兵庫
Hyogo
兵庫 · ひょうご
Prefecture
Kinki
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Weapons Storehouse"
True Etymology
The name means 'weapons storehouse' (兵 = soldier/weapon, 庫 = storehouse). An imperial weapons depot was established here in ancient times to guard the western approaches to the capital. The storehouse gave its name to the port town, which grew into modern Kobe and the prefecture.
Alternative Theory
The weapons storehouse dates to the Nara or early Heian period. As a major port, Hyogo later became central to Japan's overseas trade, and the name 'Hyogo' extended to designate the broader coastal region long before the prefecture was established.
Key Facts
| Capital | Kobe |
|---|---|
| Region | Kinki |
| Reading | ひょうご |
| Pre-Meiji Domains | Himeji Domain, Akashi Domain, Toyooka Domain |
| Domain Lords | Honda clan (本多氏), Matsudaira clan (松平氏) |
| Established | 1871-present |