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Prefecture (Japan)

Prefecture
都道府県
Todōfuken
Regions and Prefectures of Japan 2.svg
Category Unitary State
Location Japan
Number 47
Populations 584,982 (Tottori) – 12,059,237 (Tōkyō)
Areas 1,861.7 km2 (718.8 sq mi) (Kagawa) – 83,453.6 km2 (32,221.6 sq mi) (Hokkaido)
Government Prefecture Government, Central Government
Subdivisions Districts

The Prefectures of Japan (都道府県 Todōfuken?) consist of 47 prefectures. They form the first level of jurisdiction and administrative division of Japan. They consist of 43 prefectures ( ken?) proper, two urban prefectures ( fu?, Osaka and Kyoto), one "circuit" or "territory" ( ?, Hokkaido) and one "metropolis" ( to?, Tokyo). The Meiji Fuhanken sanchisei administration created the first prefectures to replace the provinces of Japan in 1868.


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