Ezo File

The Many Souls of Ezo: From Ancient Frontiers to Modern Innovations

A favorite among bonsai enthusiasts, the Ezo Spruce ( Picea jezoensis ) is prized for its fine needles and its ability to create "forest" style plantings that mimic the ancient woods of its homeland. The Many Souls of Ezo: From Ancient Frontiers

Before it was Hokkaido, Ezo was the domain of the Satsumon culture, which evolved into the Ainu people . They lived in deep harmony with the rugged landscape, viewing the natural world as inhabited by kamuy (spirits). While the Wajin (mainland Japanese) were building shogunate

While the Wajin (mainland Japanese) were building shogunate systems in the south, a different history was unfolding in the north. It wasn't until the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century that "Ezo" was officially renamed Hokkaido and fully integrated into the Japanese state. 2. The Wild Spirit: Flora and Fauna of the North The Wild Spirit: Flora and Fauna of the

Historically, (or Ezochi ) was the ancient name for the northern territories of Japan, primarily the island of Hokkaido. For the medieval Japanese, it was a mysterious "other" land.