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Kai Province facts for kids

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Provinces of Japan-Kai
Map of Japanese provinces with province highlighted

Kai Province (甲斐国, Kai no kuni), also known as Kōshū (甲州), was an important historical region in Japan. It was located on the island of Honshū, in the area that is now Yamanashi Prefecture. Think of it like an old state or county in Japan's past.

A Look Back: Kai Province's History

Hiroshige Kai Saruhashi
View of Kai Province, a beautiful woodblock print from 1853 by Hiroshige
Kajikazawa in Kai province
The Kai coast, as seen in a woodblock print from 1830 by Hokusai

Kai Province has a rich history, especially during a time called the Sengoku period. This was a period of civil war in Japan, lasting from the mid-15th to the early 17th century. During this time, powerful military leaders, known as warlords, fought for control of the country.

Famous Rulers of Kai Province

One of the most famous warlords to rule Kai was Takeda Shingen. He was a very strong and respected leader who controlled Kai Province from his main base in Kōfu. His family, the Takeda clan, was very powerful.

After the Takeda clan, another famous family, the Tokugawa clan, took control of the area. The Tokugawa clan later went on to rule all of Japan for over 250 years.

How Provinces Became Prefectures

In the Meiji period (which started in 1868), Japan went through many big changes. One of these changes was that the old provinces, like Kai, were turned into new administrative areas called prefectures. This happened in the 1870s.

For a short time, the area that was Kai Province was renamed Kōfu Prefecture. But in 1871, it was officially renamed Yamanashi Prefecture, which it is still called today.

Exploring the Geography of Kai Province

Kai Province was located west of Tokyo, Japan's capital city. It was a landlocked province, meaning it had no coastline or access to the sea. This made it different from many other parts of Japan.

Mountains and Mount Fuji

The region is very mountainous. One of its most famous natural features is Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain. Mount Fuji sits right on the border between what was Kai Province and what is now Shizuoka Prefecture. The stunning mountain views were a big part of the province's landscape.

Important Shrines and Temples

In old Japan, each province had a main Shinto shrine. A Shinto shrine is a place of worship for the Shinto religion, which is native to Japan.

The chief Shinto shrine (called an ichinomiya) of Kai Province was Asama jinja. These shrines were very important places for people to visit and pray.

Related pages

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Provincia de Kai para niños

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