守护是日本镰仓幕府和室町幕府设置的武家职位，是令制国的军事指挥官、行政官。令外官和追捕使被认为是守护的原型。后白河天皇在镰仓殿设置守护，承认幕府的权利。将军被任命，主要任务是监督令制国。镰仓时代时守护是守护人奉行（しゅごにんぶぎょう），室町时代是守护职（（しゅごしき）。

Shugo(守護) was a title, commonly translated as "governor", "protector" or "constable", given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the Shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan. The position gave way to the emergence of the daimyō (feudal lords) in the late 15th century, as shugo began to claim power over lands themselves, rather than serving simply as governors on behalf of the shogunate.