Hokkaido

Hokkaidō (sterling., Hokkaidō^? — literally, “circuit of the North Sea” ( listen)- in Ainu, Aynu Mosir“Earth of men”previously known as 1868 Ezo ( , Ezo^?) or YezoIt's Japan's second largest island. The Strait of Tsugaru separates it from the great island of Honshu although they remain united through the Seikan tunnel. Its capital and largest city is Sapporo.

Hokkaido has been home to the Ainu people since time immemorial. Many places in Hokkaido have their original names in the Ainu language.

Summary

Hokkaidō as an island

The main island of Hokkaidō has an area of 77,983.90 km² and its highest point is 2,291 m. Together with the islands of Honshū, Shikoku and Kyūshū, it comprises the four largest islands of the Japanese archipelago. Hokkaidō is the second largest island in the country—after Honshū—and the twenty-first in the world.

In general, during the Edo period, the island of Hokkaidō was called Ezo-chi (蝦夷地, 'Ezo-chi'^?) (also Northern States) and included the Kuril Islands and the island of Sakhalin. In 1869, in ancient Japan, Ezo-chi was renamed Hokkaidō following the example of the administrative division of Gokishichidō (五畿七道, 'Gokishichidō'^? literally, "five provinces and seven circuits") included in the Ritsuryōsei.

Hokkaidō as a prefecture

Hokkaidō Prefecture consists of the main island together with Rishiri, Rebun, Okushiri, Teuri, Yagishiri, Oshima Ōshima, and Oshima Kojima islands, among other small islands. The prefecture alone comprises the Hokkaidō region.

With a population of 5,348,102 inhabitants in March 2017, it is the eighth most populous prefecture and with a total area of 83,456.75 km² the largest in the country. Thus, Hokkaidō occupies 22.9% of the territory of Japan.

Hokkaidō has 179 municipalities (35 cities, 129 towns and 15 villages) and 74 districts. In addition to the Northern Territories (6 districts that include 5 towns) that it maintains in dispute with Russia.

Administration

Subprefectures

Hokkaidō is one of 8 prefectures in Japan that are further divided into subprefectures (the others are Tokyo, Yamagata, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Shimane). This is due to its large size: many of the parts of the prefecture are simply too far away for Sapporo to administer. Hokkaidō's subprefectural offices are saddled with far more tasks than those in the rest of Japan. Before the current political divisions and after 1869, Hokkaidō was divided into provinces.

Cities and towns

View of the city of Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaidō

Hokkaidō's largest city is its capital, Sapporo. Other large cities are Hakodate to the south and Asahikawa in the central region. Other centers of importance in population include Kushiro, Obihiro, Abashiri and Nemuro.

Hokkaidō has the highest degree of depopulation in Japan. In the year 2000, 152 of the 212 municipalities (71.7%) had been reduced. The total number of municipalities that were reduced in Japan that same year was 1,171.

Sorachi Ishikari Iburi Shiribeshi Hidaka Oshima Hiyama Kamikawa Rumoi Sōya Okhotsk Tokachi Kushiro Nemuro (in dispute) (in dispute)

History

The island and prefecture of Hokkaido was inhabited by the Ainu, Nivkh, and Orok peoples in the past. The Nihon Shoki, completed in AD 720. C., is often considered the first mention of Hokkaido in recorded history. According to the story, Abe no Hirafu led a large army by land and sea to the northern parts of Japan between the years 658-660 and came into contact with the Mishihase and Emishi peoples. One of the places Hirafu came to was known as Watarishima (渡島), an area often interpreted as present-day Hokkaido. However, there are various theories regarding the details of the event, including the actual location of Watarishima and the widespread belief that the Emishi of Watarishima were the ancestors of today's Ainu people.

Ceremony Iomante Ainu with a bear.

During the Nara and Heian periods (710-1185), Hokkaidoans traded with Dewa Province, an outpost of the Japanese central government. Since the Middle Ages, the people of Hokkaido began to be called Ezo. Hokkaido was previously called Ezochi (蝦夷地, Land of the Ezo) or Ezogashima (蝦夷ヶ島, Island of the Ezo). The Ezo lived mainly by hunting and fishing and obtained rice and metal through trade with the Japanese.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the Japanese created a settlement on the southern Oshima Peninsula. Since much of the population moved into the settlement to avoid battles, disputes arose between the Japanese and the Ainu. The disputes eventually turned into war. Takeda Nobuhiro killed the Ainu leader, Koshamain, and defeated his opponents in 1457. Nobuhiro's descendants became rulers of the Matsumae-han, which was granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu in the Azuchi-han periods. Momoyama and Edo (1568-1868). The economy of the Matsumae family was based on trade with the Ainu. They maintained their authority in southern Ezochi until the end of the Edo period in 1868.

