was settled by the Ainu, Nivkh, and Orok before recorded history. The "Nihon Shoki", finished in 720 AD, is often said to be the first mention of Hokkaido in recorded history. According to the text, Abe no Hirafu led a large navy and army to northern areas from 658 to 660 and came into contact with the Mishihase and Emishi. One of the places Hirafu went to was called , which is often believed to be present-day Hokkaido. However, many theories exist in relation to the details of this event, including the location of Watarishima and the common belief that the Emishi in Watarishima were the ancestors of the present-day Ainu people. 

During the Nara and Heian periods (710–1185), people in Hokkaido conducted trade with Dewa Province, an outpost of the Japanese central government. From the Middle Ages, the people in Hokkaido began to be called Ezo. Hokkaido, formerly known as Ezochi or . The Ezo mainly relied upon hunting and fishing and obtained rice and iron through trade with the Japanese. 

During the Muromachi period (1336–1573), the Japanese created a settlement at the south of the Oshima Peninsula. As more people moved to the settlement to avoid battles, disputes arose between the Japanese and the Ainu. The disputes eventually developed into a war. Takeda Nobuhiro killed the Ainu leader, Koshamain, and defeated the opposition in 1457. Nobuhiro's descendants became the rulers of the Matsumae-han, which was granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu in the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods (1568–1868). The Matsumae family's economy relied upon trade with the Ainu. They held authority over the south of Ezochi until the end of the Edo period in 1868.
When did Hokkaido do trading with the Dewa Province?
When was Hokkaido first noted in history?
By what source?
What was the name of that text?
What does it say about Hokkaido?
What happened in the Muromachi period?
What time span does that period cover?
What about the Nara period?
What was Hokkaido once called?
What were the people from there called?
When where they first called that?
How did they source their food?
What about rice?
What led to the fighting between Japanese and the Ainu?
What was the outcome from those disputes?
What happened to the Edo period?
When did that period occur?
Did anyone trade with the Ainu?
Why did they trade with them?
During the Nara and Heian periods (710–1185)
During the Nara and Heian periods (710–1185)
720 AD, is often said to be the first mention of Hokkaido
720 AD, is often said to be the first mention of Hokkaido
According to the text of recorded history
 According to the text
The "Nihon Shoki",
The "Nihon Shoki",
Abe no Hirafu led a large navy and army to northern areas from 658 to 660 and came into contact with the Mishihase and Emishi.
Abe no Hirafu led a large navy and army to northern areas from 658 to 660 and came into contact with the Mishihase and Emishi. 
the Japanese created a settlement at the south of the Oshima Peninsula.
During the Muromachi period (1336–1573), the Japanese created a settlement at the south of the Oshima Peninsula.
(1336–1573)
During the Muromachi period (1336–1573
During the Nara and Heian periods (710–1185), people in Hokkaido conducted trade with Dewa Province
During the Nara and Heian periods (710–1185), people in Hokkaido conducted trade with Dewa Province
formerly known as Ezochi
Hokkaido, formerly known as Ezochi
Ezo
called Ezo
From the Middle Ages, the people in Hokkaido began to be called Ezo
From the Middle Ages, the people in Hokkaido began to be called Ezo
hunting and fishing
The Ezo mainly relied upon hunting and fishing
obtained rice and iron through trade with the Japanese
obtained rice and iron through trade with the Japanese
Japanese created a settlement at the south of the Oshima Peninsula, disputes arose
Japanese created a settlement at the south of the Oshima Peninsula
Takeda Nobuhiro killed the Ainu leader, Koshamain, and defeated the opposition in 1457
Takeda Nobuhiro killed the Ainu leader, Koshamain, and defeated the opposition in 1457
Nobuhiro's descendants became the rulers of the Matsumae-han
Nobuhiro's descendants became the rulers of the Matsumae-han
(1568–1868)
Edo periods (1568–1868)
Matsumae-han
Matsumae-han, which was granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu in the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods
they were granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu
which was granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu