Ugo Province facts for kids
Ugo Province (羽後国 (Ugo-no kuni)) was an old area in Japan. It was like a state or region. This province was mostly in what we now call Akita Prefecture. Some parts were also in Yamagata Prefecture. Both of these places are on Honshū, Japan's biggest island. Ugo Province and another area called Uzen Province were sometimes together known as Ushū (羽州). Ugo Province existed for a short time, from 1868 to 1872.
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A Look at Ugo Province History
The history of Ugo Province is quite interesting, even though it was a short-lived area. It came into being during a big change in Japan.
The Satake Family and Their Role
Before Ugo Province was officially named, the area was controlled by a powerful family called the Satake clan. A "clan" is like a big family group. The leaders of these clans were known as daimyo. Daimyo were powerful lords who ruled over their own lands. The Satake family were important daimyo during the Edo period (1603-1868). They continued to be influential into the early Meiji period (1868-1912).
Japan's Big Change: From Provinces to Prefectures
Ugo Province was created right at the start of the Meiji period in 1868. This was a time when Japan was changing very quickly. The old system of "provinces" was being replaced. By 1872, Ugo Province, along with many other provinces, was changed into what we now call "prefectures." Prefectures are like the modern states or regions of Japan. This change helped to make Japan a more unified country. Maps of Japan were updated in the 1870s to show these new prefectures.
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