Morioka

is a city in the Tōhoku region of Japan on the island of Honshu. It is the capital city of Iwate Prefecture.
It has been recognized as a core city since 2008.
History.
In the 9th century, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro led forces which brought the region under imperial control. 
In 1599, Morioka was founded as a castle town ("jōka-machi").
In the Boshin War, Morioka was a pro-shogunate city.
During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Morioka was hit by a 6.1 earthquake.
Culture.
The Iwate Museum of Art (IMA) is in Morioka. IMA's collection includes works works by notable local artists.