東京

ja-pos

東(とう)京(きょう) • (Tōkyō) ^(←とうきやう (Toukyau)?)

東京 (canonical)
Tōkyō (romanization)
Toukyau (romanization)
とうきやう (hiragana historical)

→ Dutch: Tokio

→ English: Tokyo

→ Finnish: Tokio

→ French: Tokyo

→ German: Tokio

→ Khmer: តូក្យូ (toukyou)

→ Korean: 동경 (Donggyeong)

→ Norwegian Bokmål: Tokyo

→ Portuguese: Tóquio

→ Russian: То́кио (Tókio)

→ Spanish: Tokio

→ Thai: โตเกียว (dtoo-giao)

→ Vietnamese: Đông Kinh

/tou kʲau/ → /toːkʲɔː/ → /toːkʲoː/
Compound of Middle Chinese-derived elements 東 (tō, “east, eastern”) + 京 (kyō, “capital”).
The city of Tokyo was renamed from 江戸 (Edo) in 1868 after Emperor Meiji moved the capital from Kyoto.

com

昨日、東京は曇りでしたか。

Tokyo (a prefecture, the capital city of Japan, consisting of 23 special wards)


京都

京都 (canonical)
Kyōto (romanization)
Kyauto (romanization)
きやうと (hiragana historical)

→ English: Kyoto

→ Korean: 교토 (Gyoto)

→ Portuguese: Kyoto

→ Russian: Кио́то m (Kióto)

→ Vietnamese: Kinh Đô

Early Modern Japanese
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten

/kjauto/ → /kjɔːto/ → /kjoːto/
From Middle Chinese 京都 (kjaeng tu, literally “capital city”).

京都五山

京都五山 きょうとござん

京都御所

京都御所 きょうとごしょ

京都所司代

京都所司 きょうとしょし

京都代官

京都代官 きょうとだいかん

京都盆地

京都盆地 きょうとぼんち

京都守護

京都守護 きょうとしゅご

short for 京都府 (Kyōto-fu): Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture (a prefecture of Japan)


栃

栃 (canonical)
rei (romanization)
れい (hiragana historical)

Spelling pronunciation, guided by characters like 励(れい) (rei) and 蛎(れい) (rei). As a kokuji designed for the native word とち (tochi), 栃 originally does not have an on'yomi.

short for 栃木 (Tochigi, “Tochigi (a prefecture of Japan)”)


福

short for 福岡 (Fukuoka): Fukuoka (a prefecture of Japan)


沖縄

ja-noun

沖(おき)縄(なわ) • (okinawa) ^(←おきなは (okinafa)?)

沖縄 (canonical)
okinawa (romanization)
okinafa (romanization)
おきなは (hiragana historical)

Compound of Old Japanese elements 沖(おき) (oki, “offshore, at sea”) + 縄(なわ) (nawa, “rope”), in reference to the string of islands.

ja-com

(rare, possibly obsolete) a rope used to catch fish


沖縄

ja-pos

沖(おき)縄(なわ) • (Okinawa) ^(←おきなは (Okinafa)?)

沖縄 (canonical)
Okinawa (romanization)
Okinafa (romanization)
おきなは (hiragana historical)

Battle of Okinawa
Okinawa
Okinawa Island
Okinawan language
ja:沖縄

沖縄諸島

沖縄諸島 おきなわしょとう

[...] 十六日發、廿一日戊午、第一第二兩舟同至阿児奈波嶋在多禰島南西第三舟作夜已泊同處十二月六日南風起第一舟著石不動第二舟發向多禰去七日至益救嶋[...]

さつまがたとは惣名也、きかいは十二の島なれば、くち五島は日本へ随へり、おく七しまはいまだ我朝に従はずといへり、白石、、あこしき、くろ島、いわうが島、あせ納、あ世波、やくの島とて、ゑらぶ、おきなは、きかいが島といへり

the main island in the Okinawa Islands: Okinawa Island

a group of islands known as the Okinawa Islands

the southern-most Japanese prefecture: Okinawa Prefecture


長崎

desc

→ English: Nagasaki, Nangasaki, Nangasac

→ Dutch: Nagasaki, Nangasacq

→ English: Nangasacq

→ Portuguese: Nangasaque

Nagasaki (a prefecture in western Kyushu, Japan)


長崎県

長崎県 (canonical)
Nagasaki-ken (romanization)

From 長崎 (Nagasaki) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture of Japan comprising the western part of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”) facing the Sea of Japan and nearby islands; its capital city is also 長崎 (Nagasaki)


大阪

ja-pos

大(おお)阪(さか) • (Ōsaka) ^(←おほさか (Ofosaka)?)

