[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (10) Place Names (Mikawa, Totomi, Sagami, Hitachi, Mutsu, Satsuma, etc.)

Mikawa

The "Fudoki" states that this province is named for its three rivers: the O-gawa, the Toyo-gawa, and the Yahagi-gawa. My current assessment is that the O-gawa is the Daira-gawa, the Toyo-gawa is the Yoshida-gawa, and the Yahagi-gawa is the Okazaki-gawa.

Totomi

This means "distant freshwater lake." It is a freshwater lake far from the capital. The "tsu" is a filler character. A "lake" is called an "awa-umi" (freshwater lake). It is a reversal of "tsu-a." In the past, there was Lake Hamana in this province, but on June 10th of the 8th year of the Meio era, a flood occurred, the land between the lake and the sea was severed, the tide flowed in, and the freshwater lake disappeared, which is why it is called "Ima-no-kire" (the current cut). The Hamana Bridge was a bridge that spanned the river flowing from the lake. Therefore, there is no trace of it now.

* The phrase "reversal of tsu-a" may be a misreading. * The "flood disaster on June 10th of the 8th year of the Meio era" refers to the fact that Lake Hamana became connected to the open sea due to the tsunami from the great earthquake that occurred on August 25th of the 7th year of the Meio era (1498).

Suruga

"Suru" means "surudo" (sharp/swift). It refers to speed. "Ka" is "kawa" (river). The "wa" is omitted. It is not a phonetic sound. It is "surudogawa." In that province, there are rivers like the Oi-gawa, the Abe-gawa, and the Fuji-gawa, all of which are swift rivers. Hence the name.

Izu

It means "to emerge." It is located between Suruga and Sagami, and it is named so because it is a province that juts out into the sea.

Sagami

Old records state that in the past, a hunter in this province was separated from his wife and grieved. When his wife was dying, she pointed to a mirror and said, "After I die, if you miss me, you should look into this mirror." When the wife died, her image reflected in the mirror was as if he were looking at his deceased wife. He enshrined that mirror and made it a deity. The province where that shrine is located is called "Sagami." "Saga" means "sugata" (figure/appearance). "Sagami" means to look at the figure. This deity is the Ashigara Myojin.

* "Kyuki" refers to old records. It means documents that record past events.

Hitachi

It means "hitakachi" (straight-walking). The "ka" is omitted. From the capital to this province, it is a road for walking straight. This is because this province is at the eastern edge of Japan. Although Mutsu and Dewa are in the interior, they are in the northeast, so they are not at the eastern edge.

* "Ushitora" is the northeast direction.

Omi

It means "awa-umi" (freshwater lake). The character "ha" is omitted. A lake without salt is called an "awa-umi." This is because the taste is bland. The character for "near" (Omi) is added because it is close to the capital. "Fu" is the reversal of "hau." Therefore, it is written as "Afumi" (Omi).

* "Shihonaki mizuumi" means a lake without salt.

Mino

In the Kujiki, it is written as 'Mino' (three fields). Does this province have three wide fields? Kagamino, Aono, and Sekigahara are all wide fields.

* 'Kujiki' refers to the Kujihongi, a historical text compiled in the early Heian period.

Kōzuke and Shimotsuke

These two provinces had many fields in the past. Kōzuke is located above, and Shimotsuke is located below. Therefore, they are called Kamitsuke and Shimotsuke. 'Tsu' is a filler character, and 'mo' is used because there is much grass in the fields. Omitting 'field' (no), they are called 'Kamitsuke' and 'Shimotsuke'. Even now, Shimotsuke Province has many fields. The upper and lower designations were established based on their proximity to the capital.

Michinoku

'Michi' means land (kuga). It is the interior of the land. It is abbreviated and called 'Michinoku'. It is a province located in the far northeast of Japan. In later generations, 'Michinoku' was mistakenly called 'Mutsu no Kuni'.

* 'Interior of the land' means the deep interior of the land.

Echizen, Etchū, and Echigo

In the past, all three provinces were called the Province of Koshi. Because one travels over mountains from the directions of Ōmi, Mino, Hida, and Shinano, the northern region is called 'Koshiji'. In later generations, it was divided into three, becoming the front, middle, and back. Kaga was also originally one province with Echizen, but during the reign of Emperor Saga, it was said that the province was too long and difficult to govern, so Kaga Province was separated from within Echizen. The front, middle, and back were named based on their order from the capital. You should understand the others by analogy to this.

* 'Yo' means remainder.

Bizen, Bitchū, and Bingo

In the past, all three provinces were called the Province of Kibi. In later generations, it was divided into three provinces. The reason it was named the Province of Kibi is likely because it was the province where Kibitsuhiko resided in ancient times.

Oki

It is an island located in the offing (oki) of Izumo and Hōki.

Awaji

'A' means 'I' (ware). 'Haji' means 'shame' (haji). It means 'my shame'. That story appears in the 'Nihon Shoki, Volume 1 of the Age of the Gods'.

* Reference: 'Kokugogaku Tsūkō' (National Diet Library Digital Collection)

Chikuzen and Chikugo

In ancient times, both provinces were collectively called the Land of Tsukushi. In later generations, it was divided into two. Hence, they are called Chikuzen and Chikugo. 'Zen' (front) and 'go' (rear) refer to the side closer to the capital being the 'front'. The meaning of 'Tsukushi' will be noted later.

Buzen and Bungo

In ancient times, it was called the Land of Toyo. In later generations, it was divided into front and rear.

Hizen and Higo

According to the 'Nihon Shoki', Emperor Keiko arrived in the land of Higo. As it was dark at night, he did not know where his ship reached the shore, but seeing a fire in the distance, he landed. When he inquired about the fire, no one knew of it. Therefore, he named the land the Land of Fire (Hi no Kuni). Later, the Land of Fire was renamed and divided into Hizen and Higo. The character 'Hi' (肥) is used because the reading of 'Hi' (火 - fire) was used as a phonetic sound. The phrase 'Shiranuhi no Tsukushi' also began from this.

※ 'Shiranuhi no Tsukushi' refers to the fact that 'Shiranui' (unknown fire) is a pillow word for 'Tsukushi'.

Hyuga

It means 'facing the sun'. It is a land that receives the east and faces the sun. According to the 'Nihon Shoki', Emperor Keiko was in the land of Hyuga and, looking toward the east, said, 'This land faces directly toward the direction where the sun rises.' Therefore, he named the land Hyuga.

※ 'This land faces directly toward the direction where the sun rises' means this land faces straight toward the direction where the sun rises. Reference: 'Nihon Shoki, Part 1' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

Satsuma

It is 'Satsuma' (陘間). In dictionaries, 'kei' (陘) is a break in a mountain range. It likely refers to a place where mountains are interrupted, a narrow space between mountains. 'Sachi' is the reading for the character 'riku' (陸 - land). It is not a sound. In the 'Man'yoshu', there is a person called 'Sachi no Taemi'. In the 'Shoku Nihongi', it is written as 'Sachi no Taemi'. Because the reading of 'kei' (陘) and the sound of 'satsu' (薩) are the same, the meaning of 'kei' was adopted to call it Satsuma. 'Ma' (摩) has the same sound and meaning as 'ma' (間 - space/interval); since it is a land with many mountains and located between mountains, it was likely named this way.

※ 'Kei' (陘) might be a misreading. The kanji 'kei' (陘) is said to mean a place where a mountain range is interrupted.
※ Reference: 'Man'yoshu, Part 2', 'Man'yoshu Ryakukai (Kei Taemi O)', 'Shoku Nihongi Kosho (Satsu Taemi)' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

Author's Note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered.
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