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Japanese Place Names
Etymology Database

地名の由来

Why are Japan's prefectures and historic provinces called what they are? Explore the kanji meanings, true etymologies, and pre-Meiji domains of all 47 prefectures and 66 ancient provinces.

47Prefectures
66Historic Provinces
113Total Entries
Region:
113 entries
北海道
Prefecture
Hokkaido

Hokkaido
北海道 (ほっかいどう)
Literal: "Northern Sea Road"
Named in 1869 by explorer Matsuura Takeshiro. He chose 'Hokkaido' (Northern Sea Circuit) inspired by the ancient provinc…
Name Etymology →
青森
Prefecture
Tohoku

Aomori
青森 (あおもり)
Literal: "Blue/Green Forest"
The name derives from a forested hill on the coast used as a landmark by sailors. The hill, covered in dense evergreen t…
Name Etymology →
岩手
Prefecture
Tohoku

Iwate
岩手 (いわて)
Literal: "Rocky Hand"
Legend holds that a demon (oni) terrorized the region until a deity pressed the demon's hand into a large rock, leaving …
Name Etymology →
宮城
Prefecture
Tohoku

Miyagi
宮城 (みやぎ)
Literal: "Palace/Shrine Enclosure"
The name combines 'miya' (宮, shrine or palace) and 'ki/gi' (城, enclosure or castle). It is believed to derive from the a…
Name Etymology →
秋田
Prefecture
Tohoku

Akita
秋田 (あきた)
Literal: "Autumn Rice Fields"
Despite the kanji suggesting 'autumn' (秋) and 'rice field' (田), the name has no seasonal connection. The dominant theory…
Name Etymology →
山形
Prefecture
Tohoku

Yamagata
山形 (やまがた)
Literal: "Mountain Shape"
The name is largely literal: the region is surrounded by mountain ranges whose silhouettes from the valley floor form di…
Name Etymology →
福島
Prefecture
Tohoku

Fukushima
福島 (ふくしま)
Literal: "Fortunate Island"
The name combines 'fuku' (福, good fortune/blessing) and 'shima' (島, island). In the Edo period, 'shima' could refer to a…
Name Etymology →
茨城
Prefecture
Kanto

Ibaraki
茨城 (いばらき)
Literal: "Bramble/Thorn Castle"
The name derives from a fortress (城, ki/gi) surrounded by thorny bramble bushes (茨, ibara) used as a natural defensive b…
Name Etymology →
栃木
Prefecture
Kanto

Tochigi
栃木 (とちぎ)
Literal: "Horse Chestnut Tree"
The name refers to the tochi tree (栃, Aesculus turbinata, the Japanese horse chestnut). The area had abundant tochi tree…
Name Etymology →
群馬
Prefecture
Kanto

Gunma
群馬 (ぐんま)
Literal: "Group of Horses"
The name evokes a gathering or herd of horses. The Kanto plain of Gunma was historically renowned for horse breeding, an…
Name Etymology →
埼玉
Prefecture
Kanto

Saitama
埼玉 (さいたま)
Literal: "Cape of Jewels"
The original form was 'Sakitama' (前玉 or 埼玉), meaning 'cape of jewels' or 'foreland of jewels.' The 'saki' (埼) refers to …
Name Etymology →
千葉
Prefecture
Kanto

Chiba
千葉 (ちば)
Literal: "Thousand Leaves"
The name combines 'chi' (千, thousand) and 'ha/ba' (葉, leaf/blade). The most accepted theory holds that the Chiba clan, p…
Name Etymology →
東京
Prefecture
Kanto

Tokyo
東京 (とうきょう)
Literal: "Eastern Capital"
The name was given in September 1868, when the Meiji government renamed Edo (江戸) to Tokyo. The characters mean 'eastern …
Name Etymology →
神奈川
Prefecture
Kanto

Kanagawa
神奈川 (かながわ)
Literal: "Divine River or Gold River"
The origin is debated. One theory reads the characters literally as 'divine' (神) + 'river' (川), suggesting a sacred rive…
Name Etymology →
新潟
Prefecture
Chubu

Niigata
新潟 (にいがた)
Literal: "New Lagoon"
The name derives from a newly formed sandbar or tidal flat (潟, kata) that emerged at the mouth of the Shinano River. 'Ni…
Name Etymology →
富山
Prefecture
Chubu

