was a province of Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 created during the Meiji Era. It originally contained the Kurile Islands from Kunashiri northwards, and later incorporated Shikotan

Shikotan

Shikotan, in Russian , Japanese , or シコタㇴ), is one of the bigger islands of the Kuril Islands, which are controlled by Russia. It is one of the four southernmost islands which Japan maintains a claim for...

 as well. Its original territory is currently occupied by Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, and its later territory was renounced in the San Francisco Treaty (see Kuril Island conflict) except the southernmost 4 islands.

History

After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaido; and regional administrative subdivisions were identified, including Chishima Province.

• 1869 Japan occupied Kunashir.
• August 15, 1869 Chishima Province created with 5 districts
  Districts of Japan
  The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
  
  .
• 1872 The population was counted as 437
• November, 1875 Karafuto (Sakhalin
  Sakhalin
  Sakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
  
  ) ceded to Russia in exchange for Kuril Islands in the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875). Kuril Islands divided into 3 new districts
• January, 1885 Shikotan
  Shikotan
  Shikotan, in Russian , Japanese , or シコタㇴ), is one of the bigger islands of the Kuril Islands, which are controlled by Russia. It is one of the four southernmost islands which Japan maintains a claim for...
  
   Island transferred from Nemuro Province
  Nemuro Province
  was an old province in Japan in what is today Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō. It was created during the Meiji Era.-History:After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaido; and regional administrative subdivisions were identified, including Nemuro Province.*August 15, 1869 Nemuro...
  
  . Becomes Shikotan District
  Shikotan District, Hokkaido
  is a district that is part of Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It covers Shikotan Island, which is claimed by Japan and Russia. As of August 15, 1945, it had a population of 1,038.-History:*1885 Split off Hanasaki District, Nemuro Province...
  
  .
• In 1945 the Soviet Union province of Sakhalin been formed which included Kunashir District.

Districts

• Kunashiri (国後郡) (occupied and administered by Russia
  Russia
  Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
  
  , see Kuril Island conflict)
• Etorofu
  Iturup
  Iturup is the largest island of the South Kuril Islands. It is the northernmost island in the southern Kuril/Chishima islands, and though it is presently controlled by Russia, Japan also claims this island...
  
   (択捉郡) (occupied and administered by Russia)
• Furebetsu (振別郡) (dissolved April, 1923 when its villages merged with several villages in Shana and Etorofu districts to form the village of Rubetsu in Etorofu)
• Shana (紗那郡) (occupied and administered by Russia)
• Shibetoro
  Shibetoro District, Hokkaido
  In Japanese, refers to a region disputed between Russia and Japan, currently under Russian administration. Under Japanese classification, it belongs to Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan...
  
   (蘂取郡) (occupied and administered by Russia)
• Shikotan
  Shikotan District, Hokkaido
  is a district that is part of Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It covers Shikotan Island, which is claimed by Japan and Russia. As of August 15, 1945, it had a population of 1,038.-History:*1885 Split off Hanasaki District, Nemuro Province...
  
   (色丹郡) (split off of Hanasaki District in 1885; currently occupied and administered by Russia)
• Uruppu (得撫郡) Acquired in Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875), ceded in San Francisco Treaty
• Shimushiro (新知郡) Acquired in Treaty of Saint Petersburg, ceded in San Francisco Treaty
• Shumushu (占守郡) Acquired in Treaty of Saint Petersburg, ceded in San Francisco Treaty