Sendai is one of the most traditional cities in Japan. In the Edo Period, Sendai was the metropolice of "Sendai (Date) Fief," one of the major fiefs in Japan, and prospered as the center-city for politics and economy of Northern Japan.

In the Meiji Period, Sendai was placed as the center city of the Tohoku District, and many governmental branches were established in Sendai.

Currently, Sendai is growing more and more, the population of Sendai is growing rapidly, and reached one million in May 1999. Owing to twelve colleges and universities, Sendai is also referred to as "the city of universities and schools." It is also called "Mori no Miyako," the city of trees, since most of the major streets and avenues in the city are lined with trees (almost all the trees are Zelkova).