大阪 (canonical)
Ōsaka (romanization)
Ofosaka (romanization)
おほさか (hiragana historical)

Compound of 大 (ō, “large, great”) + 阪 (saka, “hill”). The geographical area was historically known as 小坂 (Wosaka → Osaka, literally “little hill”) and was renamed to mean literally a “large hill”.
Originally spelled as 大坂 until the early Meiji period, possibly for some superstitious reason.

com

short for 大阪府 (Ōsaka-fu): a prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan facing the Seto Inland Sea


茨城

Russian: Ибара́ки f (Ibaráki)

According to legend, people in the age of Emperor Sujin (崇神) built a thorny castle (茨の城) there and wiped out burglars.

Ibaraki (a prefecture in north-eastern Honshu, Japan)


北海道

ja-pos

北(ほっ)海(かい)道(どう) • (Hokkaidō) ^(←ほくかいだう (Fokukaidau)?)

北海道 (canonical)
Hokkaidō (romanization)
Fokukaidau (romanization)
ほくかいだう (hiragana historical)

→ English: Hokkaido

desc

→ Korean: 홋카이도 (Hotkaido), 혹가이도 (Hokgaido), 북해도 (Bukhaedo)

From 北海 (hokkai, “northern sea”) + 道 (-dō, “circuit”).
Coined in 1869; see 北海道 on the Japanese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ʲᵃ Before that, the region was known as 蝦夷地 (Ezochi, literally “land of the northern barbarians”).

pedia

an island prefecture on the northern part of Japan; its capital city is 札幌 (Sapporo)


青森県

ja-pos

青(あお)森(もり)県(けん) • (Aomori-ken) ^(←あをもりけん (Awomoriken)?)

青森県 (canonical)
Aomori-ken (romanization)
Awomoriken (romanization)
あをもりけん (hiragana historical)

[a̠o̞mo̞ɾʲikẽ̞ɴ]

From 青森 (Aomori) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in 東北 (Tōhoku) region of Japan; its capital city is also 青森 (Aomori)


秋田県

秋田県 (canonical)
Akita-ken (romanization)

From 秋田 (Akita) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in 東北 (Tōhoku) region of Japan; its capital city is also 秋田 (Akita)


岩手県

岩(いわ)手(て)県(けん) • (Iwate-ken) ^(←いはてけん (Ifateken)?)

岩手県 (canonical)
Iwate-ken (romanization)
Ifateken (romanization)
いはてけん (hiragana historical)

[iβ̞a̠te̞kẽ̞ɴ]

From 岩手 (Iwate) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in 東北 (Tōhoku) region of Japan; its capital city is 盛岡 (Morioka)


山形県

山形県 (canonical)
Yamagata-ken (romanization)

From 山形 (Yamagata) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in 東北 (Tōhoku) region of Japan; its capital city is also 山形 (Yamagata)


宮城県

宮城県 (canonical)
Miyagi-ken (romanization)

From 宮城 (Miyagi) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in 東北 (Tōhoku) region of Japan; its capital city is 仙台 (Sendai)


福島県

福島県 (canonical)
Fukushima-ken (romanization)

[ɸɯ̟kɯ̟ɕima̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 福島 (Fukushima) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in 東北 (Tōhoku) region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is also 福島 (Fukushima)


群馬県

群馬県 (canonical)
Gunma-ken (romanization)

[ɡɯ̟̃mːa̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 群馬 (Gunma) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 関東 (Kantō) region of Japan; its capital city is 前橋 (Maebashi)


茨城県

茨城県 (canonical)
Ibaraki-ken (romanization)

From 茨城 (Ibaraki) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 関東 (Kantō) region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is 水戸 (Mito)


栃木県

栃木県 (canonical)
Tochigi-ken (romanization)

[to̞t͡ɕiɡʲikẽ̞ɴ]

From 栃木 (Tochigi) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 関東 (Kantō) region of Japan; its capital city is 宇都宮 (Utsunomiya)


埼玉県

埼玉県 (canonical)
Saitama-ken (romanization)

From 埼玉 (Saitama) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

Saitama (an inland prefecture in the Kantō region of Japan)


千葉県

千葉県 (canonical)
Chiba-ken (romanization)

From 千葉 (Chiba) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 関東 (Kantō) region of Japan, facing the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay; its capital city is also 千葉 (Chiba)


東京都

東(とう)京(きょう)都(と) • (Tōkyō-to) ^(←とうきやうと (Toukyauto)?)

