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Japan's Prefecture Names in German

To native German speakers, German might not sound special — no duh! However, for non-German speakers, it can hit differently. A few years ago, someone created a literal German translation of Japan's prefecture names, which went viral after people realized how unexpectedly cool they sounded.

  1. Hokkaido (北海道): Nordmeerstraße
  2. Aomori (青森): Blauwald
  3. Iwate (岩手): Felsenhand
  4. Miyagi (宮城): Palastburg
  5. Akita (秋田): Herbstfeld
  6. Yamagata (山形): Bergform
  7. Fukushima (福島): Glückinsel
  8. Ibaraki (茨城): Rosenburg
  9. Tochigi (栃木): Rosskastanie
  10. Gunma (群馬): Pferdeherde
  11. Saitama (埼玉): Kapskugel
  12. Chiba (千葉): Tausendeblätter
  13. Tokyo (東京): Osthauptstadt
  14. Kanagawa (神奈川): Gottesfluß
  15. Niigata (新潟): Neuelagune
  16. Tomiyama (富山): Reichenberg
  17. Ishikawa (石川): Steinfluß
  18. Fukui (福井): Glückesbrunnen
  19. Yamanashi (山梨): Birnenberg
  20. Nagano (長野): Langenfeld
  21. Gifu (岐阜): Gabelunghügel
  22. Shizuoka (静岡): Stillenhügel
  23. Aichi (愛知): Liebewissen
  24. Mie (三重): Dreifach
  25. Shiga (滋賀): Nahhaftesfeier
  26. Kyoto (京都): Edelhauptstadt
  27. Osaka (大阪): Großenhang
  28. Hyogo (兵庫): Soldatenlager
  29. Nara (奈良): Allesgute
  30. Wakayama (和歌山): Friedenliedberg
  31. Tottori (鳥取): Vogeljagd
  32. Shimane (島根): InselsWurzel
  33. Okayama (岡山): Hügelberg
  34. Hiroshima (広島): Großeinsel
  35. Yamaguchi (山口): Bergmund
  36. Tokushima (徳島): Tugendinsel
  37. Kagawa (香川): Duftenfluß
  38. Ehime (愛媛): Liebesprinzessin
  39. Kochi (高知): Hochwissen
  40. Fukuoka (福岡): Glückshügel
  41. Saga (佐賀): Hilfenfeier
  42. Nagasaki (長崎): Langenkap
  43. Kumamoto (熊本): Bärgrund
  44. Oita (大分): Großeteilung
  45. Miyazaki (宮崎): Palastkap
  46. Kogashima (鹿児島): Hirschlingsinsel
  47. Okinawa (沖縄): Meerseile

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