The rule of the Matsumae clan over the Ainu must be understood in the context of the expansionism of the Japanese feudal state. The medieval military leaders of the northern island of Honshū (Fujiwara, Akita clan) maintained tenuous cultural and political ties to the imperial court and its proxies, the Kamakura and Ashikaga shogunates. Feudal warlords often placed themselves in the medieval institutional order, taking titles related to the shogunate, although at other times they assumed titles that seemed to give them a non-Japanese identity. In fact, many of the feudal powerful men were descended from Emishi military leaders who had been assimilated into Japanese society. The Matsumae clan were descended from Yamato, like other Japanese ethnic groups, while the Emishi of northern Honshū were a distinctive group related to the Ainu. The Emishi were conquered and integrated into the Japanese state around the 18th century, and began to lose their distinct culture and identity as a result. as they dwindled in number and became minorities. At the time the Matsumae clan ruled over the Ainu, most Emishi were more ethnically and physically mixed with the Japanese than with the Ainu. This ties best with the "transformation" that the native Jōmon peoples gradually changed with the infusion of Yayoi immigrants into Tōhoku rather than with the 'replacement' theory, which posits that one people (Jōmon) was directly replaced by another (Yayoi).

Samurái, 1775

There were numerous revolts by the Ainu against the feudal government. The last large-scale resistance was Shakushain's revolt in the years 1669-1672. In 1789, a minor movement, the Menashi-Kunashir rebellion was also crushed. After that rebellion, the terms "Japanese" and "ainu" they came to refer to two clearly distinguished groups, and the Matsumae were unmistakably Japanese. In the years 1799-1821 and 1855-1858, the Edo shogunate took direct control over Hokkaido in response to the possible threat from Russia.

At the time of the Meiji Restoration, the Tokugawa shogunate realized the need to prepare its northern defenses against the threat of a possible Russian invasion and seized control of most of Ezochi. The shogunate softened the issue of the Ainu slightly, but did not change their authoritarian way of ruling.

Hokkaido was known as Ezochi until the Meiji Restoration. Shortly after the Boshin War of 1868, a group of Tokugawa loyalists led by Enomoto Takeaki temporarily occupied the island, but the rebellion was put down in May 1869. Ezochi was subsequently placed under the control of Hakodate-fu (箱館府)., Hakodate Prefectural Government. When the Development Commission (開拓使 Kaitakushi) was established, the Meiji government introduced a new name. After 1869, the north of the island became known as Hokkaido; and regional divisions were established, including the provinces of Oshima, Shiribeshi, Iburi, Ishikari, Teshio, Kitami, Hidaka, Tokachi, Kushiro, Nemuro, and Chishima.

The primary purpose of the development commission was to secure Hokkaido before the Russians extended their eastern control beyond Vladivostok. Kuroda Kiyotaka was put in charge of the company. His first step was to travel to the United States and recruit Horace Capron, President Grant's Commissioner of Agriculture. From 1871 to 1873, Capron strove to explain Western agriculture and mining. Capron, frustrated by the obstacles placed in his efforts, returned to his home in 1875. In 1876, William S. Clark founded an agricultural college in Sapporo. Though he only stayed a year, Clark left his mark on Hokkaido, inspiring the Japanese with his teachings on agriculture as well as Christianity. His last words before leaving were: & # 34; Boys, be ambitious! & # 34; they can still be read today in public buildings in Hokkaido. The island's population multiplied from 58,000 to 240,000 in that decade.

