In the former Nanbu domain, which spans from eastern Aomori Prefecture to northern Iwate Prefecture, place names combining numbers and the Japanese character "戸" (he) are scattered throughout, ranging from Ichinohe to Kunohe
There are various theories about its origin, such as it being a pasture division in Nukabe, which prospered as a horse-breeding area, or a siege built to defend against the Emishi people, but there is still no established theory
Furthermore, it holds many mysteries, such as the fact that only Yonnohe is not recorded as a municipality name, and that Hachinohe and Kunohe are the only ones not in numerical order
Across seven articles, we explore the origins of place names containing "To" (戸), and the history, culture, and charm of each of the nine towns from Ichinohe to Kunohe, while visiting Jomon period ruins, historical sites associated with the Nanbu clan, the inherited horse breeding culture, and famous places and local cuisine in each region
