Editing Mie Prefecture

{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Mie Prefecture
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|三重県}}}}
| settlement_type    = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| translit_lang1     = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|三重県}}
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Mie-ken}}
| image_skyline      = Sunrise of the Wedded Rocks03.jpg
| image_caption      = The pair of [[Meoto Iwa]] rocks off the coast of [[Ise, Mie|Ise]] city, Mie prefecture during sunrise
| image_flag         = Flag of Mie Prefecture.svg
| flag_size          = 100px
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Mie Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size  = 80px
| blank_emblem_type  = Symbol
| image_map          = Map of Japan with highlight on 24 Mie prefecture.svg
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|42|N|136|30|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Japan}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kansai region|Kansai]] ([[Tōkai region|Tōkai]])
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of islands of Japan|Island]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Honshu]]
| seat_type          = [[List of capitals in Japan|Capital]]
| seat               = [[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[Yokkaichi]]
| parts_type         = Subdivisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 7
| p2                 = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]: 29
| leader_title       = [[List of prefectural governors in Japan|Governor]]
| leader_name        = [[Katsuyuki Ichimi]]
| area_total_km2     = 5774.41
| area_water_percent = 0.7
| area_rank          = [[List of Japanese prefectures by area|25th]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1781948
| population_as_of   = 1 June 2019
| population_rank    = [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|22nd]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type2              = GDP 
| demographics2_footnotes         = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1            = Total
| demographics2_info1   = [[JP¥]] 8,086 billion<br />[[US$]] 74.2 billion (2019)
| iso_code           = JP-24
| website            = [http://www.pref.mie.jp/ENGLISH/ www.pref.mie.jp/<br/>ENGLISH/]
| module             = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| country  = Japan
| bird     = [[Snowy plover]]<br />(''Charadrius alexandrinus'')
| fish     = [[Japanese spiny lobster]]<br />(''Panulirus japonicus'')
| flower   = [[Iris (plant)|Iris]]<br />(''Iris&nbsp;ensata'')
| tree     = [[Sugi|Japanese&nbsp;cedar]]<br />(''Cryptomeria japonica'')
}}
| anthem             = [[:ja:三重県民歌|Mie kenminka]]
}}

{{nihongo|'''Mie Prefecture'''|三重県|Mie-ken|{{IPA|ja|mʲiꜜ.e, mʲi.eꜜ.keɴ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of [[Japan]] located in the [[Kansai region]] of [[Honshu]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Mie prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 628|page=628}}; "Kansai" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 477|page=477}}</ref> Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 ({{as of|2019|06|01|lc=y}}) and has a geographic area of {{convert|5774|km2|sp=us}}. Mie Prefecture is bordered by [[Gifu Prefecture]] to the north, [[Shiga Prefecture]] and [[Kyoto Prefecture]] to the northwest, [[Nara Prefecture]] to the west, [[Wakayama Prefecture]] to the southwest, and [[Aichi Prefecture]] to the east.

[[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]] is the capital and [[Yokkaichi]] is the largest city of Mie Prefecture, with other major cities including [[Suzuka, Mie|Suzuka]], [[Matsusaka]], [[Ise, Mie|Ise]], and [[Kuwana, Mie|Kuwana]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Tsu" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 995|page=995}}</ref>{{rp|page=995}} Mie Prefecture is located on the eastern coast of the [[Kii Peninsula]], forming the western side of [[Ise Bay]] which features the [[Mouth (river)|mouths]] of the [[Kiso Three Rivers]]. Mie Prefecture is a popular [[tourism]] destination home to [[Nagashima Spa Land]], [[Suzuka International Racing Course]], and some of the oldest and holiest sites in [[Shinto]], the [[traditional religion]] of [[Japan]], including the [[Ise Grand Shrine]] and the [[Tsubaki Grand Shrine]].

== History ==
[[File:Naiku 01.JPG|thumb|left|Ise Shrine]]
{{See also|Historic Sites of Mie Prefecture}}
Until the [[Meiji Restoration]], the area that is now Mie Prefecture was made up of [[Ise Province]], [[Shima Province]], [[Iga Province]], and part of [[Kii Province]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 780|page=780}}</ref>

Evidence of human habitation in Mie dates back more than 10,000 years. During the [[Jōmon period|Jōmon]] and [[Yayoi period|Yayoi]] periods, agricultural communities began to form along the river and coastal areas of the region. [[Ise Shrine]] is said to have been established during the Yayoi period, and in the 7th century the [[Saikū|Saikū Imperial Residence]] was built in what is now [[Meiwa, Mie|Meiwa Town]] to serve as both a residence and administrative centre for the [[Saiō]], an Imperial Princess who served as High Priestess of Ise Shrine.

