Shiribeshi Province


Shiribeshi Province was a short-lived province in Hokkaidō. It corresponded to Shiribeshi Subprefecture minus Abuta District plus the northern part of Hiyama Subprefecture.

History

After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaido; and regional administrative subdivisions were identified, including Shiribeshi Province.
In 1882, the Hokkaido region was separated into three prefectures — Hakodate Prefecture, Sapporo Prefecture, and Nemuro Prefecture. In 1886, the three prefectures were abolished, and Hokkaido was put under the Hokkaido Agency. At the same time, the Shiribeshi Province continued to exist for some purposes. For example, Shiribeshi is explicitly recognized in treaties in 1894 between Japan and the United States and between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Timeline

  • 659—the area named "Shiribeshi" first appears in Japanese historical records. The Nihon Shoki records that Abe no Hirafu was dispatched by the imperial government in Kyoto to subdue the aboriginal inhabitants of the area, referred to as emishi.
  • 1869—use of the Hokkaido name started
  • August 15, 1869—Shiribeshi Province established with 17 districts
  • 1872—Census finds 19,098 inhabitants of Shiribeshi Province
  • 1882—prefectures established
  • 1886—Hokkaido Agency established
  • 1947—Hokkaido Prefecture established

Districts