静岡
Shizuoka
静岡 · しずおか
Prefecture
Chubu
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Quiet Hill"
True Etymology
The name combines 'shizu' (静, quiet/calm) and 'oka' (岡, hill). The name was given in 1869 by merging the former castle town of Sunpu with surrounding areas. The 'quiet hill' imagery may reference the forested hills surrounding the Sunpu plain, which appeared serene compared to the bustling port areas.
Alternative Theory
Before 1869, the area was known as 'Sunpu' (駿府), the seat of Tokugawa Ieyasu's retirement government. The new name 'Shizuoka' was chosen partly to distance the region from its Tokugawa associations.
Key Facts
| Capital | Shizuoka City |
|---|---|
| Region | Chubu |
| Reading | しずおか |
| Pre-Meiji Domains | Sunpu Domain (駿府藩), Kakegawa Domain, Hamamatsu Domain |
| Domain Lords | Tokugawa clan (徳川氏), Ōta clan (太田氏) |
| Established | 1871-present |