noun
Yamato Province; Yamato; Japan (poetic)
Historical name for the province that corresponds to modern Nara Prefecture; also used poetically to refer to Japan as a whole.
大和の国は、現在の奈良県にあたる。
Yamato Province corresponds to present-day Nara Prefecture.
古い歌には「大和の国」が日本の美称として詠まれている。
In old poems, 'Yamato no kuni' is used as a poetic name for Japan.
日本 is the standard modern name for Japan; 大和の国 is a historical or poetic term.
大和 (Yamato) is an ancient name for the region, possibly derived from 'yama' (mountain) + 'to' (place/gate). 国 (kuni) means 'province' or 'country'. The exact origin of 'Yamato' is uncertain.