{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.prefecture-of-japan","code":"thing-q50337","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q50337/","name":"prefecture of Japan","alternateNames":["conservative kingdom","landlocked prefecture","democratic kingdom","metropolitan prefecture","dō","fu","ken"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.2","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.PLC"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"The first-level administrative division of Japan, of which there are forty-seven, comprising one metropolis, Tokyo, one circuit, Hokkaido, two urban prefectures, Osaka and Kyoto, and forty-three ordinary prefectures, each with an elected governor and assembly, responsible for regional administration, education, policing, infrastructure and welfare within the framework of national law; prefectures are grouped into regions and vary from densely populated metropolitan areas to rural and landlocked prefectures.","purpose":"Let an agent explain the prefecture system of Japan and its types, identify specific prefectures with sources, describe governance and functions, and support geographic, civic and travel questions.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Elected governors and assemblies","Four naming types","Regional grouping","National framework"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"understand","name":"Understand","description":"What prefectures are.","layers":[{"id":"system","name":"System","description":"The system and types.","findings":[{"id":"system-finding","name":"System","description":"System.","questions":[{"text":"How is Japan divided into prefectures, and what do the to, do, fu and ken designations mean?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which prefecture is meant?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"list","name":"List","description":"The prefectures.","findings":[{"id":"list-finding","name":"List","description":"List.","questions":[{"text":"Which prefectures exist, with capitals, populations and regions, according to official sources?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits a specific prefecture?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"govern","name":"Govern","description":"Governance.","layers":[{"id":"governance","name":"Governance","description":"Governors and assemblies.","findings":[{"id":"governance-finding","name":"Governance","description":"Governance.","questions":[{"text":"How are governors and assemblies elected, and what functions do prefectures perform?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits local government in Japan?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"relations","name":"Relations","description":"Relations with national and municipal levels.","findings":[{"id":"relations-finding","name":"Relations","description":"Relations.","questions":[{"text":"How do prefectures relate to the national government and to municipalities?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits public administration?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"use","name":"Use","description":"Travel and data.","layers":[{"id":"travel","name":"Travel","description":"Travel by prefecture.","findings":[{"id":"travel-finding","name":"Travel","description":"Travel.","questions":[{"text":"What are the notable features and attractions of a given prefecture?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits tourism in Japan?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"data","name":"Data","description":"Statistics and codes.","findings":[{"id":"data-finding","name":"Data","description":"Data.","questions":[{"text":"Where are prefectural statistics and codes published?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the data current?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"learn","name":"Learn","description":"History and comparison.","layers":[{"id":"history","name":"History","description":"History.","findings":[{"id":"history-finding","name":"History","description":"History.","questions":[{"text":"How did prefectures replace the feudal domains in the Meiji era, and how have they changed?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which references are standard?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"compare","name":"Compare","description":"Comparison.","findings":[{"id":"compare-finding","name":"Compare","description":"Comparison.","questions":[{"text":"How do prefectures compare with provinces and states elsewhere?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which misconceptions arise?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Name a prefecture of Japan, its capital and type, with sources.","Translate the four types of prefecture correctly."],"mustNot":["Confuse prefectures with traditional regions.","Mistranslate the types, for example calling Hokkaido a prefecture of the ordinary kind without explanation.","Present outdated administrative data as current.","Use location data to profile residents."],"requiresHuman":["Changing prefecture data in an official or widely used dataset."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Prefectures decide services and elections for residents.","Accurate place data helps disaster response."],"affectedParties":["Residents","Local governments","Travellers"]},"owners":{"steward":"Each prefecture's elected government; the national government sets the system.","roles":[],"masterSystems":["National administrative division registers"]},"relations":[{"target":"Q10864048","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q117351898","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q1850442","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q515716","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q82794","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"first-level administrative division","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"administrative territorial entity of Japan","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"Personnel Commission","type":"related","note":"a prefectural body"},{"target":"history of Japan","type":"related","note":"historical development"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.prefecture-of-japan","Wikidata: Q50337 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50337)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Territorial area:  km2 - Measure area using dated official boundary data and specify the treatment of inland waters and offshore islands.","Boundary length:  km - Measure the prefectural boundary at a stated map resolution with coastline and island inclusion rules recorded."]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Forty-seven first-level divisions","To, do, fu and ken types","Regions are informal groupings; municipalities are the level below","Not physical; governed territories."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["explain the system and types","identify prefectures","describe governance","support geographic questions"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Confusing prefectures with regions","Mistranslating the four types","Outdated administrative data"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["Local Autonomy Act","Prefectural ordinances","National statistical codes for prefectures"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["First-level administrative divisions of Japan.","Tokyo metropolis","Hokkaido circuit","urban prefectures Osaka and Kyoto","ordinary prefectures","landlocked and island prefectures"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q50337: prefecture of Japan","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50337","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Prefectures of Japan","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectures_of_Japan","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should each prefecture be a separate entry?","How should official portals be linked?","How should regional groupings be documented?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q50337/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q50337/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-12T02:41:47Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:31+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}