Jul 10 (News On Japan) –
In the previous, the middle of Hyogo Prefecture was ‘Hyougo-no-Tsu’ (now Kobe City’s Hyogo Ward). Did that the primary prefectural workplace was situated right here and the primary governor was Hirobumi Ito? The ‘Kobe Incident,’ which led to Ito’s appointment, grew to become a global difficulty that launched the time period ‘hara-kiri’ to the world.
Kobe’s improvement as a port city was considerably influenced by Taira no Kiyomori, whose memorial websites are scattered all through Kobe. This article delves into the historical past of Hyogo’s origins at “Hyougo-no-Tsu.”
Today, we’re in Hyogo Ward of Kobe City, an space traditionally often called “Hyougo-no-Tsu,” a distinguished port with over a thousand years of historical past. Behind us is the constructing that served as the primary Hyogo Prefectural Office, established in 1858. The present prefectural workplace is situated in Sannomiya, Chuo Ward, however this was the unique heart of Hyogo in the course of the Meiji period.
Kobe Port, acknowledged as a global commerce hub since its opening in 1868, originated in Hyogo Ward. From the Heian interval by way of the trendy Meiji interval, “Hyougo-no-Tsu” thrived as a vital port city alongside the Seto Inland Sea. The first governor of Hyogo Prefecture was Hirobumi Ito, the historic determine as soon as depicted on the 1,000 yen invoice.
This space, often called Hyogo Ward in the present day, was as soon as managed by the Amagasaki Domain in the course of the Edo interval. The area instantly managed the realm as tenryo, or shogunate land. The preliminary constructing right here was utilized by the Osaka Magistrate’s Office.
The distinguished determine of this historic narrative is Hirobumi Ito, who served as Hyogo’s first governor on the younger age of 26. Ito, who studied in Britain, performed a vital function in resolving the Kobe Incident, a big diplomatic difficulty involving a conflict between samurai and French troopers. The decision of this incident, which included a ritual suicide, introduced the time period “hara-kiri” to worldwide consideration.
The relocation of Hyogo Prefecture’s heart from “Hyougo-no-Tsu” to Sannomiya was partly as a consequence of safety considerations associated to opening the port to foreigners. Sannomiya, a much less populated space on the time, grew to become the brand new heart, facilitating simpler administration and decreasing potential conflicts.
Exploring additional, the Hyogo Ward space contains important historic websites, corresponding to Hyogo Canal, a big canal system essential for commerce. The space is now a heritage website acknowledged as a Japanese cultural property.
One of the important thing historic landmarks is Kiyomori’s Tomb, a towering stone monument devoted to Taira no Kiyomori, who expanded the port and facilitated commerce with the Song Dynasty, resulting in important prosperity. The website additionally contains varied temples and a statue of the Hyogo Daibutsu, a big Buddha statue reconstructed in 1991.
Hyogo’s historic narrative is deeply intertwined with the influential figures and occasions that formed it. The space’s wealthy previous is preserved and celebrated by way of varied monuments, museums, and heritage websites, making it an enchanting location to discover the origins of Hyogo Prefecture.
Source: YOMIURI

