The Hometown of Samurais

Ancient Japan, unlike the present time. It was separated into 8 regions; "Gokishichidoh"  , which included:

1) The 8 Tousandoh [  ] or the eight domains of Eastern Mountain Region
2) The 7 Hokurikudoh [  ] or the seven domains of Northern Land Region; also Hokurokudoh
3) The 15 Toukaidoh [  ] or the fifteen domains of Eastern Sea Region.
4)The 5 Kinai [  ] or the five domains around Kyoto.
5) The 8 San'indoh [  ] or the eight domains of Northern Mountain Region.
6) The 6 Nankaidoh [  ] or the six domains of Southern Sea Region.
7) The 8 Sanyohdoh [  ] or the eight domains of Southern Mountain Region.
8) The 11 Saikaidoh [  ] or the eleven domains of Western Sea Region.

Each region contains several Kuni or domains. The regions and domains administration had been established since Nara period, according to Taika Reform in 645. Fifty-eight Kuni and 3 island domains were established. Later, in 824 the administrative system was reorganized to comprise 66 Kuni and 2 island domains, excluding Hokkaidoh and Okinawa island. The division survived until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The provinces were abolished in 1871. They were relocated and renamed; and the domains became prefectures.

Hokkaidoh was not included in the 8 regions because it was said the land of barbarians, called "Ezo" [  ]. People living in Ezo were called "Emishi" or "Ebisu" that appeared in some ancient books, but, there is no evidence that those people were the Aynu.

For those who want to compare the ancient domains with prefectures in present time, I suggest you to see current map at city.net - Japan . Sorry for inconvenience..

1. The map does NOT include these character's birthplace :

• No  birthplace specified : Hisame Shizumaru.
• Birthplace does not really exist : Shiranui Gen-An, Yuga, Asura.
• Birthplaces specified in foreign country : Tam Tam, Cham Cham, Charlotte, Galford, Sieger, Earthquake and Wanfu .
• SSRPG  characters' birthplaces.

Dewa no Kuni, a domain of the 8 Tousandoh. Neighborhoods : Mutsu at the North, East and Southeast ; Echigo at the Southwest. And the West was Japan Sea. In Meiji the first year (1868), Dewa was separated into 2 sections ; "Ugo" at the north and "Uzen" at the south. Now is located in Akita and Yamagata prefecture.
MAP

The center of Bakufu Government, located in the Southeastern of Musashi domain. Now it is Tokyo. It was not Japan's capital city until Emperor Meiji renamed Tokyo in 1868 and designated as the new national capital.
MAP

Hida no Kuni, a domain of the 8 Tousandoh. Neighborhoods : Etsuchuu at the North ; Shinano at the East and Southeast ; Mino at the South and Echizen with Kaga at the West. Now is located in the northern part of Gifu prefecture.
MAP

Higo no Kuni, a domain of the 11 Saikaidoh. Neighborhoods : Chikugo at the North ; Bungo at the Northeast ; Hiyuga at the East and Southeast ; Satsuma at the South ; ocean at the West. Now is located in Kumamoto prefecture.
MAP

Hizen no Kuni, a domain of the 11 Saikaidoh. Neighborhoods : Iki island at the North ; Chikuzen at the Northeast ; Chikugo at the East ; ocean at the South and West. Now is located as a part of Saga and Nagasaki prefecture.
MAP

6. /KAMUYKOTAN/ ---  , 

"Kamuykotan" or the village of god in Aynu language, was a ravine in Central Ezo. Presently,  it is still be there and located at the west of Asahikawa city, performes at the upstream of Ishikari River between Kamikawa Basin and Ishikari Plain. The length is approximately 10 Kms. There is also another Kamuykotan in present Japan Atlas, but the Kanji is a little bit different,  ,  it is a seaside located at the Ishikari Bay of western Hokkaido, from Asari to Zeribako. As for "Aynu Moshir" or the Land of Human, have not been mentioned in Japan Atlas.

MAP

Kawachi no Kuni, a domain of the 5 Kinai. Neighborhoods : Yamashiro at the Northeast ; Yamato at the East and Southeast ; Ki'i at the South and Settsu at the West and Northwest. Now is located in the eastern part of Osaka prefecture.
MAP

The capital city of Japan where emperors had stayed since late Nara period, located in Yamashiro region and established by Emperor Kammu in Enryaku 13th year (794). In Meiji the first year (1868), Emperor Meiji designated Tokyo as a new national capital. Kyoto had been the capital of ancient Japan for more than 1,000 years.
MAP

Musashi no Kuni, a domain of 15 Toukaidoh. Neighborhoods : Kohzuke at the North ; Shimousa at the East ; Sagami at the South and Kai at the West. Now is located in the area of Tokyo, Kanasawa and Saitama prefecture. Edo city was located at the southwestern of Musashi domain.
MAP

Ohmi no Kuni, a domain of the 8 Tousandoh. Neighborhoods : Kawasa at the Northwest ; Echizen at the Northeast ; Mino at the East ; Ise with Iga at the Southeast and South ; Yamashiro at the West. Now is located in Shiga perfecture. At the center of Ohmi domain, the Biwa Lake which is the biggest lake in Japan is located (not shown in the map).
MAP

Oki no Kuni, an island domain of the 8 Tousandoh. Now is located in the Oki islands at the northern and is includes in Shimane perfecture (Izumo domain in anciant time).
MAP

Also called Osoreyama. It is the composite volcano in the Nasu Volcanic zone of Shimokita pennisula, present northern Aomori prefecture. In the caldera is Lake Usuriyama. The mountain is sacred to Japanese Shamans. Now Osorezan is a part of the Shimokita Pennisula Quasi-National Park, 879 Metres (2884 feet) height.
MAP

Suruga no Kuni, a domain of the 15 Toukaidoh. Neighborhoods : Ka'i at the North ; Sagami at the East ; Izu at the Southeast ; Toutohmi with Shinano at the West and Northwest.  Now is located in the middle of Shizuoka prefecture.
MAP

Tamba no Kuni, a domain of the 8 San'indoh. Neighborhoods : Tango at the North ; Kawasa at the Northeast ; Yamashiro at the East ; Settsu at the South ; Harima at the West and Tajima at the Norhwest. Now is located in the middle of Kyoto and northeastern part of Hyogo prefecture.
MAP

Tosa no Kuni, a domain of the 8 Nankaidoh. Neighborhoods : Iyo at the Northwest and North ; Aha at the Northeast and Pacific Ocean at the South. Now is located in Kohchi prefecture.
MAP

Yamashiro no Kuni, a domain of the 5 Kinai. Neighborhoods : Tamba at the Northwest ; Ohmi at the Northeast and east ; Iga at the Southeast ; Yamato at the South ; Kawachi at the Southwest and Sattsu at the West. Now is located in the southern part of Kyoto prefecture.
MAP

[Return to Facts page]

---

If you surf to this page directly,
click here  to go to index page (frame).