東京都 (canonical)
Tōkyō-to (romanization)
Toukyauto (romanization)
とうきやうと (hiragana historical)

From 東京 (Tōkyō, “Tokyo”) + 都 (to, “capital city”).

com

the capital prefecture of Japan, located in the 関東 (Kantō) region including several archipelagos on the Pacific Ocean, and the 23 special wards in its central part collectively referred to as simply 東京 (Tōkyō, “Tokyo”, former “Tokyo City”)


神奈川県

ja-pos

神(か)奈(な)川(がわ)県(けん) • (Kanagawa-ken) ^(←かながはけん (Kanagafaken)?)

神奈川県 (canonical)
Kanagawa-ken (romanization)
Kanagafaken (romanization)
かながはけん (hiragana historical)

[ka̠na̠ɡa̠β̞a̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 神奈川 (Kanagawa) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 関東 (Kantō) region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is 横浜 (Yokohama)


新潟県

新(にい)潟(がた)県(けん) • (Niigata-ken) ^(←にひがたけん (Nifigataken)?)

新潟県 (canonical)
Niigata-ken (romanization)
Nifigataken (romanization)
にひがたけん (hiragana historical)

[ɲ̟iːɡa̠ta̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 新潟 (Niigata) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is also 新潟 (Niigata)


奈良

Emperor Sujin
Nara
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Nihon Shoki
ja:奈良
man'yōgana

From Old Japanese. Attested from at least the early 700s. The kanji are ateji (当て字).
Various ancient spellings suggest forms ending in -ku or -ki. This latter element is not attested past the Old Japanese stage:
 奈羅, 那羅, 楢, 儺羅
名良, 奈良, 那良
那楽, 寧楽
平城
 →
 ⟨nara⟩
 ⟨nara⟩
 ⟨naraku⟩
 ⟨naraki₂⟩
 →
 /nara/
 */naraᵑ/
 */narakʉ/
 */narakɨ/
 → /nara/
According to the Nihon Shoki (720 CE), the placename is derived from the Japanese verb 均す, 平す (narasu, “to flatten”). In The Study of Place Names, Kunio Yanagida stated, “Nara stands for ‘flatland’.”
However, an analysis of Old Japanese phonetic spellings (man'yōgana) reveals that the city name was often spelled with a final -ku or -ki element, which makes it phonologically unlikely that the city name derives directly from the verb narasu. The root from which the verb itself derives, nar-, appears in various terms related to “flat” or “flatness”, a fitting descriptor for the local geography. The final -ku or -ki element in the ancient spellings may be Old Japanese 城 (ki₂ → ki, “palisade, stronghold, fortress, castle”), as also suggested in the alternative kanji spelling 平城 (literally “flat stronghold”). See also the discussion of the city name's etymology on Wikipedia.

cog

short for 奈良県 (Nara-ken): Nara (a prefecture of Japan)


富山県

富山県 (canonical)
Toyama-ken (romanization)

From 富山 (Toyama) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is also 富山 (Toyama)


石川県

ja-pos

石(いし)川(かわ)県(けん) • (Ishikawa-ken) ^(←いしかはけん (Isikafaken)?)

石川県 (canonical)
Ishikawa-ken (romanization)
Isikafaken (romanization)
いしかはけん (hiragana historical)

[iɕika̠β̞a̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 石川 (Ishikawa) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is 金沢 (Kanazawa)


福井県

福(ふく)井(い)県(けん) • (Fukui-ken) ^(←ふくゐけん (Fukwiken)?)

