Sendai (カ Sendai-shi) is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the T?hoku region. In 2005, the city had a population of one million, and was one of Japan's 20 designated cities. The city was founded in 1600 by the daimyo Date Masamune, and is well known by its nickname, the City of Trees (?常 Mori no Miyako). In the summer, the Sendai Tanabata Festival, the largest Tanabata festival in Japan, is held. In winter, the trees are decorated with thousands of lights for the Pageant of Starlight (???????), lasting through most of December.