Kōchi Prefecture ( 高知県 , Kōchi-ken , pronounced [koːtɕi ꜜkeɴ] ; / ˈ k oʊ tʃ i / ) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku . Kōchi Prefecture has a population of 669,516 (1 April 2023) and has a geographic area of 7,103 km (2,742 sq mi ). Kōchi Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the northwest and Tokushima Prefecture to the northeast.
26-475: 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
52-572: A mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 21 members. Nankoku contributes two members to the Kōchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kōchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan . Nankoku has good road, rail and air connections and has an economy based on light manufacturing, food processing, agriculture and distribution. Strong in
78-467: 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
104-461: Is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture , Japan . As of 31 July 2022 , the city had an estimated population of 46‚459 in 22499 households and a population density of 370 persons per km . The total area of the city is 125.30 square kilometres (48.38 sq mi). Nankoku is located in the center of Kochi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku . The northern part of the city is in
130-575: Is a 1,982-metre-high (6,503 ft) mountain on the border of Saijō and Kumakōgen , in Ehime , Japan . This mountain is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan . It is the highest mountain in Western Japan and the island of Shikoku . Mount Ishizuchi is the highest mountain on the island of Shikoku and also the highest mountain west of Mount Haku . It is known as 'the roof of Shikoku' and
156-588: 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
182-620: Is significant precipitation throughout the year, especially during June and July. The average annual temperature in Nankoku is 16.6 °C (61.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,359.1 mm (92.88 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.2 °C (81.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.0 °C (42.8 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Nankoku
208-531: 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. The Kamakura Shogunate was established at the end of the 12th century. Since Tosa Province was allied to
234-642: The Kamo clan based in modern Osaka. In 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
260-747: The Nara period , indicating that it was the center of Tosa Province and in proximity to the provincial capital During the Heian period , the nobleman Ki no Tsurayuki wrote the Tosa Diary while staying in what is now Nankoku. During the Sengoku period , Okō Castle was the stronghold of the Chōsokabe clan , who conquered most of Shikoku. During the Edo period , the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by
286-631: 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
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#1732764960676312-577: The Shimanto River , one of the few undammed rivers in Japan. In 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
338-604: The Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle . Following the Meiji Restoration , the town of Goman (後免町) was established within Nagaoka District, Kōchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On September 30, 1956 the town expanded by annexing 5 neighboring villages. On October 1, 1959 Gomen merged with four neighboring villages to form the city of Nankoku. Nankoku has
364-555: 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. The sports teams listed below are based in Kōchi. [REDACTED] Media related to Kochi prefecture at Wikimedia Commons Nankoku, K%C5%8Dchi Nankoku ( 南国市 , Nankoku-shi )
390-473: 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 . Kōchi city is also the birthplace of noted revolutionary Sakamoto Ryōma , who became one of the main instigators of the Meiji Restoration . Kōchi Prefecture comprises the southwestern part of
416-549: The fishing industry and the market industry, Nankoku-shi supplies most of Kochi's agricultural needs, because of the amount of fields and plantations. Nankoku has 13 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and three public high schools operated by the Kōchi Prefectural Department of Education. There is also one private middle school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for
442-543: The handicapped. Kochi University 's medical school and a branch of the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation are located in Nankoku. [REDACTED] Shikoku Railway Company - Dosan Line Tosa Kuroshio Railway - Asa Line Tosaden Kōtsū - Tosaden Kōtsū Gomen Line (tram line) This Kōchi Prefecture location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Mount Ishizuchi Mount Ishizuchi ( 石鎚山 , Ishizuchi-san )
468-501: 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
494-621: 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
520-550: The sharp, rocky summit resembles a huge stone hammer ( 石鎚 , ishizuchi ) . Mount Ishizuchi is an important object of worship in this region and one of the major centers of Shugendō , a sect of mixture of Shinto and Buddhism. At the top of the mountain there is a small shrine called the Ishizuchi Shrine. This mountain is also known as one of Seven Holy Mountains ( 七霊山 , nana reizan ) . There are several sets of heavy iron chains ( 鎖 , kusari ) leading up to
546-624: The southern end of the Shikoku Mountains and the southern part has an eight kilometer long coastline on the Pacific Ocean . In between is the Kochi Plain, with the Mononobe River flowing from north to south on the border with Konan. About half of the municipality is forested. Kōchi Prefecture Nankoku has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. There
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#1732764960676572-415: The summit and this is the route many pilgrims opt to take, the longest set being 68 metres (223 ft). However, it is possible to hike all the way to the peak along a trail which includes stairs and ramps with handrails. The climbing season opens every year on July 1, and women are forbidden from climbing the mountain on this day. Between mid-October and mid-November, people come from far and wide to view
598-471: The towns and villages in each district : 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). Like most areas of Japan, Kōchi advertises itself as specializing in
624-598: 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. After the fall of the Kamakura Shoguante, Ashikaga Takauji was defeated in battle and forced to retreat to Kyushu. Shikoku Island later fell under
650-401: Was 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) on 30 July 2004; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −7.9 °C (17.8 °F) on 8 February 1984. Per Japanese census data, the population of Nankoku in 2020 is 46,664 people. Nankoku has been conducting censuses since 1960. As with all of Kōchi Prefecture, the area of Nankoku was part of ancient Tosa Province . The Tosa Kokubun-ji was built during
676-740: 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. Eleven cities are located in Kōchi Prefecture: These are
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