1.
Sendai; the largest city in Tohoku
The capital of Miyagi Prefecture and the biggest city in northeastern Japan. Founded by the warlord 伊達政宗, it is nicknamed 杜の都 — "the city of trees" — for its tree-lined avenues.
Do not confuse it in writing with 川内 in Kagoshima or 先代 (the previous generation) — all are read せんだい.
Common expressions
- 杜の都: "city of trees," the standard epithet for Sendai
- 仙台七夕祭り: the Sendai Tanabata Festival, held every August
- 仙台牛タン: Sendai-style grilled beef tongue, the city's signature dish
- 仙台駅: Sendai Station, the Tohoku Shinkansen hub
Cultural note
Sendai is closely tied to 伊達政宗, the one-eyed daimyo whose crescent-moon helmet is the city's emblem, and since 2011 it has also been known as the base for recovery efforts after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.