HISTORY OF ISHIKAWA

In the prehistoric days, Hokuriku area was called "Koshi no kuni". Present Kaga and Noto were divided into 4 counties which were Enuma, Kaga, Hakui and Noto and Kunino Miyatsuko ruled these counties. After the Taika era, both Noto and Kaga belonged to Echizen, but they were divided and ruled by Kunino tsukai. Then, in the middle of the Heian period, the political situation became unstable. In Kaga, Mr. Togashi became powerful and in Noto, Mr. Hatakeyama reigned.
In Bunmei 3 (1471), Rennyo, who was a monk of Hongan temple, spread the precept of a Buddhist invocation, and disciples of Kaga Hongan temple became powerful and ruined Masachika Togashi at "the Ikko ikki riot". Then, Kaga became known as "County which farmers own" and the county was governed by religious politics. This continued for more than 90 years. Then, Katsuie Shibata conquered Southern Kaga and Morimasa Sakuma conquered Oyama gobou which was the center of "Ikko ikki riot". In Noto, Mr. Hatakeyama was defeated by Kenshin Uesugi at Nanao, then Nobunaga Oda's troops governed and Toshiie Maeda ruled.
In Tensei 11 (1583), Toshiie Maeda was given the area around Oyama castle, and in Tensei 12 (1584), he became ruler of the 3 counties of Ecchu. His son, Toshiie (Junior) was given the Southern Kaga area because of his valiant fighting spirit during the Sekigahara war. In Meiji 4 (1871), 3 prefectures, Kanazawa, Daisyoji and Toyama, were settled by Haihan Chiken law. In Meiji 16 (1883), after many land divisins and combinations, the present day prefectural area was established.

Period
Christian calendar
Local history
Pre pottery
period
15,000
B.C.
 Life style was hunting, gathering with stone implements.
Joumon
period
5,000
B.C.

Jomon Pottery was made.
Shell mounds were made.
People lived in a pit style house.
Yayoi
period
B.C.
 People started to make rice fields and cultivate rice.
Yayoi pottery was made.
Kofun
(Ancienttomb )
period
300~400
 Ancient tomb started to be made.
500~600
 Side cave style tomb was made.
Asuka
period
692
 Echizen county was established.(included present day Kaga and Noto)
Nara
perild
718
 4 counties, Hakui, Noto, Fugeshi and Suzu were divided from Echizen county and became Noto county.
741
 Noto county was joined to Ecchu county.
757
 Noto county was divided from Ecchu county again.
772
 Bokkaishi inaugurated at Fukurazu, Hakui-gun.
Heian
period
823
 Kaga and Enuma were divided from Echizen county and became Kaga county.
1152
 Hakusan shrine became a branch temple of Enryaku temple.
1183
 Heike troops were beaten by Genji troops (led by Yoshinaka Kiso) at Mt.Kurikara and also beaten at Shinohara, and eventually forced away to Kyoto.
1185
 Tokitada Taira was banished to Noto.
Kamakura
period
1261
 Daijo temple was built in Nonoichi.
1294
 Nichijo built Myojyo temple at Ryukoku, Noto.
1321
 Souji templewas built at Monzen, Noto.
Muromachi
period
1401
 Motokuni Hatakeyama became guard of Noto.
1471
 Rennyo of Hongan temple built a temple at Yoshizaki, Echizen.
1474
 Masachika Togashi fought well at "Ikko ikki riot" and regained his guard position.(Bunmei riot).
1476
 Lacquering (Wajima lacqueware) started.
1488
 Masachika Togashi was defeated at Takao Castle and a republican form of government was started. (Chokyo riot)
1546
 Kanazawa Midou (Oyama Gobou) was built.
1577
 Mr.Hatakeyama in Noto was defeated. Kenshin Uesugi got Nanao castle and was successful in his invation of Noto.
1580
 Morimasa Sakuma captured Oyama gobou and built Oyama castle.
1581
 Toshiie Maeda was given Noto county and moved to Komaruyama castle in Nanao.
1583
 Toshiie Maeda entered Kanazawa castle and became a feudal lord reigning over one million goku (a unit of land measurement), and ruled 3 counties, Kaga, Noto and Echizen.
Edo
period
1614
 Osaka Winter Battle (1614) and Summer Battle (1615) broke out. Toshitsune Maeda went to the battle and supported Tokugawa.
1632
 Heijiro Itaya built the Tatsumi water system which brought water from the Sai river to Kanazawa castle.
1643
 Tosho shrine was built in Kanazawa castle.
1659
 Kutani pottery established.
1703
 Chiyojo, Haiku poet, was born in Matto.
1805
 A big fire spread and more than 10,000 castles and houses were burnt.
Meiji
period
1869
 Gonbe Eda built Hichika water system.
1871
 3 prefectures, Kanazawa, Daishoji and Nanao, were established by the Haihan Chiken law. Eventually, Daishoji joined Kanazawa.
1872
 Prefectural office was moved to Mikawa and Kanazawa pref. changed to Ishikawa pref. Nanao pref. joined to Ishikawa.
1873
 Prefectural office was moved to Kanazawa from Mikawa.
1878
 The first telegraph began operation in Kanazawa.
1881
 Echizen was divided from Ishikawa pref. and became Fukui pref.
1883
 Ecchu was divided from Ishikawa pref. and became Toyama pref. Present Ishikawa pref. was established.
1889
 Kanazawa was municipalized.
1897
 Rail road opened between Fukui and Kanazawa. Soon,many railroads were built.
1900
 Sai River Tatsumi Power Station was completed.Electric lights were installed.
1901
 Telephone line was installed in Kanazawa.
1908
 Gas lamps were installed.
Taishou
period
1913
 Hokuriku line opened from Maibara to Naoetsu.
1919
 The first city streetcar started operating in Kanazawa.
1925
 The first general election in Japan was held and 6 governors were elected from Ishikawa.
Shouwa
period
1930
 Radiobroadcasting started in Kanazawa.
1947
 "The first prefectural gubernatorial election" was held.
1949
 National school changed to elementary school, and the 6-3 system started. Kanazawa University established.
1956

TV broadcasting began in Kanazawa.
Komatsu airport opened.

1963
 Because of heavy snowfall, Ishikawa was isolated for a month.
1967
 City streetcars were abolished in Kanazawa.
1970
 Population of Ishikawa rose above one million.
1972
 A portion of the Hokuriku express way opened.
1983
 "The National Plant a tree Festival" was held.
Heisei
period
1991
 "The 46th National Athletic Meet" (Ishikawa Kokutai) was held.