Echizen Province

Echizen Province (越前国, Echizen no kuni^?) was an old province of Japan, which is today the northern part of Fukui Prefecture. It was sometimes called Esshū (越州^?), with Etchū and Echigo Provinces.

Echizen is famous for washi (traditionally-produced paper). A text dated AD 774 mentions the washi made in this area. Echizen-produced Washi is still the most commonly sold traditional paper in Japan today. Echizen is also well known for its ceramics. It is one of the so-called six old kiln sites of Japan (the others being Shigaraki, Bizen, Seto, Tanba, and Tokoname) and as such it is highly revered in the Japanese and international ceramics community.

The ancient capital is believed to have been in Echizen, but by the Sengoku period the province was divided among many fiefs. One of the most popular historical figures from Echizen has been Shibata Katsuie, who lived in Kitanosho Castle. In the Edo period the daimyō of Fukui Domain maintained the seat in Fukui city.

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