Why Does Japan Have Four Different Words for “State”? (The To-Do-Fu-Ken Mystery)

The American “State” vs. Japan

In the United States, administrative divisions are perfectly unified: whether you are in California, Texas, or Hawaii, all 50 regions are simply called “States.” But if you look at a map of Japan, the country is divided into 47 regions using four completely different titles: “To” (Tokyo), “Do” (Hokkaido), “Fu” (Osaka and Kyoto), and “Ken” (the remaining 43 prefectures). When Japanese people refer to their country’s regions collectively, they call it “To-Do-Fu-Ken.” But why isn’t it just unified under one word?

The Historical Status Rankings

The reason lies in the late 19th century during the Meiji era, when the modern government was deciding how to organize the country. They used these titles to signify historical importance and specific functions. “To” (Metropolis) was exclusively given to Tokyo because it is the ultimate capital. “Do” (Circuit/Territory) was given to Hokkaido, representing a vast, newly developing frontier. “Fu” (Urban Prefecture) was a special, high-status title reserved only for Osaka and Kyoto because they were historical centers of commerce and the former imperial capital. Finally, “Ken” (Prefecture) was the standard title applied to all the other local regions.

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Equal Power, Fancy Names

It is basically as if the US officially categorized New York as a “Metropolis,” Texas as a “Territory,” and Ohio as a standard “State.” However, here is the funny part: despite the fancy, distinct names, administratively, they all have the exact same level of power today! The governor of an ordinary “Ken” has the same legal authority as the governor of a special “Fu.” The complex “To-Do-Fu-Ken” naming system is essentially just a giant, linguistic time capsule showing how the Meiji government ranked the historical prestige of different regions over a century ago.