Shimane Prefecture

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The history of Shimane starts with Japanese mythology. The Shinto god Ōkuninushi was believed to live in Izumo, an old province in Shimane. Izumo Shrine, which is in the city of Izumo, honors the god. At that time, the current Shimane prefecture was divided into three parts: Iwami, Izumo, and Oki. That lasted until the abolition of the han system took place in 1871. During the Nara period, Kakinomoto no Hitomaro wrote a poem on Shimane's nature when he was sent as the Royal governor. Later on in the Kamakura period (1185–1333), the Kamakura shogunate forced emperors Go-Toba and Godaigo into exile in Oki. Emperor Go-Daigo later escaped from Oki and began rallying supporters against the shogunate, which proved successful. During the Muromachi period (1336–1573), Izumo and Oki were controlled by the Kyōgoku clan. However, after the Ōnin War, the Amago clan expanded power based in Gassantoda Castle and the Masuda clan dominated Iwami Province. The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was located between Amago territory and Masuda territory, and there were many battles between the clans for the silver. In 1566 Mōri Motonari conquered Izumo, Iwami, and Oki. In 1600, after over 30 years of Mori control, Horio Yoshiharu entered Izumo and Oki as the result of Battle of Sekigahara, which Mori lost. Following the change, Horio Yoshiharu decided to move to build Matsue Castle instead of Gassan-Toda, and soon after Yoshiharu's death the castle was completed. In 1638, the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu Matsudaira Naomasa became the ruler because the Horio clan had no heir, and his family ruled until the abolition of the han system. In 1871, the abolition of the han system placed the old Shimane and Hamada Provinces in the current area of Shimane Prefecture. Later that year, Oki became part of Tottori. In 1876, Hamada Prefecture was merged into Shimane Prefecture. Also, Tottori Prefecture was added in the same year. However, five years later, in 1881, the current portion of Tottori Prefecture was separated and the current border was formed. Shimane Prefecture governs the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan which juridically includes the disputed Liancourt Rocks (竹島, Takeshima).

Reader's Guide

Shimane Prefecture holds significance as a repository of Japanese mythology and early history, being the legendary home of the god Ōkuninushi and site of Izumo-taisha. Its historical narrative includes imperial exiles, clan warfare over silver mines, and the construction of Matsue Castle. The prefecture's modern boundaries were shaped by the Meiji-era abolition of the han system and subsequent mergers. Economically, the retail industry is the largest employer, employing over 60,000 workers, followed by manufacturing with 49,000 workers. Companies based in Shimane include Izumo Murata Manufacturing, Mitsubishi Agricultural Machinery, and Shimane Fujitsu. Demographically, one-third of the prefecture's population is concentrated in the Izumo-Matsue area, and over two-thirds of the population is on the coastline. Matsue has the smallest population of all 47 prefectural capitals. Shimane also has the largest percentage of elderly people, and had an estimated 743 centenarians per million inhabitants in September 2010, the highest ratio in Japan. Its geography includes the Sea of Japan coastline on the north, the Chūgoku Mountains on the south, and the Oki Islands. The prefecture's legacy lies in its preservation of ancient shrines, castles, and a UNESCO World Heritage silver mine, alongside its role in Japan's regional identity.

Did You Know?

• Shimane Prefecture is the second-least populous prefecture of Japan at 665,205 (February 1, 2021).
• Matsue has the smallest population of all 47 prefectural capitals.
• Shimane had an estimated 743 centenarians per million inhabitants in September 2010, the highest ratio in Japan.
• The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Shimane Prefecture juridically includes the disputed Liancourt Rocks (竹島, Takeshima).