prefecture
県 centers on a regional administrative division: a prefecture. The meaning is straightforward and refers to a specific type of Japanese local government area.
県 is the modern simplified form of 縣. The older form combined 県 (a severed head hung upside down, representing a display or connection) with 系 (thread), suggesting something tied or connected to a central authority. The modern form retains the top element and simplifies the lower part to 小.
The top part looks like an eye 目, and the bottom is small 小. Imagine a small eye watching over a prefecture, keeping everything in order.
For ケン, picture a prefecture official named Ken who oversees the region: Ken -> ケン, and his watchful eye is on the prefecture.
prefecture (of Japan); county (of China, Taiwan, Norway, etc.); department (of France); province (of Italy, Spain, etc.)
within the prefecture
resident of a prefecture; citizen of a prefecture
prefectures (of Japan); largest administrative divisions of Japan: Tokyo-to, Osaka-fu, Kyoto-fu, Hokkaido and the remaining prefectures
prefectural police
prefectural; managed by a prefectural government
prefectural governor
prefectural office
prefectural assembly member
prefectural road
prefectural assembly
prefectural border; prefectural boundary
prefectural party chapter
prefectural government; prefectural administration
prefectures (of Japan, excl. Tokyo and Hokkaido)
(under) prefectural management
southern part of a prefecture
in the prefecture; prefectural
prefectures (of Japan, excl. Tokyo)
neighboring prefecture; adjacent prefecture