Toyama
富山 (とやま)
Literal: "Abundant Mountain"
The characters suggest 'rich' or 'abundant' (富) mountain (山). The most likely origin, however, is phonetic: the area was…
Name Etymology →
石川
Prefecture
Chubu

Ishikawa
石川 (いしかわ)
Literal: "Stone River"
The name literally means 'stone river,' describing the rocky, swift-flowing rivers that characterize the region, particu…
Name Etymology →
福井
Prefecture
Chubu

Fukui
福井 (ふくい)
Literal: "Fortunate Well"
The name combines 'fuku' (福, fortune/blessing) and 'i' (井, well). The city of Fukui grew around a settlement with a nota…
Name Etymology →
山梨
Prefecture
Chubu

Yamanashi
山梨 (やまなし)
Literal: "Mountain Pear Tree"
The characters mean 'mountain' (山) and 'pear' (梨), suggesting the wild pear trees (yamanashi, Pyrus pyrifolia var. pyrif…
Name Etymology →
長野
Prefecture
Chubu

Nagano
長野 (ながの)
Literal: "Long Field"
The name straightforwardly describes the geography: a long (長) valley or plain (野) stretching along the Chikuma River ba…
Name Etymology →
岐阜
Prefecture
Chubu

Gifu
岐阜 (ぎふ)
Literal: "Mountain Mound (Named by Oda Nobunaga)"
The name was personally chosen by Oda Nobunaga in 1567 after he captured Inabayama Castle. He took two Chinese place nam…
Name Etymology →
静岡
Prefecture
Chubu

Shizuoka
静岡 (しずおか)
Literal: "Quiet Hill"
The name combines 'shizu' (静, quiet/calm) and 'oka' (岡, hill). The name was given in 1869 by merging the former castle t…
Name Etymology →
愛知
Prefecture
Chubu

Aichi
愛知 (あいち)
Literal: "Love and Wisdom"
Despite the appealing literal reading ('love' 愛 + 'wisdom' 知), the characters are phonetic substitutes (ateji). The area…
Name Etymology →
三重
Prefecture
Chubu

Mie
三重 (みえ)
Literal: "Triple Layer"
The name's origin is uncertain. The literal meaning is 'three layers' or 'triple fold.' One theory holds that the landsc…
Name Etymology →
滋賀
Prefecture
Kinki

Shiga
滋賀 (しが)
Literal: "Nourishing Celebration"
The characters suggest 'nourishing' or 'flourishing' (滋) and 'celebration' or 'joy' (賀), but these are likely ateji (pho…
Name Etymology →
京都
Prefecture
Kinki

Kyoto
京都 (きょうと)
Literal: "Capital City"
The name literally means 'capital city' (京 = capital, 都 = metropolis/city). When Emperor Kanmu relocated the imperial co…
Name Etymology →
大阪
Prefecture
Kinki

Osaka
大阪 (おおさか)
Literal: "Great Slope"
The name derives from 'Ōsaka' (大坂), meaning 'great slope' or 'great hill.' The original character was 坂 (hill/slope), re…
Name Etymology →
兵庫
Prefecture
Kinki

Hyogo
兵庫 (ひょうご)
Literal: "Weapons Storehouse"
The name means 'weapons storehouse' (兵 = soldier/weapon, 庫 = storehouse). An imperial weapons depot was established here…
Name Etymology →
奈良
Prefecture
Kinki

Nara
奈良 (なら)
Literal: "Leveled Land"
The name is derived from the verb 'ならす' (narasu), meaning 'to level' or 'to flatten.' The Nara basin was cleared and fla…
Name Etymology →
和歌山
Prefecture
Kinki

Wakayama
和歌山 (わかやま)
Literal: "Harmonious Song Mountain"
The name combines 'waka' (和歌, Japanese poetry/song), 'yama' (山, mountain). The mountain (Wakayama Castle hill) was named…
Name Etymology →
鳥取
Prefecture
Chugoku

Tottori
鳥取 (とっとり)
Literal: "Bird Catching"
The name means 'to catch birds' (鳥 = bird, 取 = to take/catch). An ancient imperial bird-catching guild (鳥取部, Totoribe) w…
Name Etymology →
島根
Prefecture
Chugoku

