Geography

This inland prefecture faces Mie on the east, Kyoto on the north, Osaka on the west, and Wakayama on the southwest. The Nara Basin occupying the northern half of the prefecture is the only flat land, and provides a home for the majority of its population and industry. To the south of the Yoshino River stands the Kii mountain range with Hachikenzan as the highest peak in the Kinki district. The narrow valleys snaking through these mountains are called "the solitary islands of land," hindering the development of an adequate transportation system. The basin area has very little rainfall and a wide range of seasonal temperatures. The mountain areas are relatively warm and rainy, especially Mount Odaigahara, which experiences the nation's highest precipitation, over 4,000 mm annually.

Industry & Economy

Nara is a relatively small prefecture with the fourth lowest amount of cultivated areas and the least amount of habitable land in the nation. Forests occupy 80% of the land. The most famous trees are the Yoshino cedars, well known for their quality. The Nara Basin produces much rice and fruit, and is the second in the nation for persimmons and fourth in tea. One specialty is the gold fish from Yamato, providing over half of the nation's supply. Due to the lack of land, manufacturing has been slow to develop.

Cultural Background

Nara served as the nation's capital twice, during the Asuka and then the Heijo era. Rarely visited by natural disasters, Nara had more opportunity for cultural development. This highly developed culture has been a source of pride for the prefecture. Even the remote mountainous areas of Yoshino and Kumano are mentioned in the myth in which Ninigi no Mikoto (grandson of Amaterasu Omikami, the goddess of the Sun) descended, and also in the story of the Period of Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Religious Milieu

There are numerous historic temples and shrines in Nara whose festivals can be traced back to ancient times. The high peak of Mount Omine is considered one of the sacred places of mountain asceticism. The city of Tenri was named after the Tenri religion (founded by Miki Nakayama at the end of the Tokugawa era) whose headquarters were established there. An awareness survey does not indicate a strong interest in religion, but it does reveal that the percentage of people who believe in life after death is the second highest in the nation.

The Mission

Although Nara prefecture has been a major center for non-Christian religion, it has produced many Christians such as Ukon Takayama and his son who were influenced by a Christian converted from mountain asceticism. After the Meiji era Japanese Christians and foreign missionaries aggressively pursued their mission and established churches despite hardships and obstacles. The postwar mission work has even reached into Tenri City. A number of new churches are being started around Ikoma, a commuter town outside Osaka.