The Hisui region (Japanese: ヒスイ地方Hisui region) refers to Sinnoh as it was known during discovery and settlement, in a historical period set prior to Generation IV. It is the setting of Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Hisui is likely based on the Japanese island of Hokkaido while it was still known as Ezo, referring to its inhabitants prior to the Meiji Restoration. In 1869, the northern frontier was renamed to its current administrative title, which translates to northern sea circuit.
According to Cogita, the earliest human inhabitants of Hisui lived one or two millennia before the events of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This society worshiped Arceus and built the ancient ruins that can be found across Hisui and modern-day Sinnoh, such as the Solaceon Ruins and Snowpoint Temple. A legend states that around this time, an ancient hero befriended the island's ten special Pokémon, who had received Arceus's blessing, and gathered the Plates in order to find Arceus.
The next humans to arrive in Hisui came from across the sea. The Diamond Clan and Pearl Clan both worshiped a deity known as "almighty Sinnoh", with the Diamond Clan claiming it created time and the Pearl Clan claiming it created space. This disagreement set off a long-running feud between the two clans. Members of the clans also came to venerate the descendants of the blessed Pokémon, and some of them were tasked as wardens to tend to the needs of the blessed Pokémon.
The latest arrivals in Hisui were the Galaxy Expedition Team, comprised of people from numerous other regions including Hoenn, Alola, and Galar. The Galaxy Expedition Team had been assembled to evaluate Hisui's viability for settlers, and to that end it embarked on an ecological study of the region. A significant part of this study involved the creation of the first complete Hisuian Pokédex at the direction of Professor Laventon. The expedition brought with it newly-invented technology that allowed its members to conveniently capture and store Pokémon: Poké Balls. Two years after the establishment of Jubilife Village, a space-time rift appeared above Mount Coronet, followed sometime later by the emergence of a strange visitor who assisted in completion of the Pokédex.
During the post-game of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Kamado muses that Hisui could be called the Sinnoh region after the deities the Diamond and Pearl Clans worship, alluding to the region's present-day name.
In other languages
Language
Name
Origin
German, Spanish, French, Italian
Hisui
From its Japanese and English name
Korean
히스이 Hiseui
Transcription of its Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin)
洗翠 Xǐcuì
Transcription of its Japanese name. Contains 翠 cuì (jade).
Chinese (Cantonese)
洗翠 Sáicheui
Mandarin-based transcription of its Japanese name. Contains 翠 cheui (jade).
