Editing Yamagata Prefecture (section)

== History ==
{{See also|Historic Sites of Yamagata Prefecture}}

[[File:Sankyo Warehouse in Sakata, Yamagata, 16 June 2013, 02.jpg|thumb|Sankyo Warehouse in [[Sakata, Yamagata|Sakata City]], related to [[Kitamaebune]] and transport on [[Mogami River]].]]
The aboriginal {{nihongo|[[Ezo]]|蝦夷}} people once inhabited the area now known as Yamagata. Yamagata and [[Akita Prefecture]] were known as [[Dewa Province]] until the [[Meiji Restoration]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}</ref>

During the [[Heian period]] (794–1185), the {{nihongo|[[Fujiwara clan|Fujiwara]]|藤原}} family ruled the area. Yamagata City flourished during the [[Edo period]] (1603–1867) due to its status as a castle town and post station, famous for'' beni'' (red [[safflower]] dye used in the production of handspun silk). In 1689, the famous [[haiku]] poet, [[Matsuo Bashō]] visited Yamagata during his five-month trip to the northern regions of Japan.