During the [[Edo period]], the area now known as Mie Prefecture consisted of several [[feudalism in Japan|feudal]] domains, each ruled by an appointed lord. Transport networks, including the Tokaido and Ise Roads, were built. Port towns such as Ohminato, [[Kuwana, Mie|Kuwana]] and Anōtsu, posting stations and castle towns flourished. Pilgrimages to Ise Shrine also became very popular.

After the [[Meiji Restoration]], the former provinces of Ise, Shima and Iga as well as a portion of eastern [[Kii Province|Kii]], were organized and reorganized repeatedly. In 1871, the area from the [[Kiso Three Rivers]] in the north to present-day [[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]] became Anōtsu Prefecture, and the area south of that became Watarai Prefecture. In 1872, the Anōtsu prefectural seat moved from Tsu to [[Yokkaichi]], and the prefecture itself was renamed Mie. For a variety of reasons, including the strong likelihood that Mie would eventually merge with Watarai, the prefectural seat returned to Tsu the following year, and Mie Prefecture took its present-day form in 1876, when it merged with its southern neighbor.

The name Mie supposedly was taken from a comment about the region made by [[Yamato Takeru]] on his way back from conquering the eastern regions.

In 1959, many people died as parts of Mie were devastated by the [[Typhoon Vera (1959)|Ise-wan Typhoon]], the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in recorded history. Crops were destroyed, sea walls ruined, roads and railways damaged and a substantial number of people were injured or left homeless.

In May 2016, the city of [[Shima, Mie|Shima]] hosted the [[42nd G7 summit]], the third summit without the presence of [[Russia]].

== Geography ==
[[File:Mie géolocalisation relief.svg|thumb|250px|Physical map of Mie prefecture]]
[[File:気象庁の三重県の区分.jpg|thumb|Regional division of Mie as used by the [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]: The primary division is between North/Central and South, the former being further subdivided into North, Central and Iga, the latter into Ise-Shima and KiSei/East Kishū; [[Ise Province|Ise/Sei-shū]], [[Shima Province|Shima/Shi-shū]], [[Iga Province|Iga/I-shū]] and [[Kii Province|Kii/Ki-shū]] are the four Ritsuryō provinces that are partly or entirely part of modern Mie.]]

Mie Prefecture forms the eastern part of the [[Kii Peninsula]], and borders on [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]], [[Gifu Prefecture|Gifu]], [[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]], [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]], [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]], and [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]]. It is considered{{by whom|date=February 2013}} part of the [[Kansai]] and [[Tōkai region|Tōkai]] regions due to its geographical proximity to [[Aichi Prefecture]] and its cultural influence from [[Kansai]], such as the fact that [[Kansai dialect]] is spoken in Mie. Traditionally, though, the [[Iga, Mie|Iga]] region of Mie is considered to have always been a part of [[Kansai]].

Mie Prefecture measures {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} from north to south, and {{convert|80|km|0|abbr=on}} from east to west, and includes five distinct geographical areas:<ref name="pref.mie.jp">{{Cite web |url=http://www.pref.mie.jp/ENGLISH/overview/e_p04_05.pdf |title=Mie Prefecture homepage: Mie's Geography and Climate (pdf) |access-date=2008-04-10 |archive-date=2008-05-20 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080520220049/http%3A//www.pref.mie.jp/ENGLISH/overview/e_p04_05.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

# the north-west of Mie consists of the Suzuka Mountains
# along the coast of [[Ise Bay]] from the [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]] border to [[Ise, Mie|Ise City]] lies the Ise Plain, where most of the population of Mie live
# south of the Ise Plain is the [[Shima, Mie|Shima Peninsula]]
# bordering [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]] in the central-west is the [[Iga, Mie|Iga Basin]]
# running from central Mie to its southern borders is the Nunobiki Mountainous Region.

