In the ancient pages of world history, Japan is known as the Land of the Rising Sun. But, time has given her another dubious distinction as a Prefecture Nation. I was really caught by surprise when I first encountered this term. However, an interesting write up led me to a very concrete and satisfying conclusion that I would like to share to all Japinoys out there. So what does prefecture denote?
Prefecture is a universal term that denotes the power and the ability to be specific in everything that she does, be it in politics, social structure and the various ways of presenting their people to the world. Sa Japan, ito ay ang first o pinaka-basic level of jurisdiction (territory) at administrative divisions. Pwede natin itong ikumpara sa isang barrio or barangay sa Pilipinas. Merong 47 prefectures sa ngayon ang Japan; 43 ay ken o proper prefectures, dalawa ay urban o fu prefecture (Osaka at Kyoto), isa ay circuit or territory (do) – Hokkaido, at isa ay metropolis o to (Tokyo).
The subsequent paragraphs will provide you with more historical facts to shed light on the real essence of prefecture.
The Edo Period Prefecture
Noong panahon ng Edo sa Japan, ang Tokugawa Shogunate ang may mga pinakamahigpit na polisiya kaugnay ng foreign policy. Ang mga ugnayan ng bansa ay binansagang irregular. Bunga nito, ang mga banyagang bansa ay walang sinusunod na power structure. Kasama na dito ang mga karatig bansa. Nang bumagsak ang Shogunate regime ay nagkaroon ng Meiji court. Sa panahon ng Meiji, may mga sari-sariling reporma ang inilatag. Ngunit, ito ay dumaan sa maraming bagyo at pagsubok sa pagdaan ng maraming taon.
Paano Natin Maipagmamalaki ang ating Sarili Sa Mundo? Japan Style Perfecture
Bagamat ito ay lubhang napakahirap tugunan, Gayahin natin ang bansang Japan. Siya ay nagsikap na mapanumbalik ang kanyang magandang pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang bansa upang ang kanyang halina, lakas at kabuuang sangkap ay makahabol sa mga Western countries. Ngunit ng mga panahong iyon, those countries that categorically belong to Western powers had suddenly adopted languages to be spoken and in turn, they had shared common political goals and aspirations.
Bawat bansa, ay may sariling vocabulary standards that can be effectively used in dealing with other countries across the world. Dahil dito, she has to find some unique ways to have her own image and likeness before the eyes of the Western countries. To begin with, ang pagsasalin ng ibang salitang Hapon ang kanyang matibay na sandata upang maging isang “iconic political figure and prefecture” ang Japan.
Bilang pagwakas, ang prefecture ay isang makabuluhang sagisag ng pagbabago sa anumang aspeto ng pagbabago at kaunlaran ng isang bansa at mamamayan.
image credit: J3SSL33 from Flickr
