Kantō region facts for kids
The Kantō region (関東地方, Kantō-chihō) is one of Japan's regions. The Japanese conventions of geography and history divide the nation into eight regions, including the Kantō region. These have been used since 1905 as basic units for description and comparison and as cultural markers.
The regions of Japan are a fusion of historical divisions and modern administrative needs". The significance of the region in Japan is geographical, cultural and administrative.
Contents
History
In the late 7th century, the Tōkaidō region were identified as one of the eight largest administrative areas of the Imperial system (ritsuryo seido).
Gokishichidō is an ancient system of names for parts of the country, including Tōkaidō. Kantō covers an east-central area of the island of Honshū in roughly the same area as the traditional Tōkaidō.
The region of Kantō covers the east-central part of the island of Honshū.
In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree. Japan was divided into regions (chihō ), including the Kantō region. A regional council (chihō gyōsei kyōgisai) was headed by the governor of the most powerful prefecture in the regional grouping. The council also included regional chiefs of central government ministries.
Table: Kanto Region
Province | Province capital | Pre-modern regions |
Prefecture | Prefecture capital | Regions today |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awa | Minamibōsō | Tōkaidō | Chiba; Ibaraki | Chiba; Mito | Kantō | created in 718 from Kazusa, then rejoined back in 741, later re-split in 781 |
Hitachi | near Ishioka | Tōkaidō | Ibaraki | Mito | Kantō | |
Iga | Ueno | Tōkaidō | Mie | Tsu | Kansai | created in 680 from Ise |
Ise | Uji-Yamada | Tōkaidō | Mie | Tsu | Kansai | |
Izu | Tōkaidō | Shizuoka; Tokyo | Shizuoka; Tokyo | Kantō | created in 680 from Suruga | |
Kai | Tōkaidō | Yamanashi | Kōfu | Chūbu | ||
Kazusa | near Ichihara | Tōkaidō | Chiba | Chiba | Kantō | created from Fusa in the 7th centur |
Mikawa | Tōkaidō | Aichi | Nagoya | Chūbu | ||
Musashi | near Fuchu | Tōkaidō | Kanagawa; Tokyo; Saitama | Yokohama; Tokyo; Saitama | Kantō | transferred in 771 from Tōsandō |
Owari | near Inazawa | Tōkaidō | Aichi | Nagoya | Chūbu | |
Sagami | near Hiratsuka | Tōkaidō | Kanagawa | Yokohama | Kantō | |
Shima | Tōkaidō | Mie | Tsu | Kansai | created at the beginning of the 8th century from Ise | |
Shimōsa | Tōkaidō | Chiba; Ibaraki | Chiba; Mito | Kantō | created from Fusa in the 7th century | |
Suruga | Tōkaidō | Shizuoka | Shizuoka | Chūbu | ||
Tōtōmi | Tōkaidō | Shizuoka | Shizuoka | Chūbu |
Over time, Kantō developed its own regional dialects, customs and unique traditional culture.
Timeline
- 1923 (Taishō 12): Great Kantō earthquake has its epicenter near Tokyo and Yokohama.
Geography
The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area. The Kantō covers seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa.
Subdivisions
North and South subdivisions are sometimes used:
- "North Kantō" (北関東, Kita Kantō) covering Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma.
- "South Kantō" (南関東, Minami-Kantō) covering Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo and Kanagawa. South Kantō is often used as synonymous with the Greater Tokyo Area.
East and West subdivisions are sometimes used:
- East Kantō (東関東, Higashi-Kantō): Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba.
- West Kantō (西関東, Nishi-Kantō): Gunma, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa (and Yamanashi Prefecture may be included).
Inland and Coastal subdivisions are sometimes used:
- Inland Kantō (関東内陸部, Kantō nairiku-bu): Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama (and Yamanashi may be included).
- Coastal Kantō (関東沿岸部, Kantō engan-bu): Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo and Kanagawa.
Greater Kantō
The Japanese national government defines the National Capital Region (首都圏, Shuto-ken) as the Kantō region plus Yamanashi Prefecture.
Japan's national public broadcaster NHK defines the "Kantō broadcast area" (関東甲信越, Kantō-kō-shin-etsu) which includes Yamanashi, Nagano and Niigata Prefectures for regional programming.
Related pages
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Región de Kantō para niños