Shimane Prefecture

Shimane prefecture (島根県 Shimane-ken) is in the western Chugoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu. It has the second smallest population of any prefecture in Japan.

Shimane Prefecture is in Chugoku and is part of the San'in area. San'in means "the shady side of the mountains". There is a mountain range separating Shimane and neighboring Tottori from Hiroshima and Okayama. That means that the weather here is much wetter than further to the south.

History

Matsue Castle

Early history

The history of Shimane starts with Japanese mythology. In these myths, the Shinto god Ōkuninushi lived in Izumo, an old province in Shimane. Izumo Shrine honors this god. The current Shimane prefecture was divided into three parts: Iwami, Izumo, and Oki. That lasted until the han system was stopped in 1871.

Later on in the Kamakura period, the Kamakura Shogunate forced Emperor Gotoba and Emperor Godaigo into exile on Oki Island. Emperor Godaigo got away from Oki and successfully fought back against the shogunate.

Middle Ages

During the Muromachi period, many clans fought over this area because there was a lot of silver. The Kyogoku clan controlled Izumo and Oki. However, after the Ōnin War, the Amago clan in Gassan-Toda castle increased in power, and the Masuda clan controlled Iwami. Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was in between Amago clan territory and Masuda clan territory, so there were many battles between these lords for the large amount of silver. However, in 1566 Mori Motonari conquered Izumo, Iwami, and Oki. After over 30 years of Mori control, in 1600 Horio Yoshiharu entered Izumo and Oki after the Battle of Sekigahara which Mori lost. Horio Yoshiharu decided to move and build Matsue Castle instead of Gassan-Toda. The castle was completed soon after Yoshiharu's death. Later in 1638, the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Matsudaira Naomasa entered the castle because the Horio clan had no heir. Matsudaira's family ruled until the end of the han system.

The Iwami area was split into 3 clans. The mining district was under direct control of the Shogunate. The Hamada clan and the Tsuwano clan each controlled their own areas. Iwami Ginzan produced silver and was one of the nation's largest silver mine by the early 17th century. The Hamada clan was on the shogunate's side in the Meiji Restoration, and the castle was burned down. The Tsuwano clan, despite the Matsudaira (relative of the shogun) rule was on the emperor's side in the restoration.

Historic sites

• Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (石見銀山) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Yunotsu - An old onsen town with architecture preserved from the 1920s

Cities

• Matsue (松江) - The prefectural capital city, Matsue has an original castle. Most castles in Japan have been rebuilt in modern times. Lafcadio Hearn lived and wrote here.
• Izumo (出雲) - Site of Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's most famous shrines.
• Hamada (浜田) - Fishing port and recreation area.
• Tsuwano (津和野) - This is also called "Little Kyoto". Mori Ogai was born here.
• Masuda (益田) - The westernmost city in Shimane and long-time home of Sesshu, an important artist in Japanese history.
• Gotsu (江津) - A small industrial city between Hamada and Oda.
• Ōda (大田) - Close to Iwami Ginzan and Mt. Sanbe.
• Yasugi - Site of the Adachi Art Museum.

National Parks

National Parks are established in about 6% of the total land area of the prefecture.

Related pages

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan

Other webites

Shimane Prefecture: Introduction to Shimane [1]