Kushiro Province Explained

was a short-lived province in Hokkaidō. It corresponded to modern-day Kushiro Subprefecture and part of Abashiri Subprefecture.

History

After 1869, the northern Japanese island became known as Hokkaido;^[1] and regional administrative subdivisions were identified, including Kushiro Province.^[2]

In 1882, the Hokkaido region was separated into three prefectures -,, and . In 1886, the three prefectures were abolished, and Hokkaido was put under the .^[3] At the same time, Kushiro Province continued to exist for some purposes. For example, Kushiro is explicitly recognized in treaties in 1894 (a) between Japan and the United States and (b) between Japan and the United Kingdom.^[4]

Timeline

• 1869—use of the name Hokkaido started^[1]
• August 15, 1869 Kushiro Province established with 7 districts
• 1872 Census finds a population of 1,734
• July 1881 Abashiri District (網尻郡) incorporated for Abashiri District (網走郡), Kitami Province
• 1882—prefectures established^[3]
• 1886—Hokkaido Agency established^[3]
• 1947—Hokkaido Prefecture established^[3]

Districts

• Shiranuka (白糠郡)
• Ashoro (足寄郡)
• Kushiro (釧路郡)
• Akan (阿寒郡)
• Abashiri (網尻郡)
• Kawakami (川上郡)
• Akkeshi (厚岸郡)

References

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; OCLC 58053128
• Papinot, Edmond. (1910). Historical and Geographic Dictionary of Japan. Tokyo: Librarie Sansaisha. OCLC 77691250

Notes and References

1. [Louis-Frédéric|Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric]
2. [Ernest Satow|Satow, Ernest]
3. Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, "History of Development in Hokkaido," ; retrieved 2013-3-22.
4. US Department of State. (1906). A digest of international law as embodied in diplomatic discussions, treaties and other international agreements (John Bassett Moore, ed.), Vol. 5, p. 759.