Former provinces of Hokkaido

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In 1869, the island of Hokkaido, Japan was divided into 11 provinces and 86 districts. The majority of Japan's former provinces were converted into prefectures by the Meiji government between 1870 and 1876. [1]

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The Hokkaido provinces were dissolved in 1882, and replaced with Hakodate Prefecture, Sapporo Prefecture and Nemuro Prefecture. In 1886, the three prefectures were replaced with Hokkaidō-chō (北海道庁).

List of provinces

The former provinces of Hokkaido are listed below with their districts.

Oshima Province

Location of Oshima Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Oshima.GIF
Location of Oshima Province c. 1869.

Oshima Province (渡島国, Oshima-no kuni): [2] Presently the southern part of modern-day Oshima and Hiyama Subprefectures. Districts included:

Shiribeshi Province

Location of Shiribeshi Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Shiribeshi.GIF
Location of Shiribeshi Province c. 1869.

Shiribeshi Province (後志国, Shiribeshi-no kuni): [2] Modern-day Shiribeshi Subprefecture (minus Abuta) plus northern Hiyama. Districts included:

Iburi Province

Location of Iburi Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Iburi.GIF
Location of Iburi Province c. 1869.

Iburi Province (胆振国, Iburi-no kuni): [2] Modern-day Iburi Subprefecture, Yamakoshi District of Oshima, Abuta District of Shiribeshi, the cities of Chitose and Eniwa of Ishikari, and Shimukappu Village of Kamikawa. Districts included:

Ishikari Province

Location of Ishikari Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Ishikari.GIF
Location of Ishikari Province c. 1869.

Ishikari Province (石狩国, Ishikari-no kuni): [2] Modern-day Ishikari Subprefecture minus Chitose and Eniwa, all of Sorachi Subprefecture, and the southern half of Kamikawa Subprefecture (including Horokanai and excluding Shimukappu). Districts included:

Teshio Province

Location of Teshio Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Teshio.GIF
Location of Teshio Province c. 1869.

Teshio Province (天塩国, Teshio-no kuni): [2] Presently all of modern-day Rumoi Subprefecture and the northern half of Kamikawa Subprefecture. Districts included:

Kitami Province

Location of Kitami Province c. 1869. Green highlighted area is Abashiri District from Kushiro Province c. 1881. Japan prov map Kitami.GIF
Location of Kitami Province c. 1869. Green highlighted area is Abashiri District from Kushiro Province c. 1881.

Kitami Province (北見国, Kitami no kuni): [2] Modern-day Sōya Subprefecture and Abashiri Subprefecture minus part of Abashiri District. Districts included:

Hidaka Province

Location of Hidaka Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Hidaka.GIF
Location of Hidaka Province c. 1869.

Hidaka Province (日高国, Hideka-no kuni): [2] Modern-day Hidaka Subprefecture. Districts included:

Tokachi Province

Location of Tokachi Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Tokachi.GIF
Location of Tokachi Province c. 1869.

Tokachi Province (十勝国, Tokachi-no kuni): [2] Modern-day Tokachi Subprefecture. Districts included:

Kushiro Province

Location of Kushiro Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Kushiro..GIF
Location of Kushiro Province c. 1869.

Kushiro Province (釧路国, Kushiro-no kuni): [2] Modern-day Kushiro Subprefecture and part of Abashiri Subprefecture. Districts included:

Nemuro Province

Location of Nemuro Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Nemuro.GIF
Location of Nemuro Province c. 1869.

Nemuro Province (根室国, Nemuro-no kuni): [2] Presently the mainland portion of modern-day Nemuro Subprefecture plus Habomai Rocks and Shikotan Island. Districts included:

Chishima Province

Location of Chishima Province c. 1869. Japan prov map Chishima.GIF
Location of Chishima Province c. 1869.

Chishima Province (千島国, Chismima-no kuni): [2] Originally the islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu, later included Shikotan and the Kuril Islands. Districts included:

Karafuto

Location of Karafuto c. 1869. Prefectuur Karafuto map.png
Location of Karafuto c. 1869.

Karafuto Region was the area of Sakhalin south of the border established by the 1875 Treaty of Saint Petersburg between Japan and Russia. [3] After the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth, Karafuto was administered from Toyohara in Karafuto Prefecture.

Notes

  1. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780 , p. 780, at Google Books; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Satow, Ernest. (1882). "The Geography of Japan" in Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, Vols. 1–2 , p. 33, at Google Books
  3. ↑ Nussbaum, "Karafuto-Chishima Kōkan Jōyaku" at p. 482 , p. 482, at Google Books

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