Shinano Province
Encyclopedia
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...
that is now present day Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
.
Shinano bordered on Echigo
Echigo Province
was an old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Today the area is part of Niigata Prefecture, which also includes the island which was the old Sado Province. This province was the northernmost part of the...
, Etchū
Etchu Province
was an old province in central Honshū, on the Sea of Japan side. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Echigo Provinces. It bordered Echigo, Shinano, Hida, Kaga, and Noto provinces...
, Hida
Hida Province
is an old province located in the area of Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province was in the Tōsandō area of central Honshu.-History:...
, Kai
Kai Province
, also known as , is an old province in Japan in the area of Yamanashi Prefecture. It lies in central Honshū, west of Tokyo, in a landlocked mountainous region that includes Mount Fuji along its border with Shizuoka Prefecture....
, Kōzuke
Kozuke Province
was an old province located in the Tōsandō of Japan, which today comprises Gunma Prefecture. It is nicknamed as or .The ancient provincial capital was near modern Maebashi. During the Sengoku period, Kōzuke was controlled variously by Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin, the late Hōjō clan, and...
, Mikawa
Mikawa Province
is an old province in the area that today forms the eastern half of Aichi Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mikawa bordered on Owari, Mino, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Provinces....
, Mino
Mino Province
, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....
, Musashi
Musashi Province
was a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo Prefecture, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki and Yokohama...
, Suruga
Suruga Province
was an old province in the area that is today the central part of Shizuoka prefecture. It was sometimes called . Suruga bordered on Izu, Kai, Sagami, Shinano, and Tōtōmi provinces; and had access to the Pacific Ocean through Suruga Bay.-History:...
, and Tōtōmi
Totomi Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today western Shizuoka Prefecture. Tōtōmi bordered on Mikawa, Suruga and Shinano Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .-History:...
Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto
Matsumoto, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Special City.-Outline:The new city of Matsumoto is the city comprising the mergers of the old city of Matsumoto and four villages. Matsumoto officially absorbed those villages without creating a new municipal...
, which became an important city of the province.
The World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
–era Japanese aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Shinano
Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano
named after the ancient Shinano Province, was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Initially laid down as the third of the battleships, Shinano′s partially complete hull was converted to an aircraft carrier in 1942, midway through construction. Over the next two...
was named after this old province.
Historical record
In 713713
Year 713 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 713 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Byzantine Emperor Philippicus is...
, the road which traverses Mino Province and Shinano Province was widened to accommodate increasing numbers of travelers through the Kiso District
Kiso District, Nagano
is a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of November 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 34,759. The total area is 1,546.26 km².Historically, the district was once known as Nishichikuma District until May 1, 1968....
of modern Nagano Prefecture.
In the Sengoku Period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
, Shinano Province was often split among several fiefs and several other castle towns developed, including Komoro
Komoro, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 44,270. The total area is 98.66 km².-Municipal Timeline:*February 1, 1954-Komoro absorbed the villages of Kawanabe, Kitaoi, and Osato from Kitasaku District....
, Ina
Ina, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 2006 when the old city of Ina merged with the town of Takatō and the village of Hase, both from Kamiina District, to form the new city of Ina.-Surrounding municipalities:*Nagano Prefecture...
, and Ueda. Shinano was one of the major centers of Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...
's power during his wars with Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
and others.
Suwa taisha
Suwa Taisha
, or Suwa Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in Nagano prefecture, Japan. Over 1200 years old, it is one of the oldest shrines in existence, and is mentioned in the Kojiki, an 8th century text...
was designated as the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) for the province.
In 1871, during the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
, with the abolition of the han system
Abolition of the han system
The was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain system and to introduce centralized government authority . This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all daimyo were required to return their authority...
and the establishment of prefecture
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
s (Haihan Chiken) after the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, Shinano Province was administratively separated in 1871 into Nagano and Chikuma
Chikuma, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of June 1, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 63,829. The total area is 119.84 km².-Description:...
prefectures
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
. These two tentative governmental and territorial units were then reconfigured together again in 1876. This became the modern prefecture of Nagano, which remains substantially unchanged since that time.
Former districts
Shinano Province contained the following districtsDistricts 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...
:
- Azumi District (安曇郡): became KitaazumiKitaazumi District, Naganois a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 36,547 and a density of 57.31 persons per km². The total area is 637.66 km².-Towns and villages:*Hakuba*Ikeda*Matsukawa*Otari-Mergers:...
and (the now dissolved) MinamiazumiMinamiazumi District, NaganoMinamiazumi was a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 99,785 and a density of 117.22 persons per km²...
districts - Chiisagata DistrictChiisagata District, NaganoChiisagata is a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of February 1, 2006, the district has an estimated population of 12,039...
(小県郡) - Chikuma DistrictChikuma DistrictChikuma District was a district located in Shinano Province.The district was centered at the current city of Matsumoto, then capital of Shinano, but on January 14, 1879, the district split off into Higashichikuma and Nishichikuma Districts...
(筑摩郡): became HigashichikumaHigashichikuma District, Naganois a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2011, the district has an estimated population of 23,044. The total area is 268.42 km²...
and Nishichikuma (now KisoKiso District, Naganois a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of November 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 34,759. The total area is 1,546.26 km².Historically, the district was once known as Nishichikuma District until May 1, 1968....
) districts - Hanishina DistrictHanishina District, NaganoHanishina is a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of December 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 16,742...
(埴科郡) - Ina District (伊那郡): became KamiinaKamiina District, NaganoKamiina is a district located in Nagano, Japan.As of May, 2008, the district has an estimated Population of 86,453 and a Density of 168 persons/km²...
and ShimoinaShimoina District, Naganois a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of May, 2008, the district has an estimated Population of 65,359 and a Density of 51.4 persons/km²...
districts - Minochi District (水内郡): became KamiminochiKamiminochi District, Naganois a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of 2011, the district has an estimated population of 23,774. As a result of mergers the total area of the district is now 282.65 km².- Towns and villages :*Iizuna*Ogawa*Shinano- Mergers :...
and ShimominochiShimominochi District, NaganoShimominochi is a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 7,643 and a density of 24.96 persons per km². The total area is 306.25 km².-Mergers:...
districts - Saku DistrictSaku District, Naganowas a district located in Shinano Province or Nagano Prefecture.The former is estimated to be located at Nagatoro in the city of Saku....
(佐久郡): became KitasakuKitasaku District, Naganois a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of December 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 40,041.The district has three towns*Karuizawa*Miyota*Tateshina-District Timeline:...
and MinamisakuMinamisaku District, Naganois a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of December 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 29,263. As of December 2005, the district have two towns and four villages.*Kawakami*Kitaaiki*Koumi*Minamiaiki*Minamimaki*Sakuho...
districts - Sarashina DistrictSarashina District, NaganoSarashina was a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 1,467 and a density of 31.99 persons per km²...
(更級郡) - Suwa DistrictSuwa District, Naganois a district located in Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 46,162 and a density of 181.18 persons per km². The total area is 254.79 km².-Towns and villages:*Fujimi*Hara*Shimosuwa...
(諏訪郡) - Takai District (高井郡): became KamitakaiKamitakai District, NaganoKamitakai is a district located in Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 19,073 and a density of 162.23 persons per km². The total area is 117.57 km².-Towns and villages:*Obuse*Takayama...
and ShimotakaiShimotakai District, NaganoShimotakai is a district located in Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 25,179 and a density of 59.50 persons per km². The total area is 423.19 km².-Towns and villages:*Kijimadaira*Nozawaonsen...
districts
External links
- Hokusai, A View of Mount Fuji across Lake Suwa, circa 1831