Shimane
島根 (しまね)
Literal: "Island Roots"
The name combines 'shima' (島, island) and 'ne' (根, root/base). The Shimane Peninsula, a long narrow landmass extending i…
Name Etymology →
岡山
Prefecture
Chugoku

Okayama
岡山 (おかやま)
Literal: "Hill Mountain"
The name literally combines 'oka' (岡, hill or low elevation) and 'yama' (山, mountain). It describes the gentle hills and…
Name Etymology →
広島
Prefecture
Chugoku

Hiroshima
広島 (ひろしま)
Literal: "Wide Island"
The name means 'wide' or 'broad' (広) island (島). The city was founded in 1589 by Mōri Terumoto on a delta of the Ōta Riv…
Name Etymology →
山口
Prefecture
Chugoku

Yamaguchi
山口 (やまぐち)
Literal: "Mountain Entrance"
The name literally means 'mountain mouth/entrance' (山口). The city sits at a natural gateway through the mountains of wes…
Name Etymology →
徳島
Prefecture
Shikoku

Tokushima
徳島 (とくしま)
Literal: "Virtue Island"
The name combines 'toku' (徳, virtue/moral excellence) and 'shima' (島, island). The castle town was established by Hachis…
Name Etymology →
香川
Prefecture
Shikoku

Kagawa
香川 (かがわ)
Literal: "Fragrant River"
The name means 'fragrant river' (香 = fragrance/aroma, 川 = river). The origin likely refers to a river whose clear, pure …
Name Etymology →
愛媛
Prefecture
Shikoku

Ehime
愛媛 (えひめ)
Literal: "Beloved Princess"
The name derives directly from Japanese mythology. In the Kojiki (712 CE), the land deity of Shikoku's western region is…
Name Etymology →
高知
Prefecture
Shikoku

Kochi
高知 (こうち)
Literal: "High Land/Wisdom"
The current characters mean 'high' (高) and 'wisdom/knowledge' (知), but these are ateji. The name derives from 'Kawachi' …
Name Etymology →
福岡
Prefecture
Kyushu

Fukuoka
福岡 (ふくおか)
Literal: "Fortunate Hill"
The name combines 'fuku' (福, fortune/blessing) and 'oka' (岡, hill). It was chosen by Kuroda Nagamasa in 1601 when he bui…
Name Etymology →
佐賀
Prefecture
Kyushu

Saga
佐賀 (さが)
Literal: "Help and Celebration"
The literal reading gives 'help/assist' (佐) and 'auspicious/celebrate' (賀), but these are likely phonetic characters. Th…
Name Etymology →
長崎
Prefecture
Kyushu

Nagasaki
長崎 (ながさき)
Literal: "Long Cape"
The name literally means 'long cape' (長 = long, 崎 = cape/promontory). The Nagasaki Peninsula extends as a long, narrow f…
Name Etymology →
熊本
Prefecture
Kyushu

Kumamoto
熊本 (くまもと)
Literal: "Bear Origin"
The current characters mean 'bear' (熊) and 'origin/base' (本), but these are ateji. The original name was 'Kumamoto' (隈本)…
Name Etymology →
大分
Prefecture
Kyushu

Oita
大分 (おおいた)
Literal: "Great Division"
The current characters mean 'great' (大) and 'division/portion' (分), but these are ateji. The original name was likely 'Ō…
Name Etymology →
宮崎
Prefecture
Kyushu

Miyazaki
宮崎 (みやざき)
Literal: "Shrine Cape"
The name combines 'miya' (宮, shrine or palace) and 'saki/zaki' (崎, cape/promontory). The Miyazaki region is home to the …
Name Etymology →
鹿児島
Prefecture
Kyushu

Kagoshima
鹿児島 (かごしま)
Literal: "Deer Child Island"
The name means 'deer' (鹿) + 'child' (児) + 'island' (島). The origin is debated. One theory holds that the name derives fr…
Name Etymology →
沖縄
Prefecture
Okinawa

Okinawa
沖縄 (おきなわ)
Literal: "Offshore Rope"
The name is interpreted as 'offshore' (沖, oki) and 'rope' (縄, nawa). One theory describes the islands' chain-like shape …
Name Etymology →
山城
Province
Kinai

Yamashiro Province
山城国 (やましろ)
Literal: "Mountain Castle"
The name means 'mountain castle' or 'mountain behind' (山, yama = mountain; 城, shiro = castle/behind). The province sat b…
Name Etymology →
大和
Province
Kinai

