Named for the northern island of Japan, which has a population of 5.5 million. This planet was the first to be discovered in Hokkaido. In addition to Kushiro {see planet  (4096)}, there are active programs in Sapporo {see planet  (3473)} and Kitami {see planet  (3785)} concerned with the astrometric observations of minor planets and comets. (M 12976) _ _.