福井県 (canonical)
Fukui-ken (romanization)
Fukwiken (romanization)
ふくゐけん (hiragana historical)

[ɸɯ̟kɯ̟ikẽ̞ɴ]

From 福井 (Fukui) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is also 福井 (Fukui)


山梨県

山梨県 (canonical)
Yamanashi-ken (romanization)

From 山梨 (Yamanashi) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

an inland prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan; its capital city is 甲府 (Kōfu, “Kofu”)


長野県

長野県 (canonical)
Nagano-ken (romanization)

From 長野 (Nagano) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

an inland prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan; its capital city is also 長野 (Nagano)


岐阜県

[ɡʲiɸɯ̟kẽ̞ɴ]

From 岐阜 (Gifu) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

an inland prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan; its capital city is also 岐阜 (Gifu)


静岡県

静(しず)岡(おか)県(けん) • (Shizuoka-ken) ^(←しづをかけん (Sidwokaken)?)

静岡県 (canonical)
Shizuoka-ken (romanization)
Sidwokaken (romanization)
しづをかけん (hiragana historical)

From 静岡 (Shizuoka) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

Shizuoka (a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; capital: Shizuoka)


愛知県

愛知県 (canonical)
Aichi-ken (romanization)

From 愛知 (Aichi) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中部 (Chūbu) region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is 名古屋 (Nagoya)


三重県

三(み)重(え)県(けん) • (Mie-ken) ^(←みへけん (Mifeken)?)

三重県 (canonical)
Mie-ken (romanization)
Mifeken (romanization)
みへけん (hiragana historical)

a prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is 津 (Tsu)


滋賀県

滋賀県 (canonical)
Shiga-ken (romanization)

From 滋賀 (Shiga) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

an inland prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan; its capital city is 大津 (Ōtsu, “Otsu”)


京都府

京(きょう)都(と)府(ふ) • (Kyōto-fu) ^(←きやうとふ (Kyautofu)?)

京都府 (canonical)
Kyōto-fu (romanization)
Kyautofu (romanization)
きやうとふ (hiragana historical)

[kʲo̞ːto̞ɸɯ̟]

From 京都 (Kyōto, “Kyoto”) + 府 (-fu, “prefecture”).

suffix

Kyoto (a prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan facing the Seto Inland Sea)


大阪府

ja-pos

大(おお)阪(さか)府(ふ) • (Ōsaka-fu) ^(←おほさかふ (Ofosakafu)?)

大阪府 (canonical)
Ōsaka-fu (romanization)
Ofosakafu (romanization)
おほさかふ (hiragana historical)

[o̞ːsa̠ka̠ɸɯ̟]

From 大阪 (Ōsaka, “Osaka”) + 府 (-fu, “prefecture”).

suffix

a prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan facing the Seto Inland Sea; its capital city is also 大阪 (Ōsaka, “Osaka”)


兵庫県

ja-pos

兵(ひょう)庫(ご)県(けん) • (Hyōgo-ken) ^(←ひやうごけん (Fyaugoken)?)

兵庫県 (canonical)
Hyōgo-ken (romanization)
Fyaugoken (romanization)
ひやうごけん (hiragana historical)

[ço̞ːɡo̞kẽ̞ɴ]

From 兵庫 (Hyōgo, “Hyogo”) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

suffix

a prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan facing the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea; its capital city is 神戸 (Kōbe, “Kobe”)


奈良県

[na̠ɾa̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 奈良 (Nara) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

an inland prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is also 奈良 (Nara)


和歌山県

和歌山県 (canonical)
Wakayama-ken (romanization)

From 和歌山 (Wakayama) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 近畿 (Kinki) region of Japan facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is also 和歌山 (Wakayama)


鳥取県

鳥取県 (canonical)
Tottori-ken (romanization)

From 鳥取 (Tottori) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中国 (Chūgoku) region of Japan facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is also 鳥取 (Tottori)


島根県

島根県 (canonical)
Shimane-ken (romanization)

From 島根 (Shimane) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中国 (Chūgoku) region of Japan facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is 松江 (Matsue)


岡山県

ja-pos

岡(おか)山(やま)県(けん) • (Okayama-ken) ^(←をかやまけん (Wokayamaken)?)