[[File:Ise Shima Skyline DSC5445.jpg|thumb|right|Mie coastline, near [[Toba, Mie|Toba]]]]
[[File:Yokkaichi fromtarusaka.JPG|thumb|right|Yokkaichi]]
[[File:Ise banner.jpg|thumb|right|Ise]]
[[File:IgaUenojyo08.jpg|thumb|right|Iga]]
[[File:Owase, Mie.JPG|thumb|right|[[Owase]]]]

Mie has a coastline that stretches {{convert|1094.9|km|abbr=on}} and, as of 2000, Mie's {{convert|5776.44|km2|abbr=on}} landmass is 64.8 percent [[forest]], 11.5 percent [[agriculture]], 6 percent residential area, 3.8 percent [[road]]s, and 3.6 percent [[river]]s. The remaining 10.3 percent are not classified.

The Ise Plain has a relatively moderate climate, averaging {{convert|14|to|15|C}} for the year. The Iga Basin has more daily temperature variance and averages temperatures 1 to 2 degrees cooler than the Ise Plain. Southern Mie, south of the [[Shima Peninsula]], has a warmer [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] marine climate, with [[Owase, Mie|Owase Region]] having one of the heaviest rainfall figures for all of Japan.<ref name="pref.mie.jp"/>

{{as of|2019|03|31|post=,}} 36% of the total area of the prefecture comprised designated [[Prefectural Natural Park|Natural Parks]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/park/doc/data/natural/naturalpark_4.pdf |script-title=ja:自然公園都道府県別面積総括 |trans-title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |language=ja |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> namely:

* [[Akame Ichishikyō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Ise-no-Umi Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Ise-Shima National Park]]
* [[Kahadakyō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Murō-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park]]
* [[Okuise Miyagawakyō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Suigō Prefectural Natural Park]]
* [[Suzuka Quasi-National Park]]
* [[Yoshino-Kumano National Park]]

