
Map of Japanese provinces with province highlighted
'Sanuki' (讃å²å›½; -no kuni) was an
old province of
Japan on the island of
Shikoku, with the same boundaries as modern
Kagawa Prefecture. It faced the
Inland Sea and bordered on
Awa and
Iyo provinces. Across
Naruto strait it bordered
Awaji province too. Administratively it was included as a part of
NankaidÅ. It was settled in the
7th century and originally consisted of the northeastern part of Shikoku and
Awaku Islands on the Inland Sea.
Sanuki's ancient capital is believed to have been near modern
Sakaide, but has not been discovered.
Takamatsu developed as the main seat of the province in the middle ages.
In the
Sengoku period Sanuki was ruled by the
Miyoshi clan. The Miyoshi were invaded by
Chosokabe clan in
Tosa province and lost Sanuki province. Finally Chosokabe lost a battle against
Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Sanuki was given to his men.
In the
Edo period Sanuki was divided into five; three
han in
Takamatsu,
Marugame,
Tadotsu, the
Shogun's direct holding and a part of
Tsuyama han whose mainland was on
Honshū.
Naoshima Islands and
Shodoshima was separated from
Bizen province and merged into Sanuki province.
See also
★
Sanuki udon -
Udon