岡山県 (canonical)
Okayama-ken (romanization)
Wokayamaken (romanization)
をかやまけん (hiragana historical)

From 岡山 (Okayama) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中国 (Chūgoku) region of Japan facing the Seto Inland Sea; its capital city is also 岡山 (Okayama)


広島県

広島県 (canonical)
Hiroshima-ken (romanization)

[çiɾo̞ɕima̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 広島 (Hiroshima) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中国 (Chūgoku) region of Japan facing the Seto Inland Sea; its capital city is also 広島 (Hiroshima)


山口県

山口県 (canonical)
Yamaguchi-ken (romanization)

[ja̠ma̠ɡɯ̟t͡ɕikẽ̞ɴ]

From 山口 (Yamaguchi) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in the 中国 (Chūgoku) region of Japan facing the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan; its capital city is also 山口 (Yamaguchi)


徳島県

徳島県 (canonical)
Tokushima-ken (romanization)

From 徳島 (Tokushima) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture of Japan in the eastern part of 四国 (Shikoku) facing the Seto Inland Sea; its capital city is also 徳島 (Tokushima)


香川県

香(か)川(がわ)県(けん) • (Kagawa-ken) ^(←かがはけん (Kagafaken)?)

香川県 (canonical)
Kagawa-ken (romanization)
Kagafaken (romanization)
かがはけん (hiragana historical)

[ka̠ɡa̠β̞a̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 香川 (Kagawa) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture of Japan in the northeastern part of 四国 (Shikoku) facing the Seto Inland Sea; its capital city is 高松 (Takamatsu)


愛媛県

愛媛県 (canonical)
Ehime-ken (romanization)

From 愛媛 (Ehime) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture of Japan in the northwestern part of 四国 (Shikoku) facing the Seto Inland Sea; its capital city is 松山 (Matsuyama)


高知県

高(こう)知(ち)県(けん) • (Kōchi-ken) ^(←かうちけん (Kautiken)?)

高知県 (canonical)
Kōchi-ken (romanization)
Kautiken (romanization)
かうちけん (hiragana historical)

[ko̞ːt͡ɕikẽ̞ɴ]

From 高知 (Kōchi, “Kochi”) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

suffix

a prefecture of Japan in the southern part of 四国 (Shikoku) facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is also 高知 (Kōchi, “Kochi”)


福岡県

ja-pos

福(ふく)岡(おか)県(けん) • (Fukuoka-ken) ^(←ふくをかけん (Fukwokaken)?)

福岡県 (canonical)
Fukuoka-ken (romanization)
Fukwokaken (romanization)
ふくをかけん (hiragana historical)

[ɸɯ̟kɯ̟o̞ka̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 福岡 (Fukuoka) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in Japan on the northern part of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”) facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is also 福岡 (Fukuoka)


佐賀県

[sa̠ɡa̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 佐賀 (Saga) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in Japan on the northwestern part of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”) facing the Sea of Japan; its capital city is also 佐賀 (Saga)


熊本県

熊本県 (canonical)
Kumamoto-ken (romanization)

From 熊本 (Kumamoto) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in Japan on the central part of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”); its capital city is also 熊本 (Kumamoto)


大分県

大(おお)分(いた)県(けん) • (Ōita-ken) ^(←おほいたけん (Ofoitaken)?)

大分県 (canonical)
Ōita-ken (romanization)
Ofoitaken (romanization)
おほいたけん (hiragana historical)

From 大分 (Ōita, “Oita”) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

suffix

a prefecture in Japan on the northeastern part of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”) facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is also 大分 (Ōita, “Oita”)


宮崎県

宮崎県 (canonical)
Miyazaki-ken (romanization)

From 宮崎 (Miyazaki) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in Japan on the eastern part of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”) facing the Pacific Ocean; its capital city is also 宮崎 (Miyazaki)


鹿児島県

鹿児島県 (canonical)
Kagoshima-ken (romanization)

From 鹿児島 (Kagoshima) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture in Japan comprising the southern part of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”) facing the Pacific Ocean and nearby islands; its capital city is also 鹿児島 (Kagoshima)


沖縄県

ja-pos

沖(おき)縄(なわ)県(けん) • (Okinawa-ken) ^(←おきなはけん (Okinafaken)?)