Yamato Province
大和国 (やまと)
Literal: "Great Harmony"
Yamato (大和) is one of Japan's most ancient place names and the origin word for Japan itself. The characters mean 'great …
Name Etymology →
河内
Province
Kinai

Kawachi Province
河内国 (かわち)
Literal: "Inside the River"
The name means 'inside the river' or 'river interior' (河, river + 内, inside/within). The province occupied the low-lying…
Name Etymology →
和泉
Province
Kinai

Izumi Province
和泉国 (いずみ)
Literal: "Harmonious Spring"
The name combines 'wa' (和, harmony/Japan) and 'izumi' (泉, spring/fountain). The province was known for its freshwater sp…
Name Etymology →
摂津
Province
Kinai

Settsu Province
摂津国 (せっつ)
Literal: "Governing Harbor"
The name is interpreted as 'governing' (摂, setsu = to govern/administer) and 'harbor/port' (津, tsu = harbor). Settsu con…
Name Etymology →
伊賀
Province
Tokaido

Iga Province
伊賀国 (いが)
Literal: "That Celebration"
The characters 伊 (that/this) and 賀 (celebration/joy) are phonetic (ateji). The name 'Iga' predates the characters and li…
Name Etymology →
伊勢
Province
Tokaido

Ise Province
伊勢国 (いせ)
Literal: "That Authority"
The characters 伊 (that) and 勢 (power/authority/energy) may be phonetic, but 'ise' also carries meaning. One theory deriv…
Name Etymology →
志摩
Province
Tokaido

Shima Province
志摩国 (しま)
Literal: "Island"
The name simply means 'island' (志摩 = shima), reflecting the peninsula and island geography of the Ago Bay area. The Shim…
Name Etymology →
尾張
Province
Tokaido

Owari Province
尾張国 (おわり)
Literal: "Tail/End Weaving"
The characters mean 'tail' (尾) and 'to weave/stretch' (張), but the name is phonetic. 'Owari' in ancient Japanese meant '…
Name Etymology →
三河
Province
Tokaido

Mikawa Province
三河国 (みかわ)
Literal: "Three Rivers"
The name means 'three rivers' (三, three + 河, river). Three major rivers—the Yahagi, Yata, and Toyo—flow through the regi…
Name Etymology →
遠江
Province
Tokaido

Totomi Province
遠江国 (とおとうみ)
Literal: "Far Lake"
The name means 'far lake' (遠, far + 江, lake/inlet). It refers to Lake Hamana (浜名湖), a large coastal lagoon. The province…
Name Etymology →
駿河
Province
Tokaido

Suruga Province
駿河国 (するが)
Literal: "Swift River"
The characters suggest 'swift horse' (駿) and 'river' (河), but the name is largely phonetic. One theory derives 'suruga' …
Name Etymology →
伊豆
Province
Tokaido

Izu Province
伊豆国 (いず)
Literal: "That Bean/Exit"
The characters (伊, that; 豆, bean) are phonetic. The origin of 'Izu' is debated. One theory connects it to 'izu' meaning …
Name Etymology →
甲斐
Province
Tokaido

Kai Province
甲斐国 (かい)
Literal: "Worth/Reward"
The characters mean 'armor/first' (甲) and 'worth/reward' (斐/斐). The name is largely phonetic, but 'kai' as a word means …
Name Etymology →
相模
Province
Tokaido

Sagami Province
相模国 (さがみ)
Literal: "Mutual Model"
The characters mean 'mutual' (相) and 'model/pattern' (模), but these are phonetic. The origin of 'Sagami' is uncertain. O…
Name Etymology →
武蔵
Province
Tokaido

Musashi Province
武蔵国 (むさし)
Literal: "Warrior's Hidden Place"
The characters combine 'warrior/military' (武) and 'hidden/concealed' (蔵), but these are phonetic. 'Musashi' appears in a…
Name Etymology →
安房
Province
Tokaido

Awa Province (Kanto)
安房国 (あわ)
Literal: "Peaceful Room/Chamber"
The characters mean 'peaceful' (安) and 'room/chamber' (房). The name may describe the sheltered bays and inlets of the Bo…
Name Etymology →
上総
Province
Tokaido

