Okhotsk Subprefecture (オホーツク総合振興局, Ohōtsuku-sōgō-shinkō-kyoku) is a subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. It was renamed from the earlier Abashiri Subprefecture on April 1, 2010. Abashiri Subprefecture was established in 1897.
Etymology
Abashiri Prefecture was named after the subprefectural office in Abashiri. However, the area was more commonly referred to as the Okhotsk region (オホーツク地方, Ohōtsuku-chihō), as it faces the Sea of Okhotsk, and the name Abashiri was changed to the more commonly used Okhotsk during the administrative redivision of Hokkaido's 14 subprefectures to 9 subprefectural bureaus in April, 2010. The sea is named for the port of Okhotsk, itself named for the Okhota River,[1] whose name is derived from the Even word окат (okat) meaning "river".[2]
