[2] Fudai is a coastal mountainous community situated on the Sanriku Coast ria along the Pacific Ocean in northern Iwate.

[9] The area of present-day Fudai was part of ancient Mutsu Province, dominated by the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Hachinohe Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

With the Meiji period establishment of the modern municipalities system, the village of Fudai was created within Kitahei District on April 1, 1889.

[10] The village was spared from the devastation brought to other coastal communities following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami thanks to a 15.5-metre (51 ft) floodgate that protected the town.

The village's only casualty was one missing person who went to inspect his boat in the fishing port, located outside of the wall's protection, immediately after the earthquake.

Fudai, together with the city of Miyako, town of Iwaizumi and the villages of Tanohata and Yamada, collectively contributes three seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature.