Mainland Japan
From Free net encyclopedia
Mainland Japan (内地, naichi) is an uncommon term to distinguish the area of Japan from Okinawa and Hokkaido and the colonies that Japan used to possess in East Asia. The literal Japanese meaning might best be translated as inner Japan or inner lands. It is somewhat confusing as Mainland Japan is defined to consist of several major islands (Honshū, Kyushu, Shikoku) and many minor ones. The term mainland Japan is also sometimes used to translate Honshu, the largest island, though naichi not.
See also: Mainland, Home Islands