| Morioka is the capital city of Iwate prefecture, Japan.
As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 287,672 and the density of 588.11 persons per kmē. The total area is 489.15 kmē.
The city was founded on April 1, 1889.
Morioka is in the territory inhabited by the Emishi people in ancient times. The general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, who was ordered to conquer the Emishi, built Shiwa Castle here in 803, and the region gradually was brought under imperial control.
At the end of the Heian period, Morioka was under the control of the Oshu Fujiwara Clan based in Hiraizumi, to the south of Morioka. The clan was destroyed by shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the Kudo Clan replaced it. During the Muromachi period, the Nambu Clan, based in Sannohe to the north, expanded its territory and built Kozukata Castle here. Kozukata changed its name to Morioka in the 17th century.
In the Boshin War, Morioka made a pro-shogunate alliance with Aizu, and fought against the imperial force.
Morioka is located in Kitakami Basin. The Kitakami River, the longest river in Tohoku, runs through the city. Beautiful Mount Iwate is to the northwest of the city.
Morioka Station was the original northern terminal of Tohoku Shinkansen. The line was extended to Hachinohe in 2002, but the station has kept its significant role in the traffic of northern Tohoku. Akita Shinkansen also branches off at the station.
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