Kansai region

The Kansai region (関西地方, Kansai-chihō) is one of Japan's traditional regions^[1] The area is also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方, Kinki-chihō)^[2] or as the Kinai (畿内).^[3] The Japanese conventions of geography and history divide the nation into eight regions, including the Kansai region.^[4] These have been used since 1905 as basic units for description and comparison.^[5] and as cultural markers.

Map of Japan with Kansai region highlighted in dark green

The regions of Japan are a fusion of historical divisions and modern administrative needs".^[6] The significance of the region in Japan is geographical, cultural and administrative.^[7]

History

In the late 7th century, the Kinki 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 Kinki or Kansai.^[8] Kansai covers the area around the capital city of Kyoto on the island of Honshū^[9] in roughly the same area as the traditional Kinki.

In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree. Japan was divided into regions (chihō Archived 2017-03-24 at the Wayback Machine), including the Kinki 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.^[10]

Table: Kansai region

Province	Province capital	Pre-modern regions	Prefecture	Prefecture capital	Regions today	Notes
Izumi[11]		Kinai	Osaka	Osaka	Kansai	created in 716 from Kawachi, then rejoined back in 740, later re-split in 757
Kawachi[12]		Kinai	Osaka	Osaka	Kansai
Settsu[13]	Osaka	Kinai	Hyōgo; Osaka	Kobe; Osaka	Kansai
Yamashiro[14]	Kyoto	Kinai	Kyoto; Nara	Kyoto; Nara	Kansai
Yamato[15]	Wakigami	Kinai	Nara	Nara	Kansai	northern Nara without Yoshino

Over time, Kansai has developed its own regional dialects, customs and unique traditional culture.^[16]

Related pages

Regions in the context of modern prefectures:

Kinai	Tōkaidō	Tōsandō	Hokurikudō
San'indō	San'yōdō	Nankaidō	Saikaidō

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan

Places named with Kansai

• Kansai Airport Station
• Kansai International Airport
• Kansai Ki-in (Organization for Go)

References

1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
2. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 522. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
3. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 521. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
4. Library of Congress Country Studies, Japan (LOC), "Geographic Regions"; "The islands of Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu each form a region, and the main island of Honshu is divided into five regions". Retrieved 2012-4-15.
5. Tames, Richard (2008). A Traveller's History of Japan. Interlink Books. p. 264. ISBN 978-1-56656-404-5.
6. Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), "Regions of Japan". Retrieved 2012-4-15.
7. Brandt, Kim (2007). Kingdom of Beauty: Mingei and the Politics of Folk Art in Imperial Japan. Duke University Press. pp. 218–219. ISBN 978-0-8223-8954-5.
8. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
9. LOC, "Kinki". Retrieved 2012-4-15.
10. Steiner, Kurt (1965). Local Government in Japan. Stanford University Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-8047-0217-1.
11. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 780. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
12. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 496. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
13. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 846. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
14. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 1045. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
15. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 1046. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
16. Web-Japan.org, "Regions of Japan". Retrieved 2012-4-15.

Other websites

• Murdoch's map of provinces, 1903