Early history Tottori Prefecture was settled very early in the prehistoric period of Japan, as evidenced by remains from the
Jōmon period (14,000 – 300 BC). The prefecture has the remains of the largest known
Yayoi period (300 BC – 250 AD) settlement in Japan, the
Mukibanda Yayoi remains, located in the low
foothills of
Mount Daisen in the cities of
Daisen and
Yonago. Numerous
kofun tumuli from the
Kofun period (250 – 538) are located across the prefecture. In 645, under the
Taika reforms, the area in present-day Tottori Prefecture became two provinces,
Hōki and
Inaba.
Later history During the
Genpei War (1180–1185) between the
Taira and
Minamoto clans in the late-
Heian period, Tottori became a base for anti-Taira forces, specifically at two temples,
Daisen-ji and
Sanbutsu-ji. By the beginning of the
Kamakura period (1185–1333)
shōen estates were established to directly support the Imperial court and various temples. Successive clans controlled the region during the
Sengoku period (15th to 17th century), most notably the
Yamana clan, but after the
Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 the region was
pacified. The
Tokugawa shogunate installed the
Ikeda clan at
Tottori Castle. The clan retained control of the area until throughout the
Edo period (1603–1868) and the resources of the area financially and materially supported the shogunate.
Modern history The two provinces remained in place until the
Meiji Restoration in 1868, and the boundaries of Tottori Prefecture were established in 1888. After the occupation of Korea and Taiwan in the 20th century, and the establishment of the
Manchukuo puppet state in 1932, Tottori's harbors on the Japan Sea served as an active transit point for goods between Japan and the colonial areas. Before the end of
World War II the prefecture was hit by a massive magnitude 7.2 earthquake, the
1943 Tottori earthquake, which destroyed 80% of the city of Tottori, and greatly damaged the surrounding area. In the postwar period
land reform was carried out in the prefecture, resulting in a great increase of agricultural production. ==Geography==