Kōchi Prefecture
Kōchi Prefecture (高知県, Kōchi-ken, pronounced ; /ˈkoʊtʃi/) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.
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Kōchi Prefecture has a population of 669,516 (1 April 2023) and has a geographic area of 7,103 km2 (2,742 sq mi). Kōchi Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the northwest and Tokushima Prefecture to the northeast.
Kōchi Prefecture 高知県 | |
|---|---|
| Japanese transcription(s) | |
| • Japanese | 高知県 |
| • Rōmaji | Kōchi-ken |
 Shimanto River and Iwama Bridge, famous sights in Shimanto City, Kōchi Prefecture | |
 Flag  Symbol | |
| Anthem: Kōchi kenmin no uta | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 33°26′N 133°26′E / 33.433°N 133.433°E | |
| Country |  Japan |
| Region | Shikoku |
| Island | Shikoku |
| Capital | Kōchi |
| Subdivisions | Districts: 6, Municipalities: 34 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Seiji Hamada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7,103.93 km2 (2,742.84 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 18th |
| Population (April 1, 2023) | |
| • Total | 669,516 |
| • Rank | 45th |
| • Density | 106.68/km2 (276.3/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | JP¥ 2,465 billion US$ 22.6 billion (2019) |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-39 |
| Website | www |
| Symbols of Japan | |
| Bird | Fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) |
| Flower | Yamamomo (Myrica rubra) |
| Tree | Yanase Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) |
Kōchi is the capital and largest city of Kōchi Prefecture, with other major cities including Nankoku, Shimanto, and Kōnan. Kōchi Prefecture is located on Japan's Pacific coast surrounding a large bay in the south of Shikoku, with the southernmost point of the island located at Cape Ashizuri in Tosashimizu. Kōchi Prefecture is home to Kōchi Castle, considered the most intact Japanese castle, and the Shimanto River, one of the few undammed rivers in Japan.
History
Kōchi Prefecture was historically known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chōsokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi clan during the Edo period.
Kōchi city is also the birthplace of noted revolutionary Sakamoto Ryōma, who became one of the main instigators of the Meiji Restoration.
Geography
Kōchi Prefecture comprises the southwestern part of the island of Shikoku, facing the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Ehime to the north-west and Tokushima to the north-east. It is the largest but least populous of Shikoku's four prefectures. Most of the province is mountainous, and in only a few areas such as around Kōchi and Nakamura is there a coastal plain. Kōchi is famous for its many rivers. Inamura-yama in Tosa-cho is the highest peak in Kōchi prefecture with an altitude of 1,506 meters above sea level.
As of April 1, 2012, 7% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park; Ishizuchi, Muroto-Anan Kaigan, and Tsurugisan Quasi-National Parks; and eighteen Prefectural Natural Parks.
