Kōchi Prefecture
| Kōchi Prefecture 高知県 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prefecture | ||
| Japanese transcription(s) | ||
| • Japanese | 高知県 | |
| • Rōmaji | Kōchi-ken | |
| ||
 | ||
| Coordinates: 33°26′N 133°26′E / 33.433°N 133.433°ECoordinates: 33°26′N 133°26′E / 33.433°N 133.433°E | ||
| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Shikoku | |
| Island | Shikoku | |
| Capital | Kōchi (city) | |
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Masanao Ozaki | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7,104.87 km2 (2,743.21 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 14th | |
| Population (December 1, 2011) | ||
| • Total | 757,914 | |
| • Rank | 45th | |
| • Density | 106.68/km2 (276.3/sq mi) | |
| ISO 3166 code | JP-39 | |
| Districts | 6 | |
| Municipalities | 34 | |
| Flower | Yamamomo (Myrica rubra) | |
| Tree | Yanase Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) | |
| Bird | Fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) | |
| Website |
www | |
Kōchi Prefecture (高知県 Kōchi-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku.[1] The capital is the city of Kōchi.[2]
History
Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.[3]
Kōchi City is also the birthplace of noted revolutionary Sakamoto Ryoma.
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 Kochi 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.[4]
Cities
Eleven cities are located in Kōchi Prefecture:
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each district:
Mergers
Tourism
- Kōchi Castle, one of only 12 original castles left in Japan
- Katsurahama
- Ryugado Cave, one of Japan's top three caves
- Shimanto River, the only undammed river in Japan
- Godaisan
- Anpanman Museum
Media
The 2013 movie Hospitality Department (Kencho Omotenashi Ka) is set in Kōchi.[5] The film shows views of Kochi Prefecture.
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Kōchi.
Baseball
Football
Food
Like most areas of Japan, Kochi advertises itself as specialising in a major food item, in this case, Katsuo no Tataki. Katsuo no Tataki is Skipjack Tuna or Bonito, lightly seared. Traditionally this is done over the straw generated as a by-product of the rice harvest.
See also
Notes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ http://otakumode.com/news/5174b304bec5fa0972002de6/Yukiyo-Teramoto-Makes-Short-Insert-Anime-for-ldquo-Prefectural-Office-Hospitality-Department-The-Movie-rdquo
References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kochi prefecture. |
- Official website (English)
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