was an old province in the area of Iwate

Iwate Prefecture

is the second largest prefecture of Japan after Hokkaido. It is located in the Tōhoku region of Honshū island and contains the island's easternmost point. The capital is Morioka. Iwate has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido...

 and Akita

Akita Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....

 prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Rikuzen

Rikuzen Province

is an old province of Japan in the area of Miyagi and some parts of Iwate prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Rikuchū and Mutsu Provinces.-History:...

 and Mutsu

Mutsu Province (1868)

, also called was an old province of Japan in the area of Iwate and Aomori prefecture.It was also known as or . In the Meiji era, the province was cut down to cover only present-day Aomori and given the new name Rikuō Province, which retained the original kanji.（岩手大学教育学部）-History:On December 7,...

 Provinces.

Rikuchu covered most of modern-day Iwate Prefecture, with the exceptions of Kesen District

Kesen District, Iwate

is a district located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Kesen consists of the cities of Ōfunato and Rikuzentakata and the town of Sumita. The area of Sanriku, home to Kitasato University of Fishery Sciences, was an independent town within Kesen until 2001, when it amalgamated with Ofunato.Ofunato is a...

, Rikuzentakata

Rikuzentakata, Iwate

is a city in Iwate, Japan.In the quinquennial census of 2010, the city had a population of 23,302 . With a total area of 232.29 km² the density is 100 persons per km². The city was founded on January 1, 1955. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused extensive damage to the city.- Politics...

 City, Ōfunato

Ofunato, Iwate

is a coastal city located in Iwate, Japan.It was founded on April 1, 1952.On November 15, 2001, the town of Sanriku, from Kesen District, was merged into Ōfunato....

 City, and Kamaishi

Kamaishi, Iwate

is a small, historic city located on the Sanriku rias coast of Iwate, Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 41,022 and a density of 92.9 persons per km². The total area is 441.42 km². It is famous in modern times for its steel production and most recently for its promotion...

 City, and also including Kazuno

Kazuno, Akita

is a city located in Akita, Japan.As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 33,664 and the density of 47.6 persons per km². The total area is 707.34 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1972.-External links:...

 City and Kosaka

Kosaka, Akita

is a town located in Kazuno District, Akita, Japan.As of 2011, the town has an estimated population of 6,046 and a density of 29.9 persons per km². The total area is 178.00 km²....

 Town in Akita Prefecture.

Rikuchū was created shortly after the Meiji Restoration out of part of Mutsu Province

Mutsu Province

was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...

.

History

• December 7, 1868 (January 19, 1869 in the Gregorian calendar
  Gregorian calendar
  The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
  
  ) Rikuchu Province is sperated from Mutsu Province
  Mutsu Province
  was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
  
  
• 1872 A census estimates the population at 510,521

Districts

• Isawa (胆沢郡)
• Iwai (磐井郡)
• Iwate (岩手郡)
• Esashi (江刺郡)
• Kunohe (九戸郡)
• Kazuno (鹿角郡)
• Shiwa (紫波郡)
• Hienuki (稗貫郡)
• Hei (閉伊郡)
• Waga (和賀郡)