沖縄県 (canonical)
Okinawa-ken (romanization)
Okinafaken (romanization)
おきなはけん (hiragana historical)

[o̞kʲina̠β̞a̠kẽ̞ɴ]

From 沖縄 (Okinawa) + 県 (-ken, “prefecture”).

a prefecture of Japan comprising of islands south of 九州 (Kyūshū, “Kyushu”) between the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea; its capital city is 那覇 (Naha)


静岡

静(しず)岡(おか) • (Shizuoka) ^(←しづをか (Sidwoka)?)

静岡 (canonical)
Shizuoka (romanization)
Sidwoka (romanization)
しづをか (hiragana historical)


海南

Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
w:Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

autonomous prefecture
autonomous prefecture

Hainan, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (a Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Qinghai, China)


山口

Compound of 山 (yama, “mountain”) + 口 (guchi, “mouth; opening, gateway”). The kuchi changes to guchi as an instance of rendaku (連濁).


福岡

ja-pos

福(ふく)岡(おか) • (Fukuoka) ^(←ふくをか (Fukwoka)?)

福岡 (canonical)
Fukuoka (romanization)
Fukwoka (romanization)
ふくをか (hiragana historical)

[ɸɯ̟̊kɯ̟o̞ka̠]

Fukuoka (a prefecture in northern Kyushu, Japan)


都道府県

ja-noun

都(と)道(どう)府(ふ)県(けん) • (todōfuken) ^(←とだうふけん (todaufuken)?)

都道府県 (canonical)
todōfuken (romanization)
todaufuken (romanization)
とだうふけん (hiragana historical)

[to̞do̞ːɸɯ̟̊kẽ̞ɴ]

都 (“(Tokyo) Metropolis”, literally “capital”) + 道 (“(Hokkaido) Prefecture”, literally “circuit”) + 府 (“(Kyoto and Osaka) Prefectures”, literally “subdivision”) + 県 (“(other) prefectures”)

af

Tokyo, Hokkaido, Osaka and Kyoto Prefectures and other prefectures (collectively, as the prefectural (prefecture-level) administrative divisions of Japan)

道府県

Hokkaido, Osaka, Kyoto and other prefectures


山梨

Daijirin
Pyrus pyrifolia
Yamanashi
ja:ヤマナシ
ja:山梨

Compound of 山 (yama, “mountain”) + 梨 (nashi, “pear”).

compound

Yamanashi (a prefecture in south eastern Honshu, Japan)


福島

[ɸɯ̟kɯ̟ɕima̠]


広島

Hiroshima (a prefecture in southwestern Honshu, Japan)


石川

ja-pos

石(いし)川(かわ) • (Ishikawa) ^(←いしかは (Isikafa)?)

石(いし)川(がわ) • (Ishigawa) ^(←いしがは (Isigafa)?)

石川 (canonical)
Ishikawa (romanization)
Isikafa (romanization)
いしかは (hiragana historical)
石川 (canonical)
Ishigawa (romanization)
Isigafa (romanization)
いしがは (hiragana historical)

→ Chinese: 石川 (Shíchuān)

→ English: Ishikawa, Ishigawa

[iɕiɡa̠β̞a̠]

Compound of 石(いし) (ishi, “stone”) + 川(かわ) (kawa, “river”). The kawa changes to gawa as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

ja-com

Ishikawa (a prefecture of Japan; capital: Kanazawa)


長野

Russian: Нага́но m or f (Nagáno)


福井

福井 (canonical)
Fukui (romanization)
Fukwi (romanization)
ふくゐ (hiragana historical)

Fukui (a prefecture on the north coast of Honshu, Japan)


宮崎

ja-pos

宮(みや)崎(ざき) • (Miyazaki) ^(←みやざき (Miyazaki)?)

宮崎 (canonical)
Miyazaki (romanization)
みやざき (hiragana historical)

Miyazaki (a prefecture in south eastern Kyushu, Japan)


大分

大分 (canonical)
Ōita (romanization)
Ofoita (romanization)
おほいた (hiragana historical)


鹿児島

By surface analysis, 鹿子 (kako, kago, “fawn”) + 島 (shima, “island”). See English Wikipedia for more.

surf

Kagoshima (a prefecture in southern Kyushu, Japan)


新潟

ja-pos

新(にい)潟(がた) • (Niigata) ^(←にひがた (Nifigata)?)

