Last modified: 2006-08-12 by phil nelson
Keywords: japan | prefectures | islands: japan | mon |
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Prefectures ordered alphabetically | Prefectures ordered geographically
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The flags of the Japanese prefectures use Mon symbols. I view them as
heraldry made modern. The Kanji written by them reflect not only ancient Chinese
pictograms, but also alliteration or sound. From a language viewpoint, the Mon
of the various prefectures make much more meaning than most of the western
world's corporate logos.
Bruce Ward, 5 March 1996
Karafuto is (was) the Japanese name for Sakhalin, or at least for the
southern part of it. I think the island was lost to Russia in 1911, but some of
it was briefly regained by Japan in WWII. The local name, which is neither
Russian nor Japanese, I do not know, but it's aboriginal people -- the Ainu --
name collectively both islands (Sakhalin and Hokkaido) Ainu Moshir, i.e., Ainu
Fatherland.
Antonio Martins, 25 November 1996