Abashiri Prefecture

Abashiri Prefecture (網走県) is a prefecture in the Ogasawara Region of Nakama. Located on the southern island of Ogasawara, it contains one of the island's northernmost point. The capital is Mashikura. Abashiri has the largest land size of all Prefectures in Nakama. Formed in 1955 alongside with Niijima Prefecture it is the newest formed prefectures of Nakama.

Prior to Yamato Settlement
Ogasawara Island was not settled by Yamato People until early Kurahashi Shogunate in 17th century. First known settlement is dated from 1400 by Austronesian peoples from Southeast Asia. By 1605 from historical record of Kurahashi Shogunate, expedition done by Ogasawara Clan conclude that the southern island inhabited by people with distinct language and life with fishing and agriculture.

Recent research conclude that the Fuuki People, the native ogasawaran related to people from island of Sulawesi which migrated in 16th century.

Kurahashi Shogunate until World War 2
On 1605 Kurahashi Muramasa from Kurahashi Shogunate created settlement Yukari in the northern tip of Ogasawara Island and mandate Ogasawara Clan to rule the domain. As more people moved to the settlement, Yukari domain grew larger inland creating disputes between the Yamato and Fuuki. Later the dispute resolved by the understanding agreement for both side which later benefited Yukari domains more due to the future trading policy with Fuuki People.

In 1720 Ogasawara Terumoto proposed to establish second domain in the southern part of island which later named Kobayashi domain. Alongside with the establishment of second domain, Terumoto also proposed for natives to be allowed settling in the Nakamaese domains. With this proposal accepted by Kurahashi Shogunate, Nakamaese expand their feudalism into southern island which later called Ogasawara Island.

In 1852, Emperor Wako decided to create a new settlement in the Ishikawa plain which is a large in Ogasawara Island in order to solidify Nakamaese presence in the region. The new settlement named Mashikura which later turned into the largest city in the whole region. Although this decision create more friction between Nakamaese toward the Fuuki, Nakamaese able to integrate Fuuki people which previously inhabited the area into Mashikura Settlement. Mashikura officially become an city in 1863 and central of the Kurahashi Shogunate government in the island.

After the 1907 constitution passed, Ogasawara Prefecture founded unifying the entire island into one single prefectural government. By the time Ogasawara Prefecture founded, Nakamaese as Kurahashi Shogunate officially annexed the entire Fuuki settlements in the island into Shogunate.