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Kōchi Prefecture (高知県, Kōchi-ken, pronounced [koːtɕi ꜜkeɴ]; /ˈkoʊtʃi/) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.[2] 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 |
 | |
 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.[3] 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
editAntiquity
editBefore the Ritsuryō System
editIn the Kujiki, first recorded governments in Kōchi Prefecture were Hata (in the west) and Tosa (in the center). Hata was established first, so it is thought that it had more influence and contact with the Yamato court. Written records from this time period are sparse, however it is believed that the first governors of Hata and Tosa were from the Kamo clan based in modern Osaka.
After the Ritsuryō System
editIn the Nihon Shoki, the first report from an official in the Kōchi region described the damages caused by the 684 Hakuhō earthquake. From this report, it can be inferred that by 684 at the latest, the Tosa Province (a predecessor to modern-day Kōchi Prefecture) had been established. The first report from a named official was written by Hiketa no Mushiro in 743.
Up until the Genpei War, 106 governors were appointed to govern the Tosa Province. Eventually, like many other provinces Tosa also was appointed absentee governors, given additional rights, and began amassing wealth. Due to being located far from the capital, many prisoners were exiled to the Tosa Province.
Middle Ages
editKamakura Period
editThe Kamakura Shogunate was established at the end of the 12th century. Since Tosa Province was allied to the winning Minamoto Clan in the Genpei War, it quickly fell under the influence of the shogunate. Kajiwara Tomokage was appointed as the first military governor of the Tosa Province. Eventually, the Hōjō Clan began serving as the military governor for the province.
Muromachi Period
editAfter the fall of the Kamakura Shoguante, Ashikaga Takauji was defeated in battle and forced to retreat to Kyushu. Shikoku Island later fell under the control of the Hosokawa Clan.
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.[4]
Kōchi city is also the birthplace of noted revolutionary Sakamoto Ryōma, who became one of the main instigators of the Meiji Restoration.
Geography
editKōchi 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.
Kōchi Prefecture has the highest percentage of land covered in mountains out of all Japanese prefectures at 89% with the national average being 66%. The highest peak in Kōchi Prefecture is Mt. Miune at 1,894 meters (the highest peak in Kōchi Prefecture is Tebakoyama at 1,806 meters). Due to its location in the Shimanto Group geological area, Kōchi Prefecture has many sedimentary rocks and is prone to landslides. Kōchi Prefecture has many rivers such as the Shimanto River in the western part of the prefecture, Niyodo River flowing from Mount Ishizuchi into the Tosa Bay, and Yoshino River flowing into Tokushima Prefecture.
Historically, Kōchi Prefecture has not suffered from a lack of water, however river management has been a consistent issue. In the early Edo Period, samurai Nonaka Kenzan oversaw large scale improvements to the Tosa Domain's major rivers. Modern Kōchi Prefecture is known for its river management and minimal water damage despite receiving a large amount of rainfall.
The Kuroshio Current flows by Kōchi Prefecture's coast. The climate of Kōchi Prefecture is heavily influenced by the Kuroshio Current. Even during the winter the water is still warm, and causes frequent typhoons. Kōchi Prefecture experiences the 2nd most typhoons out of all the Japanese prefectures after Kagoshima Prefecture. The 1934 Muroto Typhoon was especially notorious, with the lowest central pressure of any recorded typhoon in Japan at 911.6 hPa when it made landfall on the Muroto Cape. The Ashizuri and Muroto capes are known for their strong winds.
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.[5]
City Town Village
Cities
editEleven 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
edit
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
editTourism
edit.jpg)
- Aki Castle and samurai's residence district called Doi Kachū
- Anpanman Museum
- Godaisan
- Katsurahama
- Katsurahama Aquarium
- Kōchi Castle, one of only 12 original castles left in Japan
- Kōchi Prefectural Museum of History, Historical Museum located on Okō Castle
- Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium
- Okō Castle, Chōsokabe clan's prime castle ruins.
- Ryūga Cave, one of Japan's top three caves
- Sakamoto Ryōma Memorial Museum
- Shimanto River, the only undammed river in Japan
Media
editVarious 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.[6][7]
The 2013 movie Hospitality Department (Kencho Omotenashi Ka),[8] which shows views of Kōchi Prefecture.
The 2021 movie Belle (Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime).
Culture
edit
Food
editLike 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.[9] 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
edit- 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
editThe sports teams listed below are based in Kōchi.
- Baseball
- Football
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ "2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府". 内閣府ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kōchi prefecture" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 538, p. 538, at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Kōchi" at p. 538, p. 538, at Google Books.
- ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
- ^ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ Matt Alt; Hiroko Yoda; Melinda Joe (27 March 2012). Frommer's? Japan Day by Day. John Wiley & Sons. p. 532. ISBN 978-0-470-90826-6.
- ^ Iris-Aya Laemmerhirt (March 2014). Embracing Differences: Transnational Cultural Flows between Japan and the United States. transcript Verlag. p. 254. ISBN 978-3-8394-2600-5.
- ^ "Yukiyo Teramoto Makes Short Insert Anime for "Prefectural Office Hospitality Department: The Movie" - Tokyo Otaku Mode News". otakumode.com. May 2013.
- ^ Lafferty, Jefferey (2020-10-16). "Japan's delicious fire-seared delicacy". BBC.
References
edit- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
External links
edit
Media related to Kochi prefecture at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in English)