Japan’s Northern Frontier | EZOGASHIMA or HOKKAIDO

Japan’s largest and northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido - historically known as Ezogashima or, more simply, Ezo - has a fascinating history all its own. From the somewhat mysterious Jomon period, to the arrival of the Okhotsk, Satsumon, Ainu, and Yamato / Wajin (Japanese), the island has played host to a variety of people and cultures. Hokkaido would bear witness to its fair share of conflict as well, including: skirmishes between the Mongol-controlled Yuan dynasty and the Ainu (on Sakhalin), Koshamain’s War, Shakushain's Revolt, and the Menashi-Kunashir Rebellion of 1789. Moreover, it fits importantly within Japan’s historical narrative, falling under control first of the Matsumae clan and later the Tokugawa shogunate, which supported various settlement programs of samurai and their families. In time, the island would also host an unrecognized country of sorts, commonly (though incorrectly) known as the Republic of Ezo, which appeared in the aftermath of the Boshin War and Meiji Restoration. That, however, will be covered more in another episode; consider this a prequel, exploring the history of Hokkaido - from the very beginning to the early modern era - and how the island came to be a part of Japan.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:28 Hokkaido During the Jomon Period, Arrival of the Okhotsk, Satsumon, & Proto-Ainu
02:53 The Ainu, Expansion, & Conflict with the Mongols
04:11 Bear Worship
05:31 Yamato Period
06:16 The Emishi
07:00 Discovery of Ezo
07:37 Koshamain's War
08:08 The Matsumae
09:15 Shakushain's Revolt
11:04 Aftermath & Expansion of Wajinchi
12:35 Edo Administration of Ezo
15:20 Conclusion
#ainu #hokkaido #japan #history
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Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC by 3.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0 International (CC by 4.0)creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Intro Animation / Character Design: Emily Clearwater (iamprettyawesome.co.nz)
Intro Music: “Darxieland” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@nomad9135]

Honestly, having been to Hokkaido before, it's fascinating to learn more about the island's history. You should look into the Ryukyu Kingdom or maybe the Liancourt Rocks too.

[@GhostCountries]

We've actually considered both - the Ryukyu Kingdom as a proper episode and the Liancourt Rocks as a Ghost Geography (the State of Usan / Usan-guk is a possibility as well) and I'm pretty sure we'll eventually get around to making videos for each - thanks for the recommendations! 🙌

[@mimishimura6314]

I got very exited to see this video because that’s about my country! Thanks for choosing this topic and gotta share this with my family and friends here;

[@GhostCountries]

Oh, thank you Mimi, really glad to hear it...and yes, share the video / channel; plus, be sure to check back for part two dealing with the Republic of Ezo and Meiji Restoration.

[@mimishimura6314]

@@GhostCountries Oh I will! I love this channel because all the videos are very interesting including ones about Japan, and Minami Torishima video is one of my favorites 😁

[@hybridarmyofthegdl2193]

4 Kuril Islands - Japan, Smalensk is Belarus, Crimea is Ukraine !

[@tinavalentino9713]

The Animism, bear ceremony, even women with mustaches interjected into the chronology of this complex story is what makes all of your videos both informational and interesting. 👏

[@GhostCountries]

Oh, thank you for the kind words Tina; yeah, Hokkaido, this particular part of North Asia, and its people have a very interesting (if overlooked) history that we'll definitely explore more so in future videos - perhaps looking into Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, or maybe even Kamchatka.

[@allen7043]

The production of these videos are amazing, I always forget you guys are an up and coming channel, you produce top tier content

[@GhostCountries]

Thank you so much G - it's a lot of work, but always nice to hear; and yeah, we're getting there slowly, but surely (every subscriber / share helps though) and, I think, improving the quality with each new video. We have plenty more content planned; so, stay tuned!

[@jonathanbarassa435]

Great episode 🇯🇵

[@GhostCountries]

Thanks Jonathan, glad you liked it! Be sure to check back for part II this month.

[@joycekochmann8860]

Can’t wait for another part!

[@GhostCountries]

Thank you so much Joyce; next week we've got an episode discussing the history behind Afghanistan's flag, the week after that, it's Republic of Ezo!

[@Artur_M.]

Yay, Ezo Republic! I already can't wait for the next part.

[@GhostCountries]

Thanks as always Artur 🙌; yeah, I really think you'll enjoy the next half of the story...we did, at least! Plus, it's kind of neat how Enomoto Takeaki - who did play a minor role in Minami-Torishima - is absolutely central to Ezo's story. It's all interconnected. 😅

[@BlueBuckJS]

@@GhostCountries Kind of a cinematic universe thing, right...hahaha

[@kirbyward2001]

You certainly know a lot about this subject!! This is a very complicated area of the world

[@GhostCountries]

Oh, thank you kirbyward2001 😄; this particular chunk of North Asia (i.e. around the Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, and Hokkaido) can be somewhat complicated because - I feel at least - it's quite often sidelined. That being said, the region has a very rich history the more you dig into it!

