Changes

As with many of the provinces that can be paired as 'front' or 'back', Totomi province can be paired with [[Omi province]], for while Omi is the "near faint sea", Totomi is the "distant faint sea".  This is likely a reference to Lake Hamana and may have originated from its position in antiquity as the outer reaches of the Yamato polity (Hara 1986).  In 642, an imperial edict conscripting workers from around the country designated that span as 'from Totomi in the east to [[Aki province|Aki]] in the west'.

As with many of the provinces that can be paired as 'front' or 'back', Totomi province can be paired with [[Omi province]], for while Omi is the "near faint sea", Totomi is the "distant faint sea".  This is likely a reference to Lake Hamana and may have originated from its position in antiquity as the outer reaches of the Yamato polity (Hara 1986).  In 642, an imperial edict conscripting workers from around the country designated that span as 'from Totomi in the east to [[Aki province|Aki]] in the west'.

Throughout history, Totomi has been closely connected with the provinces of [[Ise province|Ise]] and [[Mikawa province|Mikawa]] due to their geographical locations.  According to the ''[[Nihongi]]'', by the early 8th century, soon after a visit by [[Empress Jito]] (r. 690-697) in 702, Totomi was designated as a ''chugoku'', or "province of middling distance" from the capital, while Mikawa was considered a ''kinkoku'', or "province near to" the capital.

Throughout history, Totomi has been closely connected with the provinces of [[Ise province|Ise]] and [[Mikawa province|Mikawa]] due to their geographical locations.  According to the ''[[Nihongi]]'', by the early 8th century, soon after a visit by [[Empress Jito]] (r. 686-697) in 702, Totomi was designated as a ''chugoku'', or "province of middling distance" from the capital, while Mikawa was considered a ''kinkoku'', or "province near to" the capital.

The [[Tokaido]], or Eastern Sea Route, was officially named in the latter half of the 7th century and passed north of Lake Hamana.  This was one of the routes designated throughout the country for conducting official business, and continued to be used throughout Japan's history, later becoming one of the major routes for daimyo traveling to Edo for the [[Sankin Kotai]].

The [[Tokaido]], or Eastern Sea Route, was officially named in the latter half of the 7th century and passed north of Lake Hamana.  This was one of the routes designated throughout the country for conducting official business, and continued to be used throughout Japan's history, later becoming one of the major routes for daimyo traveling to Edo for the ''[[Sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]''.

Since the mid-5th century, the [[Mononobe clan|Mononobe family]] and their kin appear to have been powerful in the region as provincial chieftains.  Evidence including genealogies, place names, and local legends seem to point to a connection with the Mononobe playing a large role in the early history of Totomi and nearby provinces.  

Since the mid-5th century, the [[Mononobe clan|Mononobe family]] and their kin appear to have been powerful in the region as provincial chieftains.  Evidence including genealogies, place names, and local legends seem to point to a connection with the Mononobe playing a large role in the early history of Totomi and nearby provinces.