In 1882, the Development Commission was abolished and Hokkaido divided into three prefectures (Hakodate, Sapporo, and Nemuro). In 1886, the three prefectures were eliminated and Hokkaido came under the control of the Hokkaido Agency (北海道庁 Hokkaidō-chō). Hokkaido caught up with other prefectures in 1947, when the Local Self-Government Act became effective. The Japanese central government established the Hokkaido Development Agency (北海道開発庁 Hokkaidō Kaihatsuchō) as an agency of the prime minister in 1949 to maintain his executive power on the island. The Agency was absorbed into the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2001. The Hokkaido Department and the Hokkaido Regional Development Department (北海道開発局 Hokkaidō Kaihatsukyoku) of the Ministry still have significant influence on the construction of public projects in Hokkaido.

Geography

Relief

In the center we can find high mountains of the level of 2000 m, like the Ishikari mountain range. The Daisetsu Range is a concentration of towering peaks. Mount Asahi at 2,290 m is the highest point in both Daisetsu and Hokkaidō. To the south of the range extends the Hidaka Range. The Ishikari mountain range and the Hidaka mountain range pose a strong obstacle to land traffic on the island. To the north are the Kitami range and the Teshio range. In the west and east there are many other mountains and volcanoes, both active and inactive. Most recently, Mount Usu erupted in 2003.

• Sierra Ishikari - Daisetsu Mountain, Monte Asahi (2290 m), Monte Tokachi (2077 m), Monte Nipesotsu (2013 m), Monte Ishikari (1967 m)
• Cordillera Hidaka - Monte Horoshiri (2052 m), Monte Kamuiekuuchikaushi (1979 m), Monte Tottabetsu (1959 m)
• Sierra Yūbari - Monte Ashibetsu (1727 m), Monte Yūbari (1668 m)
• Sierra Kitami - Monte Teshio (1558 m)
• Sierra Mashike - Monte Shokanbetsu (1491 m)
• Sierra Teshio - Monte Pisshiri (1032 m)
• Mt. Akan- Mt. Me-akan (1499 m), Akan-Fuji (1476 m), Mt. O-kan(1371 m)
• Shiretoko and Shari - Monte Rausu (1661 m), Monte Iou (1563 m), Monte Syari (1545 m)
• Monte Yōtei (1898 m), Monte Eniwa (1320 m), Monte Usu (732 m)
• Monte Rishiri (1721 m, on Rishiri Island)

Rivers

• Rio Ishikari
• Rio Toyohira
• Rio Uryū
• Rio Teshio
• Rio Tokachi

Lakes

Lake Tōya, of volcanic origin

Catastrophic eruptions in the geological past created some caldera lakes: Shikotu, Tōya, Kussharo, Akan, Masshū. All of these have transparent waters and also accompany the nearby hot springs. Another type of Hokkaidō lakes are nearby sea lagoons. Already almost all the lagoons have disappeared on Honshū and other islands of Japan, but in Hokkaidō there are many large or small lagoons due to its short history of exploitation.

• Calderas - Lake Shikotsu, Lake Tōya, Lake Kussharo, Lake Mashū, Lake Akan
• Lagos - Lago Saroma, Lake Notori, Lake Abashiri, Lake Fūren, Lake Atsukeshi, Lake Kutcharo

Hokkaidō is divided into four parts:

• Eastern Circuit (Despite Eating):
  • Abashiri
  • Shiretoko
  • Akanko
  • Kussharoko () motivating)
  • Mashuko (knowing knowledge)
  • Kushiro ())
  • Obihiro (PHONE)
  • Tokachigawa

• Southern Circuit (Arriage):
  • Hakodate (fit))
    • Yunokawa ()️)
  • Noboribetsu
  • Touyako () motivating)

• Central circuit (arrow):):
  • Sapporo
    • Chūō-ku(中.
    • Kita-ku(%)
    • Higashi-ku(booster)
    • Shiroishi-ku(ATA)
    • Toyohira-ku(margins)
    • Minami-ku(Ω)
    • Nishi-ku(lift)
    • Atsubetsu-ku()️
    • Teine-ku(otherwise)
    • Kiyota-ku customer(≥)
  • Otaru (opening)
  • Jozankei (CAT)
  • Shikotsuko
  • Furano (️)
  • Biei (≥))
  • Asahikawa (川️)
  • Sounkyo ())

• Northern Circuit (Boundary):
  • Wakkanai (Self-Governing)

There are still many undisturbed forests in Hokkaidō, including:

• 6 national parks:
  • _ Shiretoko National Park
  •  Akan National Park
  • 路ン 路 路 路 路 路 路 路 路 路 。 Kushiro Marshlands National Park
  • 简体字 Русский Daisetsuzan National Park
  • ‡国国の- Shikotsu-Toya National Park
  • stakeholder consultation Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park
• 5 quasi national parks (Philippines)
• 12 natural reserves

Climate

Hokkaidō satellite image in winter.

