Nutari no Ki (渟足柵) was a type of Saku (fortified frontier) erected in 647AD in the old Province of Echigo, close to the city of Niigata. It’s construction was carried out to serve as an outpost for the military to continue campaigns against the Ezo People of northern Honshu.

It is thought it fell into disuse around 708AD alongside Iwafune no Ki. As yet no trace has been found of this site.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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Iwafune no Ki (磐舟柵) also known as Iwafune no Saku was a type of ‘Saku‘ (fortified frontier) in the old Province of Echigo, modern day Niigata Prefecture, close to the city of Murakami. It was established in 648AD as part of a campaign against the Ezo tribes in northern Honshu.

It is thought to have fallen into disuse around 708AD alongside Nutari no ki. Remains of this site were thought to have been found in 1957 near to Iwafune Shrine.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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• See also: List of Provinces

Echigo Province

Echigo Province (越後国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Niigata Prefecture, established in the early 8th Century.¹

The folktale called The Mirror of Matsuyama is set in this province.⁴

Legendary Period

It is mentioned in the nihongi alongside that of Echizen Province and Etchu Province. However, they are grouped together and given the name of Koshi. Koshi being the fifth island of Japan created by Izanami and Izanagi.²

7th Century onwards

Echigo was created in the 7th Century when the Province of Koshi was broken into Echigo, Etchizen and Etchu and was ruled over by the Uesugi family between the 12th to 16th century.¹ The Province was attacked by Takeda Shingen in a series of battles between 1553-1564 against Uesugi Kenshin with Shingen being the victor.³

During the Edo Period it was divided into a number of domains.

The outposts of Nutari no Ki and Iwafune no Ki were constructed here to hold troops to aid in the control of the Ezo people.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
4. Ozaki, Y.T. (2015) “Japanese Fairy Tales” USA: Cavalier Classics.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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• Co-ordinates: 38°1′N 138°22′E
• Region: Chūbu Region
• Prefecture: Niigata Prefecture

Sado Island

Sado Island (佐渡ヶ島, Marsh Paddy Isle) was, according to the Kojiki, the seventh island born after the Great Land of Eightfold Isles.¹

The Nihongi also has this island as one of original Eightfold Isles. Though differs in saying it was the fourth to be born.²

Yōkai Connections

The island has connections to the creature known as the Umibozū. However, the islanders use the alternative name of Tate-Eboshi. They say the creature is 65 foot tall and will try to drown boats.³

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2008) “Yokai Attack: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide” Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd.

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