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The Names of Yamato, Musashi, and Shinano — What Do They Mean?

 

The three great warships of the Yamato-class carried names that came from ancient provinces of Japan. In the Imperial Japanese Navy, battleships were traditionally named after old provinces, connecting these ships to Japan’s geography and history.

 

Yamato (大和)

 

Yamato was the ancient province centered around modern-day Nara Prefecture. It was the birthplace of the early Japanese Imperial Court and eventually became a poetic name for Japan itself. The word Yamato represents the Japanese nation, culture, and spirit, as seen in expressions such as Yamato-damashii (大和魂) — “the Japanese spirit.”

 

Musashi (武蔵)

 

Musashi was an ancient province covering most of present-day Tokyo, Saitama, and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was one of the largest and most important provinces in Japan. The famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi took his name from this region.

 

Shinano (信濃)

 

Shinano was the ancient province corresponding roughly to modern Nagano Prefecture. It was the largest province in historical Japan by land area and was known for its mountains and central location.