also: みちのく
Mutsu Province
Historical province covering present-day Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, and Aomori prefectures. The reading みちのく is common in classical and literary references.
Mutsu Province was divided into the present-day prefectures after the Meiji Restoration.
Matsuo Bashō traveled through Michinoku in 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North'.
Standard kanji spelling for the historical province.
Alternate reading, often used in poetic or literary contexts.
The name 陸奥 (Mutsu) is of ancient origin, referring to the northeastern region of Honshu. The reading みちのく (Michinoku) literally means 'end of the road' or 'inner road', reflecting its remote location from the ancient capital.