Yezo

Yezo, also romanized as Ezo, is the historical name for the northern frontier region of Japan, corresponding mainly to the island of Hokkaido and its surrounding areas. The term derives from the Japanese name Ezo (蝦夷), used in medieval and early modern times to designate the lands inhabited by the Ainu and their neighbors. In Western historical literature, Yezo was a common spelling.

Geographically, Yezo referred to the northern lands of Japan, centered on Hokkaido. It was home to the Ainu, the indigenous people; their culture and language formed the region's social fabric prior to the modern state.

During the Edo period, contact with Ezo was managed by the Matsumae Domain, with trade privileges granted by the shogunate. After the Meiji Restoration, the government established the Kaitakushi, the Hokkaido Development Commission, and integrated Ezo into the new prefecture system as Hokkaido in 1869.

Today, Yezo is primarily encountered in historical writing, literature, or names; the administrative region is known as Hokkaido. The term Ezo (蝦夷) continues to appear in discussions of Ainu history, and the Ainu language and culture have been accorded recognized status and revival efforts in recent decades.