[@jakegarvin7634]

4:30 "No, everything's fine."

[@akiranara9392]

History of Hokkaido had started since 35-30,000 years ago, not by mammoth hunters but by Sojin (proto-Japanese before Jomon), who had migrated from south Japan, Kyusyu. People are called according to its period, Sojin-Jomon-Satsumon, then Ainu originally from north, Sahalin, since 13th century. Sojin is now paid attention to its probability of participation in the First Americans' migrating wave.

[@devingunnels3251]

Just discovered this channel and I'm liking it. You cover interesting topics with well edited and visually appealing videos, your mic doesn't sound crappy and the channel overall has a charm to it. Looking forward to future videos!

[@GhostCountries]

Thank you so much and welcome aboard Devin; we're always trying to improve something with each new video, but glad you like the overall quality of the channel so far! There's plenty more to come, including our first proper ghost country episode set in South America + new miniseries.

[@mkmkmk9536]

Fascinating history!

[@GhostCountries]

Thanks Matthew; be sure to check back for part 2, which covers the Boshin War, Meiji Restoration, and Republic of Ezo!

[@miltiadeskomnenos7437]

Great!

[@GhostCountries]

Thanks Miltiades!

[@GarrettFruge]

Fascinating!

[@GhostCountries]

Thank you so much Garrett; in the second part of the story, we'll explore how Ezo / Hokkaido played a rather significant role in the Boshin War, a transformational moment in Japanese history - so, stay tuned for that!

[@BlueBuckJS]

Really interesting...honestly, my favorite video you guys have done so far! The history of the Ainu and the fact they controlled territory besides Hokkaido was something I didn't know before watching. Do you know what the status of the Ainu is in Russia, like Sakhalin and the Kurils? Either way, looking forward to the other episode.

[@GhostCountries]

Thank you so much John; well, according to a 2010 census, the Ainu population is officially 109 people in Russia - most being located in Kamchatka Krai. This number actually might be considerably higher though (especially in Sakhalin Oblast) and, in part, is low because of government recognition or lack thereof. Somewhere around 13,000 Ainu currently reside in Japan - although, again, this number may be higher. Only a small fraction of Ainu, regardless of location, still speak their traditional language, which UNESCO recognizes as "critically endangered."

[@BlueBuckJS]

@@GhostCountries Really interesting, thank you for the information. I also saw there was supposed to be an Ainu dance at the Olympics in Tokyo, which I guess was dropped for some reason.

[@GhostCountries]

@@BlueBuckJS Yes, that was for the opening ceremony, but I believe a traditional dance still occurred in Sapporo where the Olympic marathon and walk races were held.

[@isaacbakan1295]

Kamou sounds like Kami and the idea sounds similar to Shinto, the traditional religion of mainstream Japan

[@nationalandstateanthemscha1232]

Hokkaido is the inspiration for Sinnoh

[@GhostCountries]

That is really interesting to know 😃; I just was looking at a map of Sinnoh and you've even got a bit of Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands in there as well!

[@Viktorixo]

Great, but could you improve countryballs? (shape) They don't fit with very well made Ghost in my opinion.

[@GhostCountries]

Thanks Viktorixus; yeah, we can definitely consider some design changes in videos going forward. Honestly, we're always evaluating stuff on the channel - different videos have different needs - and I know our countryballs aren't really perfectly round; so, we'll more than likely try some different designs out in time! Also, while on the topic, we're beginning to use some animations in our videos - stay tuned for that. 😉

[@Viktorixo]

Ok. And countryball shoudn't be perfectly square by the way.

[@revinhatol]

12:58 Episode: "Squeaky Boots"

[@GhostCountries]

"Could 'The world's greatest fry cook' do this?" - 🧽

[@revinhatol]

@@GhostCountries STOP THAT!!!!!! STOP THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't you hear it!

[@isaacbakan1295]

Kind of mirrors European interactions with Native Americans and people's of the Pacific

[@isaacbakan1295]

Around the same era too

[@GhostCountries]

Honestly, it really does!

[@jiayizhou323]

wow, really interesting! why don't they wear these majestic beards anymore :D

[@kirbyward2001]

Good question. I think that look cool

[@kirbyward2001]

Agreed The beards were really awesome and intimidating

[@hybridarmyofthegdl2193]

With cost of “black gold” at 15-23 dollars per barrel, the USSR economy collapsed, and the sovok itself collapsed, and the "golden" horde (Muscovy ) budget can only be fulfilled only with oil price at $ 42.4 and higher