Unshu (Japan) - Unshu

Japanese: 雲州（日本） - うんしゅう

According to the Izumo no Okuni-den, which can be said to be a compilation of various Okuni legends that have been passed down throughout the Edo period, Okuni was the daughter of Nakamura Sanemon, a blacksmith from Kitsuki, Izumo Province, and during the Eiroku period (1558-70), she traveled around the country to raise funds for the reconstruction of Izumo Taisha Shrine. She became famous for her beautiful appearance and her talent in Kagura dancing, and when she went to Kyoto, she invented a Kabuki dance, and was summoned and favored by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Echizen Chunagon Hideyasu. The first time the name Kuni appears in a reliable document is in 1600 (Keicho 5), when two people named Kuni and Kiku performed the Yayako dance of Unshu (Izumo Province) at the Konoe Palace in Kyoto (Tokiyoshi-kyoki). Next, in April 1403, the people of Izumo Province, Mikohime, dressed in men's clothing in the then-fashionable dandy style and performed the Kafuki dance, imitating the teahouse entertainment scene, which gained them great popularity throughout Kyoto (Todai-ki).

From Izumo Province

…Former name of province. Unshu. Corresponding to the eastern part of present-day Shimane Prefecture. …

*Some of the terminology that mentions "Unshu (Japan)" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…江戸時代を通してさまざまに伝えられてきたお国伝説の集大成ともいうべき《出雲阿国伝》によれば，お国は出雲国杵築の鍛冶職中村三右衛門の娘で，永禄(1558‐70)のころ出雲大社修覆勧進のために諸国を巡回したところ，容貌美麗で神楽舞に妙を得ていたので評判となり，京に上って歌舞伎踊を考案し，織田信長や豊臣秀吉，越前中納言秀康などに召し出されて寵愛されたということになっている。確実な資料にとにかく〈国〉の名が出るのは，1600年(慶長5)京都近衛殿において〈クニ〉と〈菊〉という2人が雲州(出雲国)のややこ踊を演じたとあるのが最初である(《時慶卿記》)。次に，03年4月には〈出雲国神子女〉国が，当時流行の男伊達風の男装をして茶屋遊びの様子をまねて〈カフキ躍（おどり）〉をし，京中の人気を集めたという記録がある(《当代記》)。…