Fukushima Ken

Capital:	Fukushima City	Size:	13,784 km2
Population :	2,137,990	Density:	155 people/km2
Cities:	10	Churches:	P 135, C 18
With 1 church:	O	Church per pop.:	1:15,837
Towns/Villages:	80	Worship attendance:	2,629
With no churches:	51	Attendance/church:	19
With 20,000 pop. & no churches:	O	Missionaries:	25

Geography

Fukushima is the southernmost prefecture in the Tohoku area. The north borders both Miyagi and Yamagata, the south connects with three prefectures in the north Kanto area the west with Niigata, and the east faces the Pacific Ocean. It is the second largest of the Tohoku prefectures. The plains area along the Pacific Ocean is called Hamadori. The other major flat area, called Nakadori, runs down the middle of the prefecture between the Abukuma Plateau and the Ou Mountain Range and includes the Fukushima and Koriyama Basins. Lake Inawashiro and the Aizu Basin are located in the western section. Just south of that lies the Aizu Mountain District with a line of mountains 2,000 meters tall. A variety of land conditions including the ocean, mountains, volcanoes, Iakes, valleys and marshes brings a rich diversity of climates to the prefecture.

Industry & Economy

Fukushima is an agriculture prefecture, with a wide variety of produce. Apples, peaches, pears and persimmons are examples of the variety of fruits. Forests cover 70% of the area, making the prefecture the fourth largest forest region. Southern Hamadori has a few good harbors like Onahama, but because of the lack of larger harbors the marine related industry is weak. Iwaki City at one time flourished because of the Joban Coal Fields, but now the industrial center is shifting to the Fukushima and Koriyama districts.

Cultural Background

The Aizu area receives much snow in the winter due to the effect of the Sea of Japan. There is a distinct culture here, symbolized by the Byakkotai, the fighting children's army during the Meiji Restoration period. Perhaps because of this unique culture, the area has produced many important leaders in a number of fields, such as Hideyo Noguchi in medicine, Kajinosuke Ibuka and Satoshi Moriyama who became outstanding Christian leaders. The opening of the Tohoku Expressway and the Shinkansen train line are bringing new developments to the prefecture.

Religious Milieu

Even though there are few shrines and temples that are well-known throughout the nation, since the beginning of the Meiji era both Shintoism and Buddhism have become deeply rooted in the culture. Folk religion and traditional local customs and ceremonies also play a major role in the daily lives of families and communities. This religious mixture is true not just in Fukushima, but across the nation as well. In the midst of this we can see evidence of the gospel, despite strong opposition.

The Mission

Kajinosuke Ibuka was the eldest son of the Aizu clan. After being defeated in the Boshin Civil War, he moved to Tokyo where he came under the influence of Rev. Brown, one of the first missionaries during the Meiji era. God convicted him of his hate for the Satsuma and Choshu clans, and he repented and trusted Christ. He became a pastor, helped establish the Christian college, Meiji Gakuin, and later bccame its president. Just about that time, in 1886, the first Protestant missionary came to Aizu to begin church planting. After WWII many missionaries came to work in Aizu, Nakadori and Hamadori. Since then many ministers have come from the prefecture and serve throughout Japan.