=== Municipalities ===
{{See also|List of cities in Mie Prefecture by population}}
Since 2006, Mie consists of 29 [[Municipalities of Japan|municipalities]]: 14 [[Cities of Japan|cities]] and 15 [[Towns of Japan|towns]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" | Flag, name <small>w/o suffix</small>
! colspan="3" | Full name
! rowspan="2" | [[Districts of Japan|District]]<br />''(-gun)''
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Map
! rowspan="2" | [[Local Autonomy Law|Local public entity]] code<br /><small>(w/o checksum)</small>
|-
! <small>[[Japanese writing system|Japanese]]</small> || <small>[[Romanization of Japanese|transcription]]</small> || <small>[[English language|translation]]</small>
|-
|[[File:Flag of Iga, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Iga, Mie|Iga]]
|伊賀市 || Iga-shi || Iga City || –
|558.17
|95,137
|[[File:Iga in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24216
|-
|[[File:Flag of Inabe, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Inabe]]
|いなべ市 || Inabe-shi || Inabe City || –
|219.58
|45,589
|[[File:Inabe in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24214
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ise, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ise, Mie|Ise]]
|伊勢市 || Ise-shi || Ise City || –
|208.52
|123,129
|[[File:Ise in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24203
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kameyama Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kameyama, Mie|Kameyama]]
|亀山市 || Kameyama-shi || Kameyama City || –
|190.91
|50,230
|[[File:Kameyama in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24210
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kumano, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kumano, Mie|Kumano]]
|熊野市 || Kumano-shi || Kumano City || –
|373.35
|17,727
|[[File:Kumano in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24212
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kuwana, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kuwana, Mie|Kuwana]]
|桑名市 || Kuwana-shi || Kuwana City || –
|136.68
|139,587
|[[File:Kuwana in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24205
|-
|[[File:Flag of Matsusaka, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Matsusaka]]
|松阪市 || Matsusaka-shi || Matsusaka City || –
|623.64
|165,166
|[[File:Matsusaka in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24204
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nabari, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nabari, Mie|Nabari]]
|名張市 || Nabari-shi || Nabari City || –
|129.77
|78,190
|[[File:Nabari in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24208
|-
|[[File:Flag of Owase, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Owase]]
|尾鷲市 || Owase-shi || Owase City || –
|192.71
|17,953
|[[File:Owase in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24209
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shima, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shima, Mie|Shima]]
|志摩市 || Shima-shi || Shima City || –
|179.67
|53,056
|[[File:Shima in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24215
|-
|[[File:Flag of Suzuka, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Suzuka, Mie|Suzuka]]
|鈴鹿市 || Suzuka-shi || Suzuka City || –
|194.46
|196,835
|[[File:Suzuka in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24207
|-
|[[File:Flag of Toba, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Toba, Mie|Toba]]
|鳥羽市 || Toba-shi || Toba City || –
|107.34
|19,227
|[[File:Toba in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24211
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tsu, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]] (capital)
|津市 || Tsu-shi || Tsu City || –
|711.11
|279,304
|[[File:Tsu in Mie prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24201
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yokkaichi, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yokkaichi]]
|四日市市 || Yokkaichi-shi || Yokkaichi City || –
|206.44
|306,107
|[[File:Yokkaichi in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24202
|-
|[[File:Flag of Asahi, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Asahi, Mie|Asahi]]
|朝日町 || Asahi-chō || Asahi Town
| rowspan="3" | [[Mie District, Mie|Mie]]
|5.99
|9,941
|[[File:Asahi in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24343
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kawagoe Mie.svg |frameless|25x25px]] [[Kawagoe, Mie|Kawagoe]]
|川越町 || Kawagoe-chō || Kawagoe Town
|8.73
|14,999
|[[File:Kawagoe in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24344
|-
|[[File:Flag of Komono, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Komono]]
|菰野町 || Komono-chō || Komono Town
|106.89
|40,289
|[[File:Komono in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24341
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kiho Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kihō]]
|紀宝町 || Kihō-chō || Kihō Town || rowspan="2" | [[Minamimuro District, Mie|Minami-Muro]]<br />(South [[Muro District, Kii|Muro]])
|79.66
|11,454
|[[File:Kiho in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24562
|-
|[[File:Flag of Mihama.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mihama, Mie|Mihama]]
|御浜町 || Mihama-chō || Mihama Town
|88.28 
|9,089
|[[File:Mihama in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24561
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kihoku, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kihoku, Mie|Kihoku]]
|紀北町 || Kihoku-chō || Kihoku Town || [[Kitamuro District, Mie|Kita-Muro]]<br />(North [[Muro District, Kii|Muro]])
|257.01
|17,885
|[[File:Kihoku in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24543
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kisosaki Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kisosaki]]
|木曽岬町 || Kisosaki-chō || Kisosaki Town || |[[Kuwana District, Mie|Kuwana]]
|15.72
|6,730
|[[File:Kisosaki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24303
|-
|[[File:Flag of Meiwa, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Meiwa, Mie|Meiwa]]
|明和町 || Meiwa-chō || Meiwa Town || rowspan="3" | [[Taki District, Mie|Taki]]
|40.92
|22,726
|[[File:Meiwa in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24442
|-
|[[File:Flag of Odai Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōdai]]
|大台町 || Ōdai-chō || Ōdai Town
|362.94
|9,345
|[[File:Odai in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24443
|-
|[[File:Flag of Taki, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Taki, Mie|Taki]]
|多気町 || Taki-chō || Taki Town
|103.06
|14,846
|[[File:Taki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24441
|-
|[[File:Flag of Minamiise Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Minamiise, Mie|Minamiise]]
|南伊勢町 || Minami-Ise-chō || South [[Ise Province|Ise]] Town || rowspan="4" | [[Watarai District, Mie|Watarai]]
|242.98
|14,217
|[[File:Minamiise in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24472
|-
|[[File:Flag of Taiki, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Taiki, Mie|Taiki]]
|大紀町 || Taiki-chō || Taiki Town
|233.54
|9,543
|[[File:Taiki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24471
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tamaki, Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tamaki, Mie|Tamaki]]
|玉城町 || Tamaki-chō || Tamaki Town
|40.94
|15,280
|[[File:Tamaki in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24461
|-
|[[File:Flag of Watarai Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Watarai]]
|度会町 || Watarai-chō || Watarai Town
|134.97
|8,534
|[[File:Watarai in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24470
|-
|[[File:Flag of Toin Mie.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tōin]]
|東員町 || Tōin-chō || Tōin Town || [[Inabe District, Mie|Inabe]]
|22.66
|25,552
|[[File:Toin in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
|24324
|-
![[File:Flag of Mie Prefecture.svg|frameless|25x25px]] Mie
!三重県 || Mie-ken || Mie Prefecture || –
! 5,774.41 || 1,781,948
|[[File:Map of Mie Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|87x87px]]
!24000<br />ISO: JP-24
|}

