Definition

Noun: 1. Yezo: The second largest of the four main islands of Japan; located to the north of Honshu. It is the historical and geographical name for the island now officially known as Hokkaido.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In the 19th century, the Japanese government began a systematic colonization of Yezo.
  • The Ainu people are the indigenous inhabitants of Yezo.
  • The modern name for the island of Yezo is Hokkaido.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Geographical Context: The term "Yezo" is primarily used in historical, anthropological, or older geographical texts to refer to the island before its official renaming and development as Hokkaido in the modern era.
  • Early European maps often labeled the northern Japanese island as "Yezo" or "Ezo".

Variants and Related Words

• Hokkaido (n): The current official name for the island previously known as Yezo. It is Japan's northernmost prefecture.
• Ezo (n): An alternative historical romanization for "Yezo," referring to the same island and its indigenous Ainu population.

Synonyms

• Hokkaido: (The modern synonym, used in all contemporary contexts.)
• Ezo: (A historical synonym with the same referent.)

Notes on Usage

• "Yezo" is an archaic term. In modern English writing and discourse, the island is exclusively referred to as Hokkaido. Using "Yezo" typically signals a discussion of pre-modern Japanese history or specific historical contexts.

Noun

1. the second largest of the four main islands of Japan; to the north of Honshu