Osumi Province
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Map of Japanese provinces with province highlighted |
Ōsumi (大隅国; -no kuni) was an
old province of
Japan in the area that is today the eastern part of
Kagoshima prefecture. Osumi bordered on
Hyuga and
Satsuma Provinces.
Osumi's ancient capital was near modern
Kokubu. During the
Sengoku and
Edo periods, Osumi was controlled by the
Shimazu clan of neighboring Satsuma, and did not develop a major administrative center.
The Osumi region has developed its own distinct local
dialect. Although Osumi is part of Kagoshima prefecture today, this dialect is different from that spoken in
Kagoshima city. There is a notable cultural pride in traditional
poetry written in Osumi and Kagoshima dialects.
