鳥取
Tottori
鳥取 · とっとり
Prefecture
Chugoku
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Bird Catching"
True Etymology
The name means 'to catch birds' (鳥 = bird, 取 = to take/catch). An ancient imperial bird-catching guild (鳥取部, Totoribe) was stationed in this region to supply birds—pheasants, ducks, and other waterfowl—to the imperial court. The guild's name became the place name.
Alternative Theory
The Totoribe clan was one of several specialist guilds (be) that served the Yamato court. Their presence in the region was significant enough to permanently mark the landscape with their occupational name, a pattern seen elsewhere in Japan.
Key Facts
| Capital | Tottori City |
|---|---|
| Region | Chugoku |
| Reading | とっとり |
| Pre-Meiji Domains | Tottori Domain, Yonago Domain |
| Domain Lords | Ikeda clan (池田氏) |
| Established | 1871-present |