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Morioka
Morioka, with Iwate Mountain in the background, Iwate prefecture, Japan.
Morioka
Japan
News •
Startups rising: Government support helps Japan’s new innovators take off
• Oct. 29, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (Reuters)
Morioka, capital, Iwate ken (prefecture), northeastern Honshu, Japan. It lies on the Kitakami River, southeast of the volcanic cone of Iwate Mountain.
Although it is the most-populous city of the prefecture, Morioka retains the atmosphere of the feudal period (1185–1867), when it was the Nambu fief castle town. Now primarily a commercial, railway, and cultural centre, it is known for its traditional ironware and its annual horse fairs. Pop. (2005) 300,746; (2010) 298,348.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
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