Inaba

Inaba is a Japanese term that can refer to multiple topics, including historical geography, personal names, and place-name usage in modern Japan. The most well-known historical reference is Inaba Province, a former province in the San’in region.

Inaba Province, written as 因幡国 (Inaba no kuni), covered part of what is today the eastern area of Tottori Prefecture. The province existed from the Nara period into the early modern era, prior to the Meiji restoration when Japan reorganized its government into prefectures. After the reforms, the area that had belonged to Inaba Province became part of Tottori Prefecture as the modern administrative system took shape.

Inaba is also a common Japanese surname. It is most often written with kanji such as 稲葉, though variations exist. As a family name, Inaba has been carried by individuals across a wide range of fields, including science, the arts, and public life, reflecting its longstanding presence in Japanese society.

In modern toponymy, elements of the historic Inaba Province continue to appear in place names and district names in the region, illustrating the historical influence of the province on local geography and identity. The name Inaba thus functions as both a remnant of historical administration and an ongoing part of contemporary Japanese naming traditions.