City Town Village
Cities
Eleven cities are located in Kōchi Prefecture:
| Flag | Name | Area (km2) | Population | Map | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rōmaji | Kanji | ||||
 | Aki | 安芸市 | 317.34 | 17,810 |  |
 | Kami | 香美市 | 537.95 | 26,526 |  |
 | Kōchi (capital) | 高知市 | 309.22 | 319,077 |  |
 | Kōnan | 香南市 | 126.75 | 32,786 |  |
 | Muroto | 室戸市 | 248.25 | 14,006 |  |
 | Nankoku | 南国市 | 125.35 | 47,776 |  |
 | Shimanto | 四万十市 | 632.42 | 34,433 |  |
 | Sukumo | 宿毛市 | 286.11 | 21,097 |  |
 | Susaki | 須崎市 | 135.46 | 22,508 |  |
 | Tosa | 土佐市 | 91.59 | 27,602 |  |
 | Tosashimizu | 土佐清水市 | 266.54 | 14,666 |  |
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | District | Type | Map | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rōmaji | Kanji | |||||
 Geisei | 芸西村 | 39.63 | 3,846 | Aki District | Village |  |
 Hidaka | 日高村 | 44.88 | 4,896 | Takaoka District | Village |  |
 Ino | いの町 | 470.71 | 22,155 | Agawa District | Town |  |
 Kitagawa | 北川村 | 196.18 | 1‚328 | Aki District | Village |  |
 Kuroshio | 黒潮町 | 188.38 | 11,559 | Hata District | Town |  |
 Mihara | 三原村 | 85.35 | 1,627 | Hata District | Village |  |
 Motoyama | 本山町 | 134.21 | 3,605 | Nagaoka District | Town |  |
 Nahari | 奈半利町 | 28.32 | 3,359 | Aki District | Town |  |
 Nakatosa | 中土佐町 | 193.19 | 7,156 | Takaoka District | Town |  |
 Niyodogawa | 仁淀川町 | 332.96 | 5,676 | Agawa District | Town |  |
 Ochi | 越知町 | 111.58 | 5,847 | Takaoka District | Town |  |
 Ōkawa | 大川村 | 95.28 | 521 | Tosa District | Village |  |
 Ōtoyo | 大豊町 | 314.94 | 4,950 | Nagaoka District | Town |  |
 Ōtsuki | 大月町 | 103.03 | 5,719 | Hata District | Town |  |
 Sakawa | 佐川町 | 101.21 | 13,223 | Takaoka District | Town |  |
 Shimanto | 四万十町 | 642.06 | 18,269 | Takaoka District | Town |  |
 Tano | 田野町 | 6.56 | 2,644 | Aki District | Town |  |
 Tosa | 土佐町 | 212.11 | 3,997 | Tosa District | Town |  |
 Tōyō | 東洋町 | 74.09 | 2,598 | Aki District | Town |  |
 Tsuno | 津野町 | 197.85 | 5,680 | Takaoka District | Town |  |
 Umaji | 馬路村 | 165.48 | 737 | Aki District | Village |  |
 Yasuda | 安田町 | 53.03 | 2,614 | Aki District | Town |  |
 Yusuhara | 梼原町 | 236.51 | 3,640 | Takaoka District | Town |  |
Mergers
Tourism
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- Kōchi Castle, one of only 12 original castles left in Japan
- Aki Castle and samurai's residence district called Doi Kachū
- Okō Castle, Chōsokabe clan's prime castle ruins.
- Kōchi Prefectural Museum of History, Historical Museum located on Okō Castle
- Katsurahama
- Ryugado Cave, one of Japan's top three caves
- Shimanto River, the only undammed river in Japan
- Godaisan
- Anpanman Museum
- Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium
Media
Various movies have been set in Kōchi. These include the following:
The 1993 Studio Ghibli movie Ocean Waves (Umi ga Kikoeru).
The 2009 movie The Harimaya Bridge starring Danny Glover.
The 2013 movie Hospitality Department (Kencho Omotenashi Ka), which shows views of Kōchi Prefecture.
The 2021 movie Belle (Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime).
Culture
Food
Like most areas of Japan, Kōchi advertises itself as specializing in a major food item, often known as meibutsu. Kōchi's is katsuo no tataki – skipjack tuna or bonito which is lightly seared. Traditionally this is done over the straw generated as a by-product of the rice harvest.
Sawachi is a term which refers to "a style of meal" in Kochi prefecture, according to Kochi-City Tourism Association. It says that the characteristic of the style of eating is "its freeness in the arrangement of food on a large dish" People eat Sawachi in the situation of "Enkai" which refers to a gathering of family, friends and relatives. They surround "Sawachi", feasts on large dishes, and take own portions by themselves. The style represents the cultural climate of Kochi Prefecture, which dislikes formal arrangements and respects freedom.
Festival and events
- Festival
- Yosakoi Festival - Yosakoi (よさこい) is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan and that is performed at festivals and events all over the country.
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Kōchi.
- Baseball
- Football
See also
Notes
References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
External links
Media related to Kōchi prefecture at Wiki Commons
- Official website (in English)
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