1. Introduction of Niigata prefecture

   Niigata prefecture is located in Honsyu, which is main island of Japan. Population is about 2.3milion and it is the 14th in Japan. Square is about 12600square kilometer and it is 5th in Japan. Niigata prefecture is consists of four areas, Joetsu area, Tyuetsu area, Kaetsu area and Sado area. Sado area is one island, which is the second largest island in Japan except for four main island of Japan. Prefectural capital is Niigata city. It is very hot in summer, and it is very cold and snow in winter. The climate is very severe. But people can enjoy swimming in the sea in summer, and people can enjoy skiing in winter. There are many skiing ground in Niigata prefecture, and Joetsu area is the birth place of skiing in Japan. Thanks to this climate, people can enjoy various sports.

   Niigata prefecture is famous for rice, which is called Koshihikari. Koshihikari is very famous rice. It is thought that Koshihikari is the most delicious rice by Japanese people. Rice farming is very important industry of Niigata prefecture and rice production of Niigata prefecture is the highest in Japan. In connection with rice, rice wine and rice cracker is also famous. There are many companies, which making rice cracker or rice wine in Niigata prefecture. Production of rice cracker is the highest in Japan. Almost rice cracker sold in stores is made in Niigata prefecture. Production of rice wine is the third highest in Japan. These days bread made from rice is developed. However, it was very difficult that people make rice powder; someone developed the way of making rice powder. Thereby making bread from rice became possible. Bread made from rice powder is chewier than bread made from flour.

   There are other important industries of Niigata prefecture, for example, metal tableware, crude oil, chemical, and so on. Tsubame city is famous for production of metal table ware, such as, knife, fork and spoon. The metal tableware made in Tsubame city has very high quality, so the tableware made in Tsubame city is used by people all over the world, and it is used at dinner party of Nobel award ceremony. Production of crude oil in Niigata prefecture is the highest in Japan, in connection with this, production of home heater which use petroleum is also high.

   In this way, Niigata prefecture has many features. I want people to know about Niigata prefecture.

I used the following website.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E6%BD%9F%E7%9C%8C