Kazusa Province
上総国 (かずさ)
Literal: "Upper総"
The name derives from the ancient province of 'Fusa' (総), which was divided into Upper Fusa (上総, Kazusa) and Lower Fusa …
Name Etymology →
下総
Province
Tokaido

Shimosa Province
下総国 (しもうさ)
Literal: "Lower総"
As the counterpart to Kazusa (Upper Fusa), Shimōsa (下総) means 'Lower Fusa/Sō.' Despite being geographically north of Kaz…
Name Etymology →
常陸
Province
Tokaido

Hitachi Province
常陸国 (ひたち)
Literal: "Constant Land"
The characters mean 'constant' (常) and 'land' (陸). The name may describe stable, reliable land or a perpetually inhabite…
Name Etymology →
近江
Province
Tosando

Omi Province
近江国 (おうみ)
Literal: "Near Lake"
The name means 'near lake' (近, near + 江, lake/inlet). Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is the defining feature. The prov…
Name Etymology →
美濃
Province
Tosando

Mino Province
美濃国 (みの)
Literal: "Beautiful Thick/Dense"
The characters mean 'beautiful' (美) and 'dense/thick' (濃). The name may describe the lush, fertile valleys of the Nobi P…
Name Etymology →
飛騨
Province
Tosando

Hida Province
飛騨国 (ひだ)
Literal: "Flying Horseman"
The characters mean 'flying' (飛) and 'horseman/cavalryman' (騨). These are likely phonetic, though the imagery of flying …
Name Etymology →
信濃
Province
Tosando

Shinano Province
信濃国 (しなの)
Literal: "Faithful Dense Land"
The characters mean 'faithful/trust' (信) and 'dense/thick' (濃). These are phonetic, and 'Shinano' predates the character…
Name Etymology →
上野
Province
Tosando

Kozuke Province
上野国 (こうずけ)
Literal: "Upper Field/Plain"
The name derives from ancient 'Ke' or 'Kenu' Province, divided into Upper Kenu (上毛野, Kōzuke) and Lower Kenu (下毛野, Shimot…
Name Etymology →
下野
Province
Tosando

Shimotsuke Province
下野国 (しもつけ)
Literal: "Lower Field/Plain"
The counterpart to Kōzuke (Upper Field), Shimotsuke means 'Lower Kenu/Ke,' the downstream or southern portion of the anc…
Name Etymology →
出羽
Province
Tosando

Dewa Province
出羽国 (でわ)
Literal: "Emerging Feathers"
The characters mean 'emerging' or 'going out' (出) and 'feathers' (羽). The origin is debated. One theory connects the nam…
Name Etymology →
陸奥
Province
Tosando

Mutsu Province
陸奥国 (むつ)
Literal: "Deep Interior Land"
The name means 'land' (陸) and 'interior/deep' (奥), literally 'deep inland territory.' It was the largest province in Jap…
Name Etymology →
若狭
Province
Hokurikudo

Wakasa Province
若狭国 (わかさ)
Literal: "Young/New Narrow"
The characters mean 'young' (若) and 'narrow' (狭). The name may describe the small, narrow coastal plain of Obama Bay—a '…
Name Etymology →
越前
Province
Hokurikudo

Echizen Province
越前国 (えちぜん)
Literal: "Before the Crossing"
The name derives from 'Koshi' (越, crossing/surpassing), the ancient name for the entire Sea of Japan coastal region. Ech…
Name Etymology →
加賀
Province
Hokurikudo

Kaga Province
加賀国 (かが)
Literal: "Add Congratulations"
The characters mean 'add/increase' (加) and 'congratulations/celebration' (賀), likely phonetic. The name 'Kaga' predates …
Name Etymology →
能登
Province
Hokurikudo

Noto Province
能登国 (のと)
Literal: "Capable/Talented Ascent"
The characters mean 'capable/talented' (能) and 'to ascend/climb' (登), but these are phonetic. The name 'Noto' likely der…
Name Etymology →
越中
Province
Hokurikudo

Etchu Province
越中国 (えっちゅう)
Literal: "Middle Crossing"
Like Echizen (front) and Echigo (back), Etchū (越中) means 'middle Koshi,' the central section of the ancient Sea of Japan…
Name Etymology →
越後
Province
Hokurikudo

Echigo Province
越後国 (えちご)
Literal: "Behind the Crossing"
Echigo (越後) means 'behind/back Koshi'—the furthest section of the old Sea of Japan coastal region from the capital. Of t…
Name Etymology →
佐渡
Province
Hokurikudo

