Kuni no miyatsuko

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Kuni no miyatsuko (国造 - also read as Kokuzō or Kuni tsu ko) were officials in ancient Japan at the time of the Yamato court.

They were in charge of provinces (国), although it is not always very clear what those provinces were. Kuni no miyatsuko had most certainly vast powers and were local lords simply "appointed" by Yamato court.

Kuni no miyatsuko as rulers were abolished during the Taika reforms, and provinces were reorganized under the ritsuryo system. Kuni no miyatsuko were appointed gunshi, whereas provinces became ruled by kokushi.

The post remained after the Taika reforms, but the Kuni no miyatsuko were now in charge of spiritual and religious affairs.

A few Kuni no miyatsuko clans however retained influence after the Taika reform, such as the Izumo no Kuni no miyatsuko (出雲国造).