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Japan is today divided into 47 prefectures, including one ''to'' 都, or "Metropolitan Prefecture" (Tôkyô-to), two ''fu'' 府, or "Urban Prefectures" (Ôsaka-fu and Kyôto-fu), one ''dô'' 道 (lit. "circuit", Hokkaidô), and 43 ''ken'' 県.<ref>While all the ''fu'' and ''ken'' are referred to as "X prefecture" in English, and are governed by "prefectural governments," Hokkaidô is called simply Hokkaidô, not Hokkaidô Prefecture, and Tokyo is officially called Tokyo Metropolis; its prefectural-level government is known as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.</ref> The names of the old [[provinces]] (''kuni'') survive today in the names of local customs, foods, and universities, including [[Awa odori]], [[Sanuki udon]], and [[Shinshu University|Shinshû University]], to give just a few examples. However, they no longer have any official status as political geographical units.

Japan is today divided into 47 prefectures, including one ''to'' 都, or "Metropolitan Prefecture" (Tôkyô-to), two ''fu'' 府, or "Urban Prefectures" (Ôsaka-fu and Kyôto-fu), one ''dô'' 道 (lit. "circuit", Hokkaidô), and 43 ''ken'' 県.<ref>While all the ''fu'' and ''ken'' are referred to as "X prefecture" in English, and are governed by "prefectural governments," Hokkaidô is called simply Hokkaidô, not Hokkaidô Prefecture, and Tokyo is officially called Tokyo Metropolis; its prefectural-level government is known as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.</ref> The names of the old [[provinces]] (''kuni'') survive today in the names of local customs, foods, and universities, including [[Awa odori]], [[Sanuki udon]], and [[Shinshu University|Shinshû University]], to give just a few examples. However, they no longer have any official status as political geographical units.

The first prefectures were established in [[1868]], when the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunal]] domains (''[[tenryo|tenryô]]'') were abolished. [[Tokyo]], [[Osaka]], and [[Kyoto]] were at that time designated ''fu'', and the remainder of the shogunal lands were divided up into ''ken'' (a borrowing from the Chinese ''xiàn''). [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]] was annexed in [[1869]], and the rest of Japan was divided up into ''ken'' in [[1871]], as the [[abolition of the han|''han'' were abolished]], with the final step being the abolition of [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]] and establishment of [[Okinawa Prefecture]] in [[1879]]. The borders, names, and numbers of prefectures fluctuated considerably over the course of the [[Meiji period]], but eventually settled into the 47 we know today.

The first prefectures were established in [[1868]], when the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunal]] domains (''[[tenryo|tenryô]]'') were abolished. [[Tokyo]], [[Osaka]], and [[Kyoto]] were at that time designated ''fu'', and the remainder of the shogunal lands, along with ''[[hatamoto]]'' lands and some small domains<ref>[[Mark Ravina]], ''Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan'', Stanford University Press (1999), 33.</ref> were divided up into ''ken'' (a borrowing from the Chinese ''xiàn''). The rest of the domains were renamed ''[[han]]''. [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]] was annexed in [[1869]], and the rest of Japan was divided up into ''ken'' in [[1871]], as the [[abolition of the han|''han'' were abolished]], with the final step being the abolition of [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]] and establishment of [[Okinawa Prefecture]] in [[1879]]. The borders, names, and numbers of prefectures fluctuated considerably over the course of the [[Meiji period]], but eventually settled into the 47 we know today.

A note in the July [[1878]] ''Japan Weekly Mail'' set the precedent for ''ken'' to be called "provinces" in English, and their heads (''kenrei'') to be called "prefects." It was from this that the term "prefectures" soon afterwards came into common usage, replacing "provinces," even as, ironically, the "prefects" came to be referred to in English as "governors."

A note in the July [[1878]] ''Japan Weekly Mail'' set the precedent for ''ken'' to be called "provinces" in English, and their heads (''kenrei'') to be called "prefects." It was from this that the term "prefectures" soon afterwards came into common usage, replacing "provinces," even as, ironically, the "prefects" came to be referred to in English as "governors."