December 05, 2025
Message from the mayor of Yamagata city
Mayor of Yamagata city
It is my great honor to host the 6th Satoyama Practitioners Networking Event here in Yamagata.
Yamagata is a historic castle town that flourished under Lord Mogami Yoshiaki, who governed one of the largest feudal domains in northern Japan, valued at 570,000 koku of rice (enough to feed half a million people). The city is blessed with a wealth of history, nature and culture — from Mount Zao, famed for its ethereal “snow monsters” and hot springs, to the mountain temple of Yamadera, immortalized by the haiku master Matsuo Basho.
Our region is also deeply proud of its culinary traditions. One of Yamagata’s most beloved dishes is imoni — a taro-and-meat hotpot dish traditionally cooked outdoors by rivers in autumn. Yamagata is also known for its exceptional fruits, such as cherries and La France pears, which embody the richness of our land and the care of our farmers.
In 2017, Yamagata city was designated a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of film — the first city in Japan to receive this recognition. This honor reflects more than three decades of dedication to fostering film culture through the internationally acclaimed Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, first held in 1989. It also acknowledges the work of the Yamagata Film Commission, which promotes film production in the region, and the presence of the Tohoku University of Art and Design, the only art university in northeastern Japan nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers.
Beyond film, Yamagata is home to the professional Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, traditional crafts such as Yamagata cast iron, and a vibrant food culture boasting Japan’s highest per capita ramen consumption. By connecting these diverse cultural assets with other sectors, we strive to enhance their intrinsic value and realize our vision of a “creative cultural city” — one that builds a sustainable future through culture, innovation and collaboration.
We are deeply honored that Yamagata has been selected as one of The Japan Times’ Destination Regions 2025, recognizing cities that lead in sustainable regional development. I sincerely hope this Satoyama Practitioners Networking Event will inspire dialogue, creativity and new pathways toward sustainable communities. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Yamagata and sharing the warmth and vitality of our city with you.
