Fukushima, city in central Japan, on north central Honshu Island, capital of Fukushima Prefecture. Located in northern Fukushima Prefecture on the Abukuma River, the city lies in the Fukushima Basin, a floodplain surrounded by mountains. Industries include the manufacture of machinery and electrical appliances and the processing of fruit from the surrounding agricultural region. Fukushima is connected to cities to the north and south by the high-speed Tohoku Shinkansen train. Fukushima Medical College (founded in 1950) is located in the city. Local attractions include Iizaka Hot Spring, in the northern part of the city, and Bandai-Asahi National Park, which has lakes, waterfalls, and a group of volcanic mountains with ski areas and hot springs. In 1888 a violent eruption of Mount Bandai destroyed surrounding lakes and villages.
Fukushima began as a post-station town (an officially regulated settlement catering to travelers) and a castle town under the Itakura family, who were daimyo (feudal lords) in the 15th century during the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1867). The city was connected to the shogunate's headquarters in Edo (now Tokyo) by the Oshu Kaido, one of the five main highways at that time. Fukushima developed as a center of the silk and textile industries and as a river port. Population (1999) 287,308.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Fukushima Information info
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