Morioka, Iwate

Morioka (盛岡市) is a city in the Tōhoku region of Japan on the island of Honshu. It is the capital city of Iwate Prefecture.

It has been recognized as a core city since 2008.

History
In the 9th century, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro led forces which brought the region under imperial control.

In 1599, Morioka was founded as a castle town (jōka-machi).

In the Boshin War, Morioka was a pro-shogunate city.

During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Morioka was hit by a 6.1 earthquake.

Culture
The Iwate Museum of Art (IMA) is in Morioka. IMA's collection includes works works by notable local artists.

Other websites

 * Morioka City website