=== Mergers ===
{{main|List of mergers in Mie Prefecture}}

When the modern municipalities were introduced in 1889, Mie initially consisted of 336 municipalities: 1 [[Cities of Japan|(by definition: district-level) city]] and 21 [[Districts of Japan|districts]] with 18 [[Towns of Japan|towns]] and 317 [[Villages of Japan|villages]]. With the Great Shōwa mergers of the 1950s, the number of municipalities in Mie had dropped to 88 by 1956. The Great Heisei mergers of the 2000s reduced the total from 69 to 29 between 2000 and 2006.

== Economy ==
Mie Prefecture has traditionally been a link between east and west Japan, thanks largely to the Tokaido and Ise Pilgrimage Roads. Traditional handicrafts such as Iga Braid, Yokkaichi Banko Pottery, Suzuka Ink, Iga Pottery and [[Katazome|Ise Katagami]] flourished. With 65% of the prefecture consisting of forests and with over {{convert|1000|km|-2|abbr=on}} of coastline, Mie has a long been associated with forestry and seafood industries. Mie also produces [[Green tea|tea]], [[Matsusaka beef|beef]], [[cultured pearl]]s and fruit, mainly [[mandarin orange]]s. Food production companies include [[Azuma Foods]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azumafoods.co.jp/en/company/index.html |title=Azuma Foods Co., Ltd.｜Company Profile |publisher=Azumafoods.co.jp |access-date=2012-07-13 |archive-date=2012-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901161604/http://www.azumafoods.co.jp/en/company/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/13/garden/from-japan-a-big-wave-of-seaweed.html | work=The New York Times | first=Suzanne | last=Hamlin | title=From Japan, A Big Wave Of Seaweed | date=13 August 1997}}</ref>

Northern Mie is home to a number of manufacturing industries, mainly transport machinery manufacturing (vehicles and ships) and heavy chemical industries such as oil refineries. As well as this, Mie Prefecture is expanding into more advanced industries including the manufacture of semiconductors and liquid crystal displays. In [[Suzuka, Mie|Suzuka]], the [[Honda Motor Company]] maintains a factory established in 1960 that built the [[Honda Civic]], as well as other vehicles.

== Demographics ==
[[File:Mie prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|Mie prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Mie Prefecture Demographics (as of 2014)<ref>[http://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/DATABOX/28903004151.htm Mie Prefecture Homepage: Key Statistics]</ref>
|- 
|Total population
|align=right|1,820,491
|-
|Male population
|align=right|886,362
|-
|Female population
|align=right|934,129
|-
|Population aged under 15
|align=right|240,263
|-
|Population aged 15 to 64
|align=right|1,076,257
|-
|Population aged over 64
|align=right|491,779
|-
|Households
|align=right|721,344
|-
|Population density (per km<sup>2</sup>)
|align=right|315.3
|}

== Culture ==

=== Universities ===
*Ise
**[[Kogakkan University]]
*Matsusaka
**[[Mie Chukyo University]]
*Suzuka
**[[Suzuka International University]]
**[[Suzuka National College of Technology]]
**[[Suzuka University of Medical Science]]
*Toba
**[[Toba National College of Maritime Technology]]
*Tsu
**[[Mie Prefectural College of Nursing]]
**[[Mie University]]
*Yokkaichi
**[[Yokkaichi Nursing and Medical Care University]]
**[[Yokkaichi University]]

== Transportation ==

=== Rail===
*[[JR Central]]
**[[Kansai Line]] (Nagoya-Kameyama)
**[[Kisei Line]]
**[[Sangu Line]]
*[[JR West]]
**Kansai Line (Kameyama-Nara)
**[[Kusatsu Line]] ([[Tsuge Station]])
*[[Kintetsu Railway|Kintetsu]]
**[[Nagoya Line (Kintetsu)|Nagoya Line]]
**[[Osaka Line]]
**[[Yamada Line (Kintetsu)|Yamada Line]]
**[[Toba Line]]
**[[Shima Line]]
**[[Yunoyama Line]]
**[[Kintetsu Uchibe Line|Uchibe Line]]
**[[Kintetsu Hachioji Line|Hachioji Line]]
**[[Suzuka Line]]
*[[Yoro Railway]]
*[[Iga Railway]]
*[[Ise Railway]]
*[[Sangi Railway]]

