Magiri

The Magiri (間切) were a type of administrative district of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the Ryukyu Islands that ranged from the Amami Islands in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture across all of present-day Okinawa Prefecture. In concept they were similar to present-day Japanese prefectures, but in size they were closer to cities, towns and villages.

History

The origin of the magiri system is unclear, but was solidified by the beginning of the reign of Shō Shin, the third king of the Second Shō Dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The rule of Shō Shin ranged between 1477 and 1526. In the history of the Ryukyu Islands, the demarkation of magiri underwent two major modifications. The system also continued to varying degrees in the Amami Islands even after they were put under the control of Satsuma Domain.

The magiri were originally controlled by individual anji, but as the Ryukyu Kingdom solidified in the 15th century the anji relocated to the center of the kingdom at Shuri. After this period the title of anji became symbolic, and low-ranking official were assigned the day-to-day administration of the magiri.