director of provincial governors; kami (ritsuryō official)
Historical term for the chief official overseeing provincial governors under the ritsuryō system. Often translated as 'director' or 'governor' in English contexts.
He was appointed as the director of Echigo Province.
Under the ritsuryō system, the kami was the chief of the provincial governors.
守 (かみ) is a historical noun for a ritsuryō official, while 守る (まもる) is the common verb meaning 'to protect'; learners may mistake the reading because they share the same kanji.
The reading かみ is native Japanese, while the kanji 守 carries the meaning of 'protect' or 'guard', which is conventionally associated with the official's role. The exact historical derivation of the title is uncertain.