Sado Province
佐渡国 (さど)
Literal: "Help Cross"
The characters mean 'help/assist' (佐) and 'to cross/ford' (渡), but these are phonetic for an island name of uncertain or…
Name Etymology →
丹波
Province
Sanindo

Tamba Province
丹波国 (たんば)
Literal: "Red/Cinnabar Wave"
The characters mean 'red/cinnabar' (丹) and 'wave' (波), but these are phonetic. 'Tamba' may derive from a pre-Yamato word…
Name Etymology →
丹後
Province
Sanindo

Tango Province
丹後国 (たんご)
Literal: "Behind the Red/Cinnabar"
Like Tamba (丹波, 'front red'), Tango (丹後) means 'behind Tan,' the rear portion of the original Tamba Province when it was…
Name Etymology →
但馬
Province
Sanindo

Tajima Province
但馬国 (たじま)
Literal: "However/Exception Horse"
The characters mean 'however/but' (但) and 'horse' (馬), but these are phonetic. 'Tajima' likely derives from a pre-Yamato…
Name Etymology →
因幡
Province
Sanindo

Inaba Province
因幡国 (いなば)
Literal: "Because of Feathers"
The characters mean 'because/reason' (因) and 'feathers' (幡, actually 'banner'). The name is phonetic for 'Inaba,' which …
Name Etymology →
伯耆
Province
Sanindo

Hoki Province
伯耆国 (ほうき)
Literal: "Elder Uncle's Sickle"
The characters mean 'elder/chief uncle' (伯) and 'sickle' (耆, actually an archaic character meaning 'old/elder'). These a…
Name Etymology →
出雲
Province
Sanindo

Izumo Province
出雲国 (いずも)
Literal: "Emerging Clouds"
The characters mean 'emerging' (出) and 'cloud' (雲). The name likely refers to the characteristic clouds rising from the …
Name Etymology →
石見
Province
Sanindo

Iwami Province
石見国 (いわみ)
Literal: "Stone Seeing"
The characters mean 'stone' (石) and 'to see/look' (見). The name may describe a prominent rock formation or clifftop used…
Name Etymology →
隠岐
Province
Sanindo

Oki Province
隠岐国 (おき)
Literal: "Hidden Island"
The characters mean 'hidden' (隠) and 'island cape' (岐). The island group in the Sea of Japan was considered remote and h…
Name Etymology →
播磨
Province
Sanyodo

Harima Province
播磨国 (はりま)
Literal: "Spreading Rub"
The characters mean 'to spread/broadcast' (播) and 'to rub/grind' (磨), but these are phonetic. 'Harima' predates the char…
Name Etymology →
美作
Province
Sanyodo

Mimasaka Province
美作国 (みまさか)
Literal: "Beautiful Work/Making"
The characters mean 'beautiful' (美) and 'to make/work' (作). The name may reference skilled craftwork produced in the reg…
Name Etymology →
備前
Province
Sanyodo

Bizen Province
備前国 (びぜん)
Literal: "Front Preparation"
Like Bitchū (middle) and Bingo (back), Bizen (備前) means 'front Kibi'—the section of the ancient Kibi region closest to t…
Name Etymology →
備中
Province
Sanyodo

Bitchu Province
備中国 (びっちゅう)
Literal: "Middle Preparation"
Bitchū (備中) means 'middle Kibi,' the central section of the ancient Kibi territory between Bizen (front) and Bingo (back…
Name Etymology →
備後
Province
Sanyodo

Bingo Province
備後国 (びんご)
Literal: "Behind Preparation"
Bingo (備後) means 'behind Kibi'—the rearmost section of the ancient Kibi kingdom, furthest from the capital. The three-pa…
Name Etymology →
安芸
Province
Sanyodo

Aki Province
安芸国 (あき)
Literal: "Peaceful Skilled"
The characters mean 'peaceful' (安) and 'skilled/artisan' (芸), but these are likely phonetic. 'Aki' may derive from a pre…
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周防
Province
Sanyodo

Suo Province
周防国 (すおう)
Literal: "Surrounding Defense"
The characters mean 'surrounding/encircling' (周) and 'defense/protection' (防). The name may reference the natural defens…
Name Etymology →
長門
Province
Sanyodo

