The following are prominent people who were born, raised, have lived for a significant period in Iwate Prefecture or have otherwise had a significant impact.
Native Emishi and opponents Aterui (? - 802) Isawa Emishi leader who was executed in 802. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758-811) Governor of Michinoku and Seii Tai Shōgun.
Abe family and opponents Abe no Yoritoki (died 1057) chief of the six semi-autonomous Ezo districts and Martial of Frontier Defense. Abe no Sadato (1019-1062) chief of the six semi-autonomous Ezo districts. Minamoto no Yoriyoshi (988-1075) Governor of Mutsu. Minamoto no Yoshiie (1041-1108) son of Yoriyoshi, called Hachiman Taro.
Fujiwara family and opponents Fujiwara no Kiyohira (1056-1128) Founder of the Oshu Fujiwara dynasty and builder of Chūson-ji. Fujiwara no Tsunekiyo (?-1062) Father of Fujiwara no Kiyohira. Fujiwara no Hidehira (1122?-1187) Third head of the Oshu Fujiwaras and governor of Mutsu. Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189) General of the Minamoto clan. Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199) First Shōgun.
Buddhist leaders Gyoki Founder of Shoboji in Oshu City. Jakucho Setouchi (1922- ) Head priest at Tendai-ji, author and speaker.
Captains of science and industry Takano Chōei (1804–50) Dutch scholar, physician, writer, translator and dissident. Takatō Ōshima (1826-1901) made the first Western-style blast furnace and cannons in Hashino town, Kamaishi city, Japan.
Military leaders Ichinohe Hyoe (1855-1931) Army General. Seishirō Itagaki (1885-1948) Army General and Class A War criminal. Shigeru Iwasaki (1953–Present) Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Council, Japan Self-Defense Forces
Political leaders Hara Takashi (1856-1921) Prime Minister. Gotō Shinpei (1857-1929) Mayor of Tokyo, Founder of Boy Scouts in Japan, Home Minister and Foreign Minister. Saitō Makoto (1858-1936) Admiral, Governor of Korea and Prime Minister. Nitobe Inazō (1862-1933) diplomat, author of Bushido: The Soul of Japan and Christian. Mitsumasa Yonai (1880-1948) Minister of Navy and Prime Minister. Zenko Suzuki (1911-2004) Prime Minister. Ichirō Ozawa (1942-) leader of Democratic Party of Japan.
Singer Kohei Fukuda (1976 - )- Japanese folk singer.
Writers Kunio Yanagita (1875-1962) scholar and author of Tōno Monogatari. Takuboku Ishikawa (1886-1912) publisher and poet. Kenji MiyazawaKodansha Encyclopedia of Japan article "Miyazawa Kenji" (p. 222–223). 1983. Tokyo: Kodansha. (1896-1932) teacher, poet and writer of fairy tales. Harumi Setouchi (1921- ) winner of Tanizaki Prize and Noma Prize. Kanichi Fujiwara (1961-) long distance motorcyclist, photographer, author and blogger
References