=== Road ===
[[File:Map of license plates in Mie Japan.svg|thumb|Distribution of regional [[Vehicle registration plates of Japan|license plates]] in Mie: Much of the prefecture still uses {{color box|aec7e8}} 三重 (Mie), and there is only one prefecturewide MLIT vehicle registration centre for all of Mie, in Tsu City; but with the introduction of regional plates without a separate licensing office since the 2000s, there are now three additional regional identifieres: {{color box|98df8a}} 四日市 (Yokkaichi) for Yokkaichi City alone, {{color box|ffbb78}} 鈴鹿 (Suzuka) in Suzuka City and Kameyama City, and {{color box|ff9896}} 伊勢志摩 ([[Ise Province|Ise]]-[[Shima Province|Shima]]) used for seven municipalities on the Shima peninsula.]]

==== Expressways and toll roads====
*[[Higashi-Meihan Expressway|East Meihan Expressway]]
*[[Isewangan Expressway|Ise Bayside Expressway]]
*[[Ise Expressway]]
*Ise Futami Toba Road
*Ise Shima Skyline
*Kisei Expressway
*Kumano Owase Road
*[[Meihan National Highway]]
*[[Shin-Meishin Expressway|Second Meishin Expressway]]

==== National highways====
*Route 1
*Route 23 (Ise-Yokkaichi-Nagoya-[[Gamagori]]-[[Toyohashi]])
*Route 25 ([[Meihan Highway]])
*Route 42
*Route 163
*Route 164 (Yokkaichi)
*Route 165
*Route 167 (Shima-Toba -Ise)
*Route 258
*Route 301
*Route 311
*Route 365
*Route 421
*Route 422
*Route 425 (Owase-[[Totsukawa]]-[[Gobo, Wakayama|Gobo]])
*Route 477

=== Ports===
*Matsuzaka Port - Hydrofoil ferry route to Centrair
*Toba Port - Ferry route to [[Ira Cape]]
*Tsu Port - Hydrofoil ferry route to Centrair airport ([[Chubu International Airport]])
*Yokkaichi Port - International and domestic container and goods hub port

== Tourism ==

=== Notable places ===
[[File:Meotoiwa.jpg|thumb|Meoto Rocks in Ise Bay, Ise]]
[[File:Gozaisho Ropeway and Komono Mie.jpg|thumb|Mount Gozaisho and cable-car in Komono]]
[[File:Nabana no Sato Chapel Illumination.jpg|thumb|Winter Illumination event in Nabana Village Park, Kuwana]]
[[File:北畠氏館跡庭園.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kitabatake Jōkan garden]]

* [[Ise Grand Shrine]] - Japan's holiest Shinto shrine.
* [[Tsubaki Grand Shrine]] - Japan's oldest Shinto shrine. 
* [[Kumano Kodō]] - [[World Heritage Site]].  Ancient road in southern Mie once used by pilgrims.
* [[Iga, Mie|Iga-Ueno]] - Birthplace of the [[ninja]] and home to the Iga Ninja Museum.
* [[Ise-Shima National Park]]
* [[Yoshino-Kumano National Park]]
* [[Kitabatake Shrine|Tage Kitabatakeshi Yakata]] - Tage Kitabatake clan fortified residence, one of the [[Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://jokaku.jp/japan-top-100-castles/best-100-castles-of-japan-2nd-selection/ |title=続日本100名城 |date=29 November 2017 |publisher=日本城郭協会|language=ja|access-date=25 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Sakakibara Onsen]] - Famous [[onsen]] near Tsu, considered to be the 3rd best onsen in Japan.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
* [[Yunoyama Onsen]] - Famous onsen near Yokkaichi that sits atop [[Mount Gozaisho]].
* [[Nagashima Spa Land]] - One of the largest amusement parks in Japan, located in Kuwana.
* [[Toba Aquarium]]
* [[Mikimoto Pearl Island]] - Museum in Toba that is dedicated to [[Kōkichi Mikimoto]], inventor of [[pearl]] cultivation.
* [[Meoto Iwa|The Wedded Rocks]] of Okitama Shrine in [[Futami, Mie|Futami]] (now part of the city of Ise)
* [[Suzuka Circuit]] - Japan's most famous motor racetrack.
* [[Saikū]] - Site of [[Heian Period|Heian]] Imperial residence, with modern museum and reconstructed Heian building.
* A large [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] statue in the town of [[Iga,_Mie|Iga]]  can be found near Kanonji temple which has been the topic of discussion amongst gaming publications.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morrissy |first1=Kim |title=Mysterious Sonic the Hedgehog Statue in Japanese Mountains Gets Refurbished |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-08-13/mysterious-sonic-the-hedgehog-statue-in-japanese-mountains-gets-refurbished/.162880 |website=Anime News Network |access-date=26 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Notable citizens ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2013}}