Nagato Province
長門国 (ながと)
Literal: "Long Gate"
The characters mean 'long' (長) and 'gate/entrance' (門). The name describes the province's position as the long gateway b…
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紀伊
Province
Nankido

Kii Province
紀伊国 (きい)
Literal: "Tree/Record Protector"
The characters mean 'record/tree' (紀) and 'protect/Italy' (伊, used phonetically). 'Ki' in ancient Japanese meant 'tree' …
Name Etymology →
淡路
Province
Nankido

Awaji Province
淡路国 (あわじ)
Literal: "Light/Pale Road"
The characters mean 'light/pale' (淡) and 'road/path' (路). In Japanese mythology (Kojiki), Awaji Island was the first isl…
Name Etymology →
阿波
Province
Nankido

Awa Province (Shikoku)
阿波国 (あわ)
Literal: "Foamy Waves"
The characters mean 'foamy/bubbly' (阿, used phonetically as 'a') and 'wave' (波). The name may describe the turbulent, wa…
Name Etymology →
讃岐
Province
Nankido

Sanuki Province
讃岐国 (さぬき)
Literal: "Praising the Cape"
The characters mean 'to praise/admire' (讃) and 'cape/promontory' (岐). The name may reference a celebrated headland or ca…
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伊予
Province
Nankido

Iyo Province
伊予国 (いよ)
Literal: "That Beforehand"
The characters 伊 (that) and 予 (beforehand/I) are phonetic. The name 'Iyo' predates the characters and derives from a pre…
Name Etymology →
土佐
Province
Nankido

Tosa Province
土佐国 (とさ)
Literal: "Earth Helper"
The characters mean 'earth/soil' (土) and 'help/assist' (佐), but these are phonetic. 'Tosa' is a pre-Yamato name of uncer…
Name Etymology →
筑前
Province
Saikido

Chikuzen Province
筑前国 (ちくぜん)
Literal: "Front築"
Like Chikugo (behind), Chikuzen (筑前) means 'front Tsuku/Chiku'—the section of the ancient Tsukushi territory closest to …
Name Etymology →
筑後
Province
Saikido

Chikugo Province
筑後国 (ちくご)
Literal: "Behind築"
Chikugo (筑後) means 'behind Tsuku/Chiku,' the interior section of ancient Tsukushi. The Chikugo River (筑後川), one of Kyush…
Name Etymology →
豊前
Province
Saikido

Buzen Province
豊前国 (ぶぜん)
Literal: "Front Abundance"
Like Bungo (behind), Buzen (豊前) means 'front Toyo/Bu'—the coastal section of the ancient Toyokuni territory. 'Toyo' (豊) …
Name Etymology →
豊後
Province
Saikido

Bungo Province
豊後国 (ぶんご)
Literal: "Behind Abundance"
Bungo (豊後) means 'behind Toyo/Bu'—the interior of the ancient Toyokuni territory. Beppu Bay, within Bungo, is famous for…
Name Etymology →
肥前
Province
Saikido

Hizen Province
肥前国 (ひぜん)
Literal: "Front Fertile"
Like Higo (behind), Hizen (肥前) means 'front Hi/Higo'—the coastal section of the ancient Higo territory. 'Hi' (肥) means '…
Name Etymology →
肥後
Province
Saikido

Higo Province
肥後国 (ひご)
Literal: "Behind Fertile"
Higo (肥後) means 'behind Hi'—the interior fertile territory of Kyushu. The Kumamoto plain, watered by the Shirakawa River…
Name Etymology →
日向
Province
Saikido

Hyuga Province
日向国 (ひゅうが)
Literal: "Facing the Sun"
The name means 'facing the sun' (日, sun + 向, facing/toward). The province faces east toward the Pacific Ocean, where the…
Name Etymology →
大隅
Province
Saikido

Osumi Province
大隅国 (おおすみ)
Literal: "Great Corner"
The characters mean 'great' (大) and 'corner/nook' (隅). The name likely refers to the southeastern corner of Kyushu, the …
Name Etymology →
薩摩
Province
Saikido

Satsuma Province
薩摩国 (さつま)
Literal: "Thin Cloth"
The characters mean 'thin/fine' (薩) and 'cloth/hemp' (摩), but these are phonetic. 'Satsuma' likely derives from a pre-Ya…
Name Etymology →