Occurring in 1871, the abolition of the Han system and establishment of prefecture system (廃藩置県, Haihan-chiken; Hai abolish + han + ''chi set down + ken'' prefecture) was an act to replace the traditional han system and introduce new local government. "Han system" is also translated as "feudal clan system" or "daimyo system."

In an attempt to wipe out feudalism in Japan, the new Meiji government, which replaced the Tokugawa shogunate, abolished hundreds of feudal clans or Han. In their place it established a new local government scheme based on geographically-defined prefectures which is still in effect today. It brought the shogunate and domain system or bakuhan taisei to a formal end, though did not remove (end?) it completely.

In the meantime Ryukyu (now Okinawa) was also annexed to the Japanese territory. That invasion is called "Entering Okinawa" (Okinawa-Iri). However, as early as 1609 AD, the Kingdom of the Ryukyus (Okinawa) had already been conquered and made a vassal of the powerful Shimadzu clan (Japanese: しまづし　島津氏) of southern Kyushu. Besides being subordinated to the Shimadzu domain, Okinawans of the late feudal era simultaneously paid tribute to the Manchu rulers of the Qing Dynasty of China.

See also: Meiji era

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