福井
Fukui
福井 · ふくい
Prefecture
Chubu
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Fortunate Well"
True Etymology
The name combines 'fuku' (福, fortune/blessing) and 'i' (井, well). The city of Fukui grew around a settlement with a notable freshwater well that was considered auspicious. The well served as a gathering point, and the 'fortunate well' became the name of the district and eventually the prefecture.
Alternative Theory
An older form of the name was 'Kitanoshō' (北庄), the name of the castle town. When the region was reorganized, the new name 'Fukui' replaced 'Kitanoshō,' possibly chosen for its auspicious sound rather than a specific geographic feature.
Key Facts
| Capital | Fukui City |
|---|---|
| Region | Chubu |
| Reading | ふくい |
| Pre-Meiji Domains | Fukui Domain, Ōno Domain, Sabae Domain |
| Domain Lords | Matsudaira clan (松平氏, Echizen branch) |
| Established | 1871-present |