was an old province in the area of Iwate and Akita Prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Rikuzen and Mutsu Provinces.
Rikuchu covered most of modern-day Iwate Prefecture: with the exceptions of Ninohe District, Ninohe City, the northern portion of Hachimantai City, and the northern portion of Kuzumaki Town; Kesen District, Rikuzentakata City, Ōfunato City, and the southern portion of Kamaishi City; but also including Kazuno City and Kosaka Town in Akita Prefecture.
Rikuchū was created shortly after the Meiji Restoration out of part of Mutsu Province.
History
January 19, 1869: Rikuchu Province is separated from Mutsu Province
1872: A census estimates the population at 510,521
Historical districts
Rikuchū Province consisted of eighteen districts:
Akita Prefecture
Kazuno District (鹿角郡) Iwate Prefecture Isawa District (胆沢郡) Iwai District (磐井郡) Higashiiwai District (東磐井郡) - dissolved Nishiiwai District (西磐井郡) Iwate District (岩手郡) Kitaiwate District (北岩手郡) - merged with Minamiiwate District to re-create Iwate District on March 29, 1896 Minamiiwate District (南岩手郡) - merged with Kitaiwate District to re-create Iwate District on March 29, 1896 Esashi District (江刺郡) - dissolved Kunohe District (九戸郡) Kitakunohe District (北九戸郡) - merged with Minamikunohe District to re-create Kunohe District on March 29, 1896 Minamikunohe District (南九戸郡) - merged with Kitakunohe District to re-create Kunohe District on March 29, 1896 Shiwa District (紫波郡) Hienuki District (稗貫郡) - dissolved Hei District (閉伊郡) Higashihei District (東閉伊郡) - merged with Kitahei and Nakahei Districts to become Shimohei District (下閉伊郡) on March 29, 1896 Kitahei District (北閉伊郡) - merged with Higashihei and Nakahei Districts to become Shimohei District on March 29, 1896 Minamihei District (南閉伊郡) - merged with Nishihei District to become Kamihei District (上閉伊郡) on March 29, 1896 Nakahei District (中閉伊郡) - merged with Higashihei and Kitahei Districts to become Shimohei District on March 29, 1896 Nishihei District (西閉伊郡) - merged with Minamihei District to become Kamihei District on March 29, 1896 Waga District (和賀郡) Higashiwaga District (東和賀郡) - merged with Nishiwaga District to re-create Waga District on March 29, 1896 Nishiwaga District (西和賀郡) - merged with Higashiwaga District to re-create Waga District on March 29, 1896
See also
Rikuchu Kaigan National Park
Sanriku
List of Provinces of Japan
Notes
References
Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; OCLC 58053128