Relating to a prefecture, which is a region or district governed by an official called a prefect, especially in Japan or France.
From Latin 'praefectura' (office of a prefect), derived from 'praefectus' (one who is placed in charge). The '-al' suffix makes it adjectival. The term traveled through Romance languages before being adopted into English.
Japan's prefectural system divides the whole country into 47 administrative units (like prefectures), and this is actually one of the oldest continuous regional governance systems still in use—Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima are all prefectures!
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