Geography

Wakayama occupies the southwest area of the Kii Peninsula. On the north is Osaka, the east Nara and Mie, with the rest of the prefecture facing the Pacific Ocean. Except for the area around the lower Kinokawa River, Wakayama has little flat area. The valley sandwiched between the Izumi mountain range at the Osaka border, and the Kinokawa River extends all the way to the Yoshino River in Shikoku. In the south there are numerous valleys running east and west. Weather generally is warm with heavy rainfall. The Kinokawa River area's climate is typical of that found by the Inland Sea.

Industry & Economy

Forests occupy approximately 80% of the prefecture, similar to Nara. Agriculture is weak here due to the lack of farming and habitable land. As a result many people, especially from the south, emigrated to the United States and Canada. Fruit growing is a thriving industry, and Wakayama is the nation's top producer of tangerines, plums, and persimmons. In spite of the long coast line, a lack of good fishing ports has limited the fishing industry. The steel industry had been a major part of the prefecture's economy until the major steel company at Wakayama City was relocated.

Cultural Background

Wakayama is known to be the most conservative prefecture in the Kinki district. It was once ruled by Lord Kishu, from one of the three Tokugawa families. The people still practice the traditional community system called miyaza, wherein families are closely tied to local temples. Generally speaking, the people of the Kinki district are relatively relaxed in their morals, but the people of Wakayama are quite conservative.

Religious Milieu

Kumano Shrine is a well known shrine dedicated to the god Kumano Gongen around the 3rd century by a group of people who immigrated here from the Izumo Country. It became the principal Kumano shrine for the whole nation. Kumano Gongen was later linked to the Mountain Religion. In the middle ages, as so often happened, the Tendai priests and priest-soldiers ruled Wakayama with a combination of Buddhism and Shintoism. Mount Koya in the northern part of the prefecture is known as a sacred place of the Shingon sect founded by Kobo Daishi.

The Mission

The people in south Wakayama appear relatively open-minded, even to the point of allowing a number of people to emigrate to foreign lands. However this has not led to an openness to Christianity. At the beginning of the Meiji era the ministry of the Hail brothers planted seeds that have had a broad influence for the gospel. Their work has been continued by the Japan Evangelistic Band. Also, after the War the Baptist General Conference came to Wakayama and has planted a number of churches along the coast.