* Aoi, guitarist of [[The Gazette (band)|The GazettE]]
* [[Daikokuya Kōdayū]], a Japanese castaway who spent eleven years in Russia
* [[Daisuke Kishio]], voice actor
* Die, guitarist of [[Dir En Grey]]
* [[Hakaru Hashimoto]], medical scientist
* [[Hiroshi Okuda]], Chairman of the [[Toyota Motor Corporation]], chairman of the [[Japan Business Federation]]
* [[Hiroyuki Ito]], a [[video game designer]] working for [[Square Enix]]
* [[Jun Maeda]], a Japanese writer and co-founder of the software company [[Key (company)|Key]]
* [[Kana Nishino]], singer
* [[Katsuya Okada]], former [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Foreign Minister]], and [[Democratic Party of Japan|DPJ]] Secretary General
* [[Keiichi Yabu]], relief pitcher for the [[San Francisco Giants]]
* [[Ken Hirai]], Japanese R&B and pop singer
* [[Kenta Nishimoto]], professional badminton player
* [[Kota Sasaki]], racing driver
* Mashiho Takata, a member of Korean-Pop boy group [[Treasure (band)|Treasure]]
* [[Matsuo Bashō]], the most famous poet of the [[Edo period]], renowned for his [[haiku]]
* [[Mikimoto Kōkichi]], founder of the cultured pearl     industry
* [[Mitski|Mitski Miyawaki]], Japanese-American singer-songwriter<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jung|first=E. Alex|date=2022-01-14|title=Mitski in 9 Acts|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/mitski-profile-laurel-hell.html|access-date=2022-01-14|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[Mitsui Takatoshi]], founder of the [[Mitsui]] Group
* [[Miwa Asao]], beach volleyball player
* [[Mizuki Noguchi]], the [[gold medal]]ist in the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|women's marathon]] event in the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Norinaga Motoori]], a Japanese scholar of [[Kokugaku]] during the [[Edo period]]
* [[Ranpo Edogawa]], famous mystery novelist
* [[Yasujirō Ozu]], famous filmmaker
* [[Yukio Ozaki]], a politician said to be the father of Japan's constitutional government

=== Famous products ===
* [[Akafuku]], a sweet made with mochi and sweet red bean paste
* [[Ito Ranch]], a matsusaka beef farm in the region
* [[Matsusaka beef]]
* [[Spiny lobster]], known as ''Ise ebi'' (伊勢えび), named after the old province

