Provinces of Japan
Before modern prefectures system is established, land of Japan was divided into number of Kuni (Countries), Shima (Islands), and occasionary Gen. These units are translated to an English word provinces.
At first, provinces are established as administrative units as well as geographic regions. In Edo Era, the function of provinces as administrative units is effectively and gradually supplanted by Han territories.
At the Meiji restoration, soon after Han is legitimized as administrative units, they are replaced with Fu (urban prefectures) and Ken (rural prefectures). While, provinces as the address system are not abolished but augumented on the contrary. As of 1871, the number of prefectures are 304, while the number of provinces is 68, aside from Hokkaido and Ryukyu Province. Boundaries among these abundant prefectures are very complicated and not aligned to those of provinces. Prefectures have been merged to 37 by 1881, then splited to 45 by 1885. Adding Hokkaido and Okinawa makes the currnet number 47.
To date, no official order has been issued that abolish provinces. Provinces are nonetheless considered obsolete today, however, name of them are still widely used as parts of natural feature names, company names, and brands. In the early 2000s, the governor of Nagano Prefecture proposed the renaming of the prefecture as Shinshu (a name derived from Shinano Province).
Provinces are classified into Kinai (in capital) and seven or eight do (routes, or circuitss). Note that, however, do in this context should not be confused with modern traffic lines such as Tokaido from Tokyo to Kyoto or Kobe. Also, Hokkaido in this context should not be confused with Hokkaido Prefecture, although these two are geographically overlap.
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2 Early ninth century to Meiji restoration 3 After Meiji restoration (1868) 4 Some brief periods 5 Today |
These province names are considered as historical stuff, however, there is no record that these names are officially abolished.Early eighth century
Early ninth century to Meiji restoration
After Meiji restoration (1868)
Some brief periods
Today