Yamagata City (Yamagata Prefecture): The landscape was completely transformed by Mishima Michitsune after the Meiji Restoration

Yamagata Citywasa castle town of the Yamagata Domaindeveloped asa commercial city that prospered through the trade of its specialty product, safflowerwas

Yamagata Castle, located in the center of the city, is extremely large, and the outermost Sannomaru area covers an area of ​​approximately 235 hectares, which is equivalent to 50 Tokyo Domes

The merchant district was built outside the third bailey, and because the main bailey at the center of Yamagata Castle was obscured by mist, it"Kajo" (Mist Castle)or"Kasumigajo" (Mist Castle)was called

After the Meiji Restoration, the feudal domains were abolished and replaced with prefectures in July 1871 (Meiji 4), and seven prefectures were established in the area that is now Yamagata Prefecture: Yamagata Prefecture, Yonezawa Prefecture, Kaminoyama Prefecture, Tendo Prefecture, Shinjo Prefecture, Oizumi Prefecture (Tsuruoka City), and Matsumine (Sakata City)

There were many twists and turns after that, but present-day Yamagata Prefecture was born in 1876 (Meiji 9)

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The first prefectural governor, Mishima Michitsune, developed the city into a suitable location for the prefectural capital

the first governor of Yamagata PrefectureMishima, and the prefectural office was located in what is now Yamagata City.

Yamagata City was deemed suitable as a distribution hub because it was on the Ushu Kaido road, a major artery in the Tohoku region, and also had a thriving shipping industry on the Mogami River

Other powerful domains in Yamagata Prefecture, such as the Shonai Domain and the Yonezawa Domain, were also considered as candidates, but because these domains were on the anti-government side during the Boshin War (1869), they were unable to become the prefectural capital

Mishima Michitsune was recognized by the Minister of Home Affairs, Okubo Toshimichi, and after serving as a councilor for Tokyo Prefecture and being responsible for urban redevelopment plans such as the construction of the brick town of Ginza in Tokyo, he became the first governor of Yamagata Prefecture in 1876 (Meiji 9)

Mishima Michitsune spent seven years in Yamagata from 1876, during which time he promoted urban development projects in Yamagata Prefecture, achieving many accomplishments, including the construction of the Yamagata Prefectural Office and other local government offices, as well as road improvement projects such as the construction of new roads and stone bridges

After leaving Yamagata, Mishima served as governor of Fukushima and Tochigi prefectures, among other positions, and in 1885 (Meiji 18) was appointed Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department

He died in 1888 (Meiji 21). His direct descendants include former Prime Minister Taro Aso, and his relatives includeMishimaYukio

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The old castle town has undergone a dramatic transformation, with large buildings made of stone instead of wood

Mishima left the remains of Yamagata Castle's Honmaru and Ninomaru intact, and proceeded with urban development plans for Sannomaru. In 1877 (Meiji 10), a Western-style prefectural office was built in Nanokamachi, a shopping district that had existed since the Edo period, and the prefectural assembly building was built next to it

A wide, straight road stretches south from the Yamagata Prefectural Office, with the prefecture's major government offices and facilities concentrated there, including the police station, Normal School, and Nanzan School on the east side of the road, the police headquarters, Minamimurayama County Office, Industrial Museum, and silk mill on the west side, and the Saiseikan a little further away

The wooden shopping streets that had been in place since the Edo period were all transformed into Western-style buildings that the locals had never seen before, and the townscape was transformed in an instant. The locals were astonished, and their hopes for a new era grew

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The great fire that struck Yamagata in the Meiji era reduced the city to ashes after the Meiji Restoration

Yamagata City was struck by two major fires during the Meiji era. The first major firethe Great Fire of Minami in May 1894 (Meiji 27),which burned down the southern part of the city.

The "Ichinan Fire" started in the former Candle Town (now Tokamachi 2-chome), located in the southern part of the shopping district. Strong winds caused the fire to spread in all directions, destroying over 1,600 houses, mainly in what is now Tokamachi

In this fire, most of the old houses and merchant houses dating back to the Edo period were burned down, but the houses that were storehouses escaped the fire, and it is said that the number of storehouses increased in Yamagata City after this

In May 1911 (Meiji 44), a major fire broke out in the northern part of the city. The fire, which started in a soba noodle shop in what is now Nanokamachi, located north of Tokamachi where the major fire in the southern part of the city occurred, was carried by strong winds and burned down the shopping street of Nanokamachi.

The fire then spread to the government district where the prefectural office was located, burning down everything including the prefectural office, police stations, courts, schools, and banks

These two great fires reduced a total of 3,000 houses, shrines and temples, and most importantly, the new townscape created by Mishima Michitsune to ashes

Fortunately, however, the former Yamagata Normal School Main Building (Yamagata Prefectural Museum Educational Resources Center) and the former Saiseikan Main Building (Yamagata City Local History Museum) were located a short distance from the source of the fire and escaped destruction, making them valuable buildings that retain their original appearance

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The rebuilt prefectural office and the National Diet Building were relocated to Bunshokan

Unfortunately, the prefectural office and assembly building built by Mishima Michitsune no longer remain

The current former prefectural office and assembly building were rebuilt in 1916 (Taisho 5) and served as the Yamagata Prefectural Office and Assembly Hall until 1975 (Showa 50), when the prefectural office was newly built at its current location (Matsunami, Yamagata City)

After its role as the prefectural office and assembly hall ended, it underwent extensive restoration workYamagata Prefectural Museum (Bunshokan)and was opened to the public as theBunshokan is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property as the "Former Yamagata Prefectural Office and Prefectural Assembly Hall (Yamagata Prefectural Museum).

The former prefectural office building is a three-story brick building with stone exterior walls, giving it a stately appearance, and its clock tower is the second oldest in Japan after the Sapporo Clock Tower, and continues to keep time even today. The former prefectural assembly building is also partially two-story brick, and is still used for various events such as concerts

Bunshokan＜Information＞

• Facility name: Yamagata Prefectural Museum (Bunshokan)
• Address: 3-4-51 Hatagocho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-635-5500
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30
• Admission fee: Free
• Closed: 1st and 3rd Mondays (or the following day if a public holiday falls on that Monday), December 29th to January 3rd
• URL:Yamagata Prefectural Museum (Bunshokan)
• access:
  • Train: Approximately 10 minutes by bus from Yamagata Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen or JR Ou Main Line
  • By car: Approximately 10 minutes from Yamagata Zao IC on the Yamagata Expressway

Google Map

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The former Saiseikan main building was relocated and restored after overcoming the threat of demolition

The former Saiseikan Main Buildingwas established in 1878 (Meiji 11) as a prefectural hospital. Although it was temporarily privatized, it has been used as the main building of the municipal Saiseikan Hospital since 1904 (Meiji 37).

However, in 1960, the hospital, which had become too small, was scheduled for renovation, and the old main building was to be demolished. However, a citizens' group, regretting the loss of this valuable building from the early Meiji period, launched a preservation movement. As a result, the government recognized its importance, and in 1966 ita National Important Cultural Property, thus saving it from demolition.

Because the hospital's grounds were small, it was decided to relocate and restore it to its current location in Kasumigaoka Park (the site of Yamagata Castle)

Since 1971 (Showa 46), itthe Yamagata City Local History Museum, exhibiting and displaying materials on traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, as well as historical materials related to Yamagata Castle and the local area.

Former Saiseikan Main Building <Information>

• Facility name: Former Saiseikan Main Building (Yamagata City Museum of Local History)
• Address: 1-1 Kashirocho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture (inside Kashiro Park)
• Phone number: 023-644-0253
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30
• Admission fee: Free
• Closed: December 29th to January 3rd
• URL:Former Saiseikan Main Building (Yamagata City Local History Museum)
• access:
  • Train: Take a bus from Yamagata Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen or JR Ou Main Line to Kajo Park South Gate bus stop, then walk for about 15 minutes
  • By car: Approximately 15 minutes from Yamagata Zao IC on the Yamagata Expressway

Google Map

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The former Yamagata Normal School main building still retains its original turret

The former Yamagata Normal School main buildingwas constructed in 1901 when the prefectural normal school, which opened in 1878 (Meiji 11), relocated to its current location (Midori-cho, Yamagata City).

After World War II, the normal school was closed and in 1963 (Showa 38) it was used as Yamagata Prefectural Yamagata Kita High School, but in 1971 (Showa 46) Yamagata Kita High School was renovated and the school's mission came to an end

During the reconstruction of Yamagata Kita High School, the classrooms and other parts were demolished, leaving only the main building and some other facilities that remain today. However, the remaining parts underwent repair and restoration work, were designateda National Important Cultural Property, andthe Yamagata Prefectural Museum Educational Materials Centerreopened as

The turret in the center of the building is a remnant of the old school clock tower, which was built in 1878

Former Yamagata Normal School Main Building <Information>

• Facility name: Former Yamagata Normal School Main Building (Yamagata Prefectural Museum Educational Resource Center)
• Address: 2-2-8 Midoricho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-642-4397
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30 (last entry at 16:00)
• Admission fee: Adults 150 yen, students 70 yen, elementary, junior high and high school students free (Yamagata Prefectural Museum admission fee is separate)
• Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), December 28th to January 4th
• URL:Former Yamagata Normal School Main Building (Yamagata Prefectural Museum Educational Materials Center)
• access:
  • Train: Yamagata Shinkansen/JR Ou Main Line Yamagata Station East Exit: Approximately 15 minutes on foot via the East Otemon Gate of Kajo Park, or approximately 10 minutes on foot from the West Exit via the South Gate of Kajo Park
  • By car: Approximately 20 minutes from Yamagata Zao IC on the Yamagata Expressway

Google Map

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During his seven years in the post, Mishima Michitsune has been involved in approximately half of Yamagata Prefecture's modern industrial heritage sites

Unfortunately, in Yamagata City, the only buildings related to Mishima Michitsune are the former main building of Yamagata Normal School and a part of the former main building of Saiseikan. However, looking at Yamagata Prefecture as a whole, there are still buildings such as theformer Nishitagawa County Office(Tsuruoka City/National Important Cultural Property),the former Tsuruoka Police Station building(Tsuruoka City/Yamagata Prefecture Designated Tangible Cultural Property),the former Nishimurayama County Office and Assembly Hall(Sagae City/Yamagata Prefecture Designated Tangible Cultural Property),the former Higashimurayama County Office(Tendo City/Yamagata Prefecture Designated Tangible Cultural Property).

All of these buildings are magnificent and designated cultural properties

It's not just buildings. They're also focusing on improving the transportation infrastructure, building new roads between cities and constructing 23 roads and 65 bridges

Some bridges were built at the request of local residents, and the financial burden was generally borne by the local community, with assistance provided where needed, reducing the prefecture's financial burden while modernizing the area

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry certified the Modern Industrial Heritage Sites in 2008, and of the 26 industrial heritage sites in Yamagata Prefecture, projects undertaken by Mishima Michitsune account for roughly half. This shows the greatness of Mishima Michitsune, who was able to accomplish so many projects in such a short period of time, just seven years after he was appointed to the prefecture

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