== Government and politics ==
[[File:Meiji Mura 3882282918 fc4d16685b.jpg|thumb|The Meiji-era, former (1879–1964) building of the Mie prefectural government has been reconstructed in the [[Meiji-mura|"Meiji village"]] museum in Aichi.]]
The [[Mie Prefectural Government|prefectural government]] was briefly moved to [[Yokkaichi, Mie|Yokkaichi Town]] in [[Mie District, Ise|Mie District]] in 1872 (hence the name Mie), but the capital moved back to Anotsu, [[Anō District, Ise|Anō District]] (present-day Tsu City) in 1873<ref>Prefectural government: [https://www.bunka.pref.mie.lg.jp/rekishi/kenshi/asp/meiji/detail.asp?record=483 三重県庁舎（津市下部田）] ("Mie prefectural government building (Tsu City, Lower Heta)"), retrieved June 24, 2020.</ref> and has remained there since. Ignoring small changes through cross-prefectural municipal mergers, neighbourhood transfers and coastline variations, Mie reached its present borders in 1876 when it absorbed [[Watarai Prefecture]]. After the modern reactivation of [[Districts of Japan|districts]] in 1878/79, Mie consisted of 21 districts (merged down to 15 in the 1890s).<ref>[http://www.tt.rim.or.jp/~ishato/tiri/gun/map/1889/24mie.htm Map of Mie's districts in January 1889, i.e. before the introduction of cities], [http://www.tt.rim.or.jp/~ishato/tiri/gun/map/1900/24mie.htm Map of Mie's two cities and 15 districts in 1900]</ref> The first prefectural assembly was elected in March 1879 and convened in April.<ref>Prefectural assembly: [http://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/KENGIKAI/07663011795.htm history/chronology since 1878] (Japanese), retrieved June 24, 2020.</ref> In the introduction of modern [[Municipalities of Japan|cities, towns and villages]] in 1889, Anotsu became district-independent as Tsu [[Cities of Japan|City]] and the districts were subdivided into 18 [[Towns of Japan|towns]] and 317 [[Villages of Japan|villages]] (see the [[List of mergers in Mie Prefecture]] for changes since then).

As in all prefectures except Okinawa, the governor of Mie is directly elected since 1947. The [[Mie Prefectural Assembly|prefectural assembly]] has 51 members. Both prefectural elections in Mie are currently held as part of unified local elections. In the last round in 2019, governor [[Eikei Suzuki]] easily won a third term with broad support from [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|LDP]], ''Shinsei Mie'' (see below) and [[Kōmeitō]], against only one, [[Japanese Communist Party|JCP]]-supported challenger;<ref>[[NHK]]SenkyoWeb: [https://www.nhk.or.jp/senkyo/database/touitsu/2019/24/14218/skh45054.html 2019 unified election results/prefectural governors/Mie], retrieved June 24, 2020.</ref> Suzuki was originally [[2011 Japanese unified local elections|elected narrowly in 2011]] as centre-right candidate against centre-left supported Naohisa Matsuda, former mayor of Tsu City. In the Mie assembly, the LDP is strongest party;<ref>[[NHK]]SenkyoWeb: [https://www.nhk.or.jp/senkyo/database/touitsu/2019/24/14219/jyo14219.html 2019 unified election results/prefectural assemblies/Mie] [by nomination in that election, not by party membership, let alone parliamentary group membership, or affiliations at any previous or later point in time] (Japanese), retrieved June 24, 2020.</ref> but it is distributed across several parliamentary groups, and the strongest group is ''Shisei Mie'' (新政みえ; "Renewal Mie") around members of several local parties of former [[Democratic Party of Japan|Democrats]].<ref>Prefectural assembly: [http://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/KENGIKAI/89264000001.htm Members by parliamentary group] (Japanese), retrieved June 24, 2020.</ref>

In the [[National Diet]], Mie is represented by four directly elected members of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] and two (one per class) in the [[House of Councillors (Japan)|House of Councillors]]. After the national elections of 2016, 2017 and 2019, Mie's directly elected delegation was evenly split between Liberal Democrats (HR district #1: [[Norihisa Tamura]], #4: [[Noriyo Mitsuya]], HC 2019–25 class: [[Yūmi Yoshikawa]]) and ex-Democrats (HR #2: [[Masaharu Nakagawa (House of Representatives)|Masaharu Nakagawa]], #3: [[Katsuya Okada]], HC 2016–22 class: [[Hirokazu Shiba]]) in both houses of the Diet.

=== Sister states ===
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Henan]], China
* {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]], Brazil
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], Spain

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC  ''Japan encyclopedia.''] Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition  OCLC 58053128]

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Mie prefecture}}
* [http://www.pref.mie.jp/ENGLISH/index.htm Mie Prefecture official homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230014936/http://www.pref.mie.jp/ENGLISH/index.htm |date=2010-12-30 }}
* [http://tourismmiejapan.com/ Kanko Mie tourist information]
* [http://www.outdoorjapan.com/areaguides/prefecturemie.html Outdoor Japan - Section Mie]
* [http://www.mief.or.jp/en/index.html Mie International Exchange Foundation]

{{Mie}}

{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mie Prefecture| ]]
[[Category:Kansai region]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Japan]]