Harima Province (播磨国, Harima no kuni) or Banshū (播州) was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is the southwestern part of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture.[1] Harima bordered on Tajima, Tanba, Settsu, Bizen, and Mimasaka Provinces. Its capital was Himeji.

Map of Japanese provinces (1868) with Harima Province highlighted

During the Edo period of Japanese history, the Akō Domain (fief) was part of Harima. The Forty-seven rōnin were samurai of Akō han. IHI Corporation, a shipbuilder and major Boeing engine subcontractor gets its name from the province.

History

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Harima Province was established in 7th century. During the Meiji Restoration, Himeji Prefecture was established with the whole area of Harima Province as the territory. Himeji Prefecture was renamed to Shikama prefecture, and Shikama Prefecture was transferred to Hyōgo Prefecture finally.

Harima Sake Culture Tourism promotes the region as the "Hometown of Japanese Sake".

Temples and shrines

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Iwa jinja was the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) of Harima.[2]

Historical districts

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Notes

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References

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  • Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
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