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Before modern prefectures system is established, land of ] was divided into number of ''Kuni'' (Countries), ''Shima'' (Islands), and occasionary ''Gen''. These units are translated to an English word '''provinces'''. Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of ] was divided into a number of ''Kuni'' (Countries), ''Shima'' (Islands), and occasionally ''Gen''. These units are translated as the English word '''provinces'''.


At first, provinces are established as administrative units as well as geographic regions. In ], the function of provinces as administrative units is effectively and gradually supplanted by ''Han'' territories. At first, provinces were established as administrative units as well as geographic regions. In the ], the function of provinces as administrative units was effectively and gradually supplanted by the ''Han'' territories.


At the ], 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 ] and ]. 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 ] and ] makes the current number 47. At the ], soon after ''Han'' were legitimized as administrative units, they were replaced with ''Fu'' (urban prefectures) and ''Ken'' (rural prefectures). Meanwhile, provinces as the address system were not abolished but, on the contrary, augumented. As of 1871, the number of prefectures was 304, while the number of provinces was 68, aside from ] and ]. Boundaries among these abundant prefectures were very complicated and not aligned to those of provinces. Prefectures were merged to 37 by 1881, then split to 45 by 1885. Adding ] and ] makes the current 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 ] proposed the renaming of the prefecture as Shinshu (a name derived from ]). To date, no official order has been issued that abolishes provinces. Provinces are nonetheless considered obsolete today. However, their names are still widely used as parts of natural feature names, company names, and brands. In the early 2000s, the governor of ] proposed the renaming of the prefecture as Shinshu (a name derived from ]).


Provinces are classified into ''Kinai'' (in capital) and seven or eight ''do'' (routes, or ]s). Note that, however, ''do'' in this context should not be confused with modern traffic lines such as ] from ] to ] or ]. Also, ''Hokkaido'' in this context should not be confused with ], although these two are geographically overlap. Provinces are classified into ''Kinai'' (in capital) and seven or eight ''do'' (routes, or ]s). Note that, however, ''do'' in this context should not be confused with modern traffic lines such as ] from ] to ] or ]. Also, ''Hokkaido'' in this context should not be confused with ], although these two overlap geographically.


==Early eighth century== ==Early eighth century==
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**] **]
**] **]
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
*] (North-Sea-Route) *] (North-Sea-Route)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)
**] (previously not counted resion) **] (previously not counted region)


==Some brief periods== ==Some brief periods==
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==Today== ==Today==


These province names are considered as historical stuff, however, there is no record that these names are officially abolished. These province names are considered to be mainly of historical interest; however, there is no record that these names were ever officially abolished.

Revision as of 04:08, 26 April 2004


Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of Japan was divided into a number of Kuni (Countries), Shima (Islands), and occasionally Gen. These units are translated as the English word provinces.

At first, provinces were established as administrative units as well as geographic regions. In the Edo Era, the function of provinces as administrative units was effectively and gradually supplanted by the Han territories.

At the Meiji restoration, soon after Han were legitimized as administrative units, they were replaced with Fu (urban prefectures) and Ken (rural prefectures). Meanwhile, provinces as the address system were not abolished but, on the contrary, augumented. As of 1871, the number of prefectures was 304, while the number of provinces was 68, aside from Hokkaido and Ryukyu Province. Boundaries among these abundant prefectures were very complicated and not aligned to those of provinces. Prefectures were merged to 37 by 1881, then split to 45 by 1885. Adding Hokkaido and Okinawa makes the current number 47.

To date, no official order has been issued that abolishes provinces. Provinces are nonetheless considered obsolete today. However, their names 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 circuits). 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 overlap geographically.

Early eighth century

Early ninth century to Meiji restoration

After Meiji restoration (1868)

Some brief periods

    • Chichibu (some time before 645, merged into Musashi)
    • Aizu (some time before 645, merged into Mutsu)
    • Ho (some time before 645, merged into Mikawa)
    • Shinaga (some time before 645, merged into Sagami)
    • Izumi Gen (circa 716 to circa 738, divided from Kawachi)
    • Yoshino Gen (circa 716 to circa 738, divided from Yamato)
    • Suwa (circa 721 to circa 738, divided from Shinano)
    • Iwaki (circa 718 to circa 724, divided from Mutsu)
    • Iwase (circa 718 to circa 724, divided from Mutsu)

Today

These province names are considered to be mainly of historical interest; however, there is no record that these names were ever officially abolished.