Everyone knows Japan has distinctive
change of seasons and these seasonal changes have added more beauty to
Hokkaido. Hokkaido is a beautiful place with clean air, blue sky, colorful
flowers, undulating hills, and the majesty of the mountains which are admired
by tourists around the world. Yet, it seems that most of the people who travel
to here know nothing about its history. Therefore, this post will give a brief
and clear story about Hokkaido in the past and present so that everyone will
keep in mind on it.
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The flag of Hokkaido
Photo Credit: Hokkaido's Wikipedia
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Hokkaido has had a different history from that
of the rest of Japan. In sharp contrast to Japan’s mainland, where a
farming-based culture thrived from early on, Hokkaido maintained Jomon culture characterized by
hunting and fishing until about 2,000 years ago, which was then followed by Ainu culture. Ainu is a indigenous people who live mainly in Northern Japan’s main
island, Honshu, Ezochi (Hokkaido), Sakhalin, and the
Kurile Islands. Athough Hokkaido was
originally inhabited by the Ainu people, but there is an increasing numbers of Wajin (Japanese people from
mainland Japan) moved to settle in the region.
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The Ainu People
Photo Credit: Ainu People's Wikipedia
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Around 150 years ago, the new Meiji Government started land reclamation in Hokkaido as part of the nation’s modernization policy. During Hokkaido’s development, many advanced techniques were introduced from Western countries. Today, the heritage of these techniques remains not only in Hokkaido but also in the daily lives of local residents.
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| Western Building: Sapporo Clock Tower Photo Credit: WANDERING MYRA |
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| Former Hokkaido Government Office which was westernized. Photo Credit: Japan Photo Trip The Name Of Hokkaido |
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| The Name of Hokkaido Photo Credit: Japanese Dining's website |
When establishing the Development Commission (開拓使 Kaitakushi), the Meiji Government decided to change the name of Ezochi. Matsuura Takeshiro submitted six proposals, including names such as Kaihokudō (海北道) and Hokkaidō (北加伊道), to the government. The government eventually decided to use the name Hokkaidō, but decided to write it as 北海道, as a compromise between 海北道 and because of the similarity with names such as Tokaido(東海道). According to Matsuura, the name was thought up because the Ainu called the region Kai.
The Location
The Location
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| The Map of Hokkaido Photo Credit: d-maps.com |
Hokkaido is the second largest island of
Japan, and the largest and northernmost prefecture. Despite its
latitude at 41 to 45 degrees north with is similar to that of southern France,
the prefecture has a much cooler climate. The region’s cool climate with
low humidity is hardly affected by the rainy season and typhoons that
characterize the rest of Japan during the summer months.
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| Flower Power Season in Hokkaido Photo Credit: Timeout Shanghai's Website |
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| The Nature of Beautiful Lake Toya-ko Photo Credit: Japan National Tourism Organization's website |
It is surrounded by the Pacific, the Sea of Japan and the Sea of
Okhotsk, and its landscapes include magnificent mountains in various forms,
vast wetlands, and beautiful lakes and marshes. Although Hokkaido is part
of Japan, it is highly distinct from the rest of the country. While mainland
Japan exhibits the hot, humid conditions associated with its temperate-zone
location, Hokkaido (excluding its southernmost part) has the relatively low
temperatures and humidity of the sub-frigid zone. Naturally, vegetation and lifestyles
in Hokkaido differ from those of mainland Japan.
