Provinces of Japan

Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of Japan was divided into tens of kuni (国, countries). The English-language term provinces is used to encompass all of these units. Each province was divided into gun earlier kōri (郡, counties).

Some brief periods

• Chichibu (some time before 645, merged into Musashi)
• Aizu (some time before 645, merged into Mutsu)
• Ho (some time before 645, merged into Mikawa)
• Shinaga (some time before 645, merged into Sagami)
• Izumi Gen (circa 716 to circa 738, divided from Kawachi)
• Yoshino Gen (circa 716 to circa 738, divided from Yamato)
• Suwa (circa 721 to circa 738, divided from Shinano)
• Iwaki (circa 718 to circa 724, divided from Mutsu)
• Iwase (circa 718 to circa 724, divided from Mutsu)