Subprefectures of Japan

Subprefecture of Japan (支庁, shichō^?) are a Japanese form of self-government which focuses on local issues below the prefectural level. It acts as part of the greater administration of the state and as part of a self-government system.

They were given a definite form in 1878 (Meiji 11).

The Meiji government established the sub-prefecture (郡, -gun^?) as an administrative unit.

In 1888 (Meiji 21), the sub-prefecture as a form of self-government was officially as more general than civic corporations like cities, towns and villages.

Certain prefectures of Japan are now, or once were, divided into subprefectures. The subprefecture is the jurisdiction surrounding a "branch office" of the prefectural government. Normally, the area of a subprefecture consists of a few to a dozen cities, towns, and/or villages. Subprefectures are formed to provide services of the prefectural government in geographically remote areas. They are usually not used in postal addresses.

In addition, in 1907 Japan formed Karafuto Prefecture to govern the island of Sakhalin. Karafuto was divided into four subprefectures: Toyohara (in present-day Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Maoka (in present-day Kholmsk), Esutoru (in present-day Uglegorsk) and Shikuka (in present-day Makarov).

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