Japanese Subdivisions

Last modified: 2006-08-12 by phil nelson
Keywords: japan | prefectures | islands: japan | mon |
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by Antonio Martins

• Mon symbols
• Karafuto

See also:

• Municipal flags of Japan
• Liancourt Rocks (disputed territory)
• Japan101.com (outside link)

Mon symbols

The flags of the Japanese prefectures use Mon symbols. I view them as heraldry made modern. The Kanji written by them reflect not only ancient Chinese pictograms, but also alliteration or sound. From a language viewpoint, the Mon of the various prefectures make much more meaning than most of the western world's corporate logos.
Bruce Ward, 5 March 1996

Karafuto

Karafuto is (was) the Japanese name for Sakhalin, or at least for the southern part of it. I think the island was lost to Russia in 1911, but some of it was briefly regained by Japan in WWII. The local name, which is neither Russian nor Japanese, I do not know, but it's aboriginal people -- the Ainu -- name collectively both islands (Sakhalin and Hokkaido) Ainu Moshir, i.e., Ainu Fatherland.
Antonio Martins, 25 November 1996