Hokkaidō is known for its cool summers and extremely cold winters. Most of the island is affected by the humid continental climate zone (Köppen Classification Dfa (humid continental) in some low-lying areas, Dfb (hemiboreal) in most areas). areas). Average temperatures for August are around 22°C (72°F) while in January, the temperature reaches -12°C to -4°C (10°F to 25°F) depending on elevation and the latitude. The general trend on the island is isolation due to snow storms that result in snow banks for a long time, in contrast to the constant gusts observed in the Hokuriku Region.

Unlike other large islands in Japan, Hokkaidō is not normally affected by the June-July rainy season, and the lack of humidity and warm but not hot weather make summer an attraction for tourists from other parts of the world. country.

In winter, heavy snowfall and an abundance of mountains make Hokkaidō one of the most popular areas for winter sports. The heavy snowfall usually starts in early November, and ski resorts (such as Niseko, Furano, and Rusutsu) are active between December and April.

At this time, the passage of the Sea of Okhotsk becomes a bit complicated by large chunks of ice breaking off the Kamchatka peninsula. This causes a large ice sheet, similar to those found on the Finnish part of the Baltic coast, despite the fact that it is 20 degrees latitude further south.

Twinnings

Hokkaidō has relationships with various provinces, states, and other entities around the world.

• 1980 - Alberta
• 1980 - Heilongjiang
• 1988 - Massachusetts
• 1998 - Sakhalin Oblate
• 2005 - Busan
• 2006 - South Gyeongsang
• 2014 - San Luis Potosí

Sports

The 1972 Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo.

In 2001, the Sapporo Dome, a natural grass roofed arena that hosted matches of the 2002 Soccer World Cup, opened. The Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japan Professional Baseball League play at home in the Sapporo Dome since 2004. Meanwhile, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo plays in the first division of Japanese soccer.

Hokkaidō has one team in the Japan Basketball League, the Levanga Hokkaido, and two teams in the Asian Ice Hockey League: the Oji Eagles and the Nippon Assay Cranes.

References in popular culture

• In the fictitious world of Pokémon, the Sinnoh region is based on the island of Hokkaido; the largest city of Sinnoh, Jubilee City, is located exactly in the same location of Sapporo.
• Also in the anime Saikano the place where all the facts of the anime occur is this same island.
• The island of Hokkaido for anime is particularly important Princess Mononoke, since this region is considered the wildest of Japan, it is where the indigenous Ainu ethnicity survives, to which the protagonist belongs.
• In Hunter X Hunter, the island where the plot of Greed Island is developed has the size of Hokkaido (there is Shalnark, a member of the Genei Ryodan).
• In the anime Shaman King, one of the main characters, Horokeu Usui, is native to that region, and comes from the Ainu tribe. Besides, in Ah!Megami Sama, the co-star of the series (Keiichi Morisato) comes from the Hokkaido region.
• In the episode of The Simpsons "In Marge We Trust", when Homer finds a detergent box with his face, it is mentioned that the factory is in Hokkaido, Japan.
• In Inazuma Eleven one of the characters, Shawn Froste belongs to Hokkaido, a member of the Alpine Institute's football club, where he then joins the Raimon Institute team.
• In the third season of the anime Shokugeki no Sōma, the approval exams take place for the second year of high school throughout the Hokkaido prefecture, all of which is on trains of the Totsuki Academy. The final examination takes place south of Rebun Island, in a compound created for the battle between "Los Rebeldes" and the Nakiri Azami administration.
• Hokkaido is the city where the Furano team, Flynet in Spain, is located from the Captain Tsubasa sleeve. He is captained by his star Hikaru Matsuyama (Philip Calahan) Matsuyama, born there. Currently, he is professional and plays on the team of his city, Consadole Sapporo. Furano is considered the team with the best physical shape of the championship thanks to its very hard trainings in the snow and the extreme climate of Hokkaido.
• The events of the Golden Kamui manga/anime take place mostly in this prefecture.