Editing Shikoku (section)

==Culture==

===Society and architecture===
Shikoku has historically been quite isolated and therefore it has kept the original characteristics of Japan for a longer period, especially in regards to vegetation and some architectural techniques. There are many Buddhist temples.

The "lost" Shikoku has been described by an American writer, [[Alex Kerr (Japanologist)|Alex Kerr]], who lived in a remote mountain village near Oboke (大歩危) for many years from 1970 onwards.

[[Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park]] is located in the south-west part of Shikoku.

===Traditions===
[[File:Yosakoi Performers at Kochi Yosakoi Matsuri 2008 40.jpg|thumb|[[Yosakoi]] festival]]
Shikoku is also famous for its [[Shikoku Pilgrimage|88-temple pilgrimage]] of temples. The pilgrimage was established by the Heian-period Buddhist priest [[Kūkai]], a native of present-day Zentsūji-cho in Kagawa prefecture. According to legend, Kūkai still appears to pilgrims today. Most modern-day pilgrims travel by bus, rarely choosing the old-fashioned method of going by foot.  They are seen wearing white jackets emblazoned with the characters reading ''dōgyō ninin'' ({{lang|ja|同行二人}}) meaning "two traveling together".

Tokushima Prefecture also has its annual [[Awa Odori]] running in August at the time of the [[Obon]] festival, which attracts thousands of tourists each year from all over Japan and from abroad.

Kōchi Prefecture is home to the first annual [[Yosakoi]] festival. The largest festival in Kōchi, it takes place in August every year and attracts dancers and tourists from all over Japan.

===Food===
[[File:Kama-age sanuki udon by sekido in Takamatsu, Kagawa.jpg|thumb|[[Sanuki udon]]]]
One of the major foods of Shikoku is [[udon]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.tourismshikoku.org/learnmore/tastes_shikoku/katsuo-no-tataki|title = tourism shikoku|access-date = 2014-11-27|website = tourism shikoku|publisher = Organization for Promotion of Tourism in Shikoku|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141205115003/http://www.tourismshikoku.org/learnmore/tastes_shikoku/katsuo-no-tataki|archive-date = 2014-12-05}}</ref> [[Udon]] is often served hot as a noodle soup in its simplest form, as ''kake udon'', in a mildly flavoured broth called ''[[kakejiru]],'' which is made of [[dashi]], soy sauce ([[shōyu]]), and [[mirin]]. It is usually topped with thinly chopped scallions. Other common toppings include [[tempura]], often prawn or ''[[kakiage]]'' (a type of mixed tempura [[fritter]]), or ''[[aburaage]]'', a type of deep-fried [[tofu]] pockets seasoned with sugar, mirin, and soy sauce. A thin slice of [[kamaboko]], a halfmoon-shaped fish cake, is often added. [[Shichimi]] can be added to taste. Another specialty is [[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi]]'s signature dish, seared [[bonito]].

The warm climate of Shikoku lends itself to the cultivation of citrus fruits. As a result, [[yuzu]], [[mikan]] and other citrus fruits are plentiful on Shikoku and have become synonymous with the regions they are grown in.

===Movements===
Pioneering [[natural farming|natural farmer]] [[Masanobu Fukuoka]], author of ''[[The One-Straw Revolution]]'', developed his methods here on his family's farm.

===Sports===
[[File:Botchan Stadium(20160416) 02.jpg|thumb|left|[[Shikoku Island League Plus]] ([[Ehime Mandarin Pirates]])]]
[[File:Naruto Athletic 1.JPG|thumb|[[J. League]] ([[Tokushima Vortis]])]]
Historically no Shikoku-based [[sports]] team has competed in the top Japanese division of [[Japanese baseball|baseball]], [[Football in Japan|football (soccer)]] or even [[Rugby union in Japan|rugby union]]. However, Tokushima Vortis have had two spells in the top flight of Japanese soccer ([[J1 League|J1]]) in 2014 and 2021. Currently the major teams competing in Shikoku's major cities include:
*[[Naruto, Tokushima|Naruto]], [[Tokushima Prefecture|Tokushima]]:
**[[Tokushima Vortis]] (football, [[J2 League|J2]])
**[[Tokushima Indigo Socks]] (baseball, [[Shikoku-Kyūshū Island League|SKIL]])
*[[Matsuyama, Ehime|Matsuyama]], [[Ehime Prefecture|Ehime]]
**[[Ehime FC]] (football, J2)
**[[Ehime Mandarin Pirates]] (baseball, SKIL)
*[[Imabari, Ehime|Imabari]], [[Ehime Prefecture|Ehime]]: 
**[[FC Imabari]] (football, J2)
*[[Takamatsu]], [[Kagawa Prefecture|Kagawa]]: 
**[[Kamatamare Sanuki]] (football, [[J3 League|J3]])
**[[Kagawa Olive Guyners]] (baseball, SKIL)
*[[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi]], [[Kōchi Prefecture|Kōchi]]: 
**[[Kōchi United SC]] (football, J3)
**[[Kōchi Fighting Dogs]] (baseball, SKIL)

===Notable sportspeople===

Two time darts Women's World Champion [[Mikuru Suzuki]] is a native of Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku.<ref>{{cite web |title=Japan's Miracle Takes Darts World by Storm |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190410-japans-miracle-suzuki-takes-darts-world-storm |website=France24.com |date=10 April 2019 |publisher=France 24 |access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref>