higo

Higo, or Higo Province, was a historical province of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. Its territory roughly corresponds to the eastern part of present-day Kumamoto Prefecture. The provincial capital was Kumamoto, and the region was governed as Kumamoto Domain under the Hosokawa clan during much of the Edo period.

History: Higo emerged as a political and administrative unit in ancient Japan and remained important through feudal times. From the early 17th century, the Hosokawa clan controlled Kumamoto Domain, ruling much of the province from Kumamoto Castle. The province remained under the domain’s control until the Meiji Restoration, when the han system was abolished in 1871 and Higo Province was integrated into the new Kumamoto Prefecture.

Legacy and present: In modern Japan, Higo is remembered as part of Kumamoto Prefecture, whose major cities include Kumamoto and notable sites such as Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Jojuen, a historic garden in Kumamoto City. The geography of the former province also includes the Aso region and Mount Aso, a prominent natural landmark in the area. The name Higo persists primarily in historical references and in discussions of Kumamoto’s regional heritage.