新潟 (canonical)
Niigata (romanization)
Nifigata (romanization)
にひがた (hiragana historical)

[ɲ̟iːɡa̠ta̠]

Compound of 新 (nii-, “new; fresh”) + 潟 (kata, “tidal flat; lagoon”), most likely in reference to the location. The kata changes to gata as an instance of rendaku (連濁).


岡山

ja-pos

岡(おか)山(やま) • (Okayama) ^(←をかやま (Wokayama)?)

岡山(かんしゃん) or 岡山(カンシャン) • (Kanshan)

岡山 (canonical)
Okayama (romanization)
Wokayama (romanization)
をかやま (hiragana historical)
岡山 (canonical)
岡山 (canonical)
Kanshan (romanization)


埼玉

Russian: Са́йтама f (Sájtama)

⟨saki₁tama⟩ → */sakʲitama/ → /saĩtama//saĩdama/ → /saitama/
Shift from Old Japanese 埼玉 (Saki₁tama).
Also read as Saidama in older texts.

Saitama, Saitama Prefecture (ellipsis of 埼玉県 (Saitama-ken): a prefecture of Japan)


熊本

Kumamoto (a prefecture in southwestern Kyushu, Japan)


秋田

Akita (a prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan)


岐阜

→ English: Gifu

→ Russian: Ги́фу m (Gífu)

Blend of 岐山 + 曲阜, of which the former is the place where Zhou Dynasty originated and the latter is the place of birth of Confucius. Coined by Oda Nobunaga.


徳島

Tokushima (a prefecture in eastern Shikoku, Japan)


青森

青(あお)森(もり) • (Aomori) ^(←あをもり (Awomori)?)

青森 (canonical)
Aomori (romanization)
Awomori (romanization)
あをもり (hiragana historical)

Aomori (a prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan)


富山

Toyama (a prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan)


山形

Yamagata (a prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan)


栃木

Also called 橡木 or 杤木, the use of 栃 as official name was proposed in October 1872, and finalized in April 1879.

Tochigi (a prefecture in eastern Honshu, Japan)


和歌山

Wakayama (a prefecture in southern Honshu, Japan)


佐賀

Russian: Са́га f (Sága)

Saga (a prefecture in northern Kyushu, Japan)


鳥取

Tottori (a prefecture on the north west coast of Honshu, Japan)


高知

高知 (canonical)
Kōchi (romanization)
Kauti (romanization)
かうち (hiragana historical)

Kōchi (a prefecture in southern Shikoku, Japan)


うちなー

うちなー or ウチナー • (Uchinā)

うちなー (canonical)
ウチナー (canonical)
Uchinā (romanization)

[ɯ̟t͡ɕina̠ː]

Unadapted borrowing from Okinawan 沖縄(うちなー) (Uchinā).

Okinawa (a prefecture and island group of Japan)


どい

Sound change of どえ (Doe), the reverse of 江戸 (Edo, “Edo”).

(back slang, crime) Tokyo (a major prefecture of Japan)


モンペリエ

From French Montpellier. Doublet of モントピリア (Montopiria).

Montpellier (a large city, the prefecture of Hérault department, Occitania, France)


入間

(historical) Iruma (a prefecture of Japan)


ダ埼玉

ダ埼玉 (canonical)
Dasaitama (romanization)

Saitama (city)
Saitama Prefecture
Tamori

Attested since the 1980s.
Blend of ダサい (dasai, “uncool”) + 埼玉 (Saitama, “Saitama Prefecture”, or the titular capital before 2001), often attributed to Japanese comedian Tamori (Kazuyoshi Morita).

blend

1992, Aiko Sato, Rōhei wa shinazu [Old soldiers don’t die]:

「東京というのはダサイとこだ…ダサイ文化が焼酎を支えている。その源はダ埼玉にある」というようなものだそう

“Tōkyō to iu no wa dasai toko da… dasai bunka ga shōchū o sasaete-iru. Sono minamoto wa Dasaitama ni aru” to iu yō na mono da sō

They say, “Tokyo is a dasai place... dasai culture supports shochu. The fountainhead is in Dasai-tama.”

