Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi exists at Honshu's western tip—the last stop before Kyushu, the gateway between Japan's main island and its southwestern frontier. This position made it strategically crucial. The Choshu domain based here, along with Satsuma in Kagoshima, led the Meiji Restoration; Yamaguchi has produced more Prime Ministers than any prefecture except Tokyo.

The historical importance creates political legacy. The Abe family—including Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister—represents Yamaguchi's political dynasty tradition. But political influence doesn't prevent economic challenges. The population has been declining for decades; petrochemical and manufacturing industries face global competition.

Shimonoseki, at Honshu's tip, faces Korea across the strait—ferries still connect to Busan. The fugu (pufferfish) industry centers here; eating the potentially lethal delicacy requires licensed chefs. By 2026, Yamaguchi's question is whether political connections can translate to economic development, or whether the prefecture that launched modern Japan will become peripheral to the Japan it created.