing support center. The nickname “Aiina” combines English initials with the Japanese phrase “ii na” (meaning “nice” or “that’s good”).

three

Aomori Prefecture lies to the north, Akita Prefecture to the west, and Miyagi Prefecture to the south. Compared to these three prefectures, Iwate Prefecture has the largest area, and nationwide it boasts the second-largest area after Hokkaido.

butterbur sprout

The correct answer is “fukinoto” (butterbur sprouts). In dialects of places like Iwate Prefecture, fukinoto are called “bakkya.” When you finely chop them and sauté them mixed with miso, sugar, and so on, it becomes “bakkya miso.” It’s a side dish that goes great with rice and lets you feel the arrival of spring.

Pyonpyonsha

The correct answer is “Pyonpyonsha.” It’s a popular place where people enjoy cold noodles together with yakiniku. Although Pyonpyonsha is a yakiniku restaurant rather than a cold-noodle shop, many customers come specifically for the cold noodles. By the way, in Iwate Prefecture, it’s standard to finish a yakiniku meal with cold noodles.

dandelion

In the Iwate dialect, “tedeppo” means “dandelion.” This dialect is widely used in the Tohoku region and can appear in phrases like “Tanpopo, uzukushimon da na.” Here, “uzukushimon” means “beautiful.”

Morioka City

Morioka City is located around the center of Iwate Prefecture and is home to the prefectural government office, which handles important work for the prefecture. For this reason, it is called the prefectural capital, serving as the center of Iwate. Morioka is the largest city in Iwate Prefecture, and another reason is that many people, shops, and schools are gathered there.