(slang, derogatory) synonym of 埼玉 (Saitama): Saitama (a prefecture of Japan)


延辺

Yanbian (a Korean autonomous prefecture of Jilin, China)


信州

Orthographic borrowing from Chinese 信州 (Xìnzhōu)
# (historical) Xinzhou (a historical state in China; modern Chongqing)
Compound of 信 (Clipping of 信濃 (“Shinano Province”)) + 州 (shū, “province”)

com+

Clipping of <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">信濃</i> (“Shinano Province”)

信州そば

(by extension, poetic) Nagano (a prefecture of Japan)


上州

ja-pos

上(じょう)州(しゅう) • (Jōshū)

Compound of 上 (Clipping of 上野 (“Kōzuke Province”)) + 州 (shū, “province”)

com+

Clipping of <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">上野</i> (“Kōzuke Province”)

(by extension, poetic) Gunma (a prefecture of Japan)


一都三県

一都三県 (canonical)
Itto sanken (romanization)

[it̚to̞sã̠ŋkẽ̞ɴ]

Of 一(いち) (ichi) + 都(と) (to) + 三(さん) (san) + 県(けん) (ken), literally “one to [and] three ken”, in reference to Tokyo (東京都(とうきょうと) (Tōkyō to)), Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama (県(けん) (ken)) prefectures.

ja-r

東京都(とうきょうと) (Tōkyō to)

1977, Asahi Shimbun, Keizai taikoku no jirenma [Dilemma of economic super powers], volume 3, page 6:

According to Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa metropolitan officials, “Subsidence from the mouth of the Arakawa river to northern Kanto is the result of accumulated groundwater seepage over hundreds of years”

東京・千葉・埼玉・神奈川の一都三県が「地盤沈下は荒川河口から北関東にかけ、数百年間にたまった地下水くみ上げ […] 」

Tōkyō Chiba Saitama Kanagawa no Itto sanken ga “jibanchinka wa Arakawa kakō kara kita Kantō ni kake, sūhyaku nenkan ni tamatta chikasui kumi age […] ”

2018 April 17, Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, “Itto sanken ichi-shi ni okeru jisedai jidōsha sangyō bunya no renkei shien keikaku [Concerning support for coordinating an Itto sanken single market next generation automobile industry program]”, in Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (PDF), archived from the original on 2021-11-02:

1. Business field to be supported: Metropolitan area single market next-generation automobile industry

①支援対象とする事業分野：1都3県1市における次世代自動車産業分野

Ichi Shien taishō to suru jigyō bun'ya: Itto sanken isshi ni okeru jisedai jidōsha sangyō bun'ya

2020 May 1, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, “Inochi no mamoru STAY HOME shūkan [Stay Home week to save lives]”, in Kanagawa Prefecture, archived from the original on 2021-10-21:

Good afternoon. With the entire metropolitan region under a sense of crisis, April 25 to May 6 is being jointly declared the “Stay Home to Protect Lives week” campaign.

こんにちは。一都三県は同じ危機意識の下、4月25日から5月6日まで、「いのちを守るSTAY HOME週間」として、共同キャンペーンを行っています。

Konnichi wa. Itto sanken wa onaji kiki ishiki no shita, shigatsu nijūgonichi kara gogatsu muika made, “inochi o mamoru Sutē Hōmu shūkan” to shite, kyōdō kyanpēn o okonatteimasu.

2021 February 2, “Itto sanken kyōdō jōmyō ni tsuite [Regarding the metropolitan area joint declaration]”, in Chiba Prefecture, archived from the original on 2021-11-02:

Following the extension of the state of emergency on Tuesday February 2, Reiwa 3 [2021], the governors of Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, and Kanagawa metropolitan area prefectures released the following joint statement.

緊急事態宣言が延長されたことを受け、令和 3年 2月 2日（火曜日）に、埼玉県、千葉県、東京都、神奈川県の一都三県知事は連名で共同声明を発表いたしました。

Kinkyū jitai sengen ga enchō sareta koto o uke, Reiwa san-nen nigatsu futsuka (kayōbi) ni, Saitama-ken, Chiba-ken, Tōkyō-to, Kanagawa-ken no Itto sanken chiji wa renmei de kyōdō seimei o happyō itashimashita.

the Tokyo metropolitan region; the area surrounding and including the capital of Japan in Eastern Tokyo


ホータン

ja-pos

ホータン • (Hōtan)

Hotan (a prefecture, county, and county-level city of the Xinjiang autonomous region, China)