Editing Kōchi Prefecture

{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                     = Kōchi Prefecture
| native_name              = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|高知県}}}}
| settlement_type          = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| translit_lang1           = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type      = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| translit_lang1_info      = {{lang|ja|高知県}}
| translit_lang1_type1     = [[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
| translit_lang1_info1     = {{lang|ja-Latn|Kōchi-ken}}
| image_skyline            = Shimanto River And Iwama Bridge 1.jpg
| image_caption            = [[Shimanto River]] and [[Iwama Bridge]], famous sights in [[Shimanto, Kōchi (city)|Shimanto]] City, Kōchi Prefecture
| image_flag               = Flag of Kochi Prefecture.svg
| flag_size                = 100px
| image_blank_emblem       = Emblem of Kochi Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size        = 80px
| blank_emblem_type        = Symbol
| image_map                = Map of Japan with highlight on 39 Kochi prefecture.svg
| coordinates              = {{coord|33|26|N|133|26|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Japan}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Shikoku]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of islands of Japan|Island]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Shikoku]]
| seat_type                = [[List of capitals in Japan|Capital]]
| seat                     = [[Kōchi (city)|Kōchi]]
| parts_type               = Subdivisions
| parts_style              = para
| p1                       = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 6
| p2                       = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]: 34
| leader_title             = [[List of prefectural governors in Japan|Governor]]
| leader_name              = [[Seiji Hamada]]
| area_total_km2           = 7,103.93
| area_water_percent       = 0.2
| area_rank                = [[List of Japanese prefectures by area|18th]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 652,459
| population_as_of         = February 1, 2025
| population_rank          = [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|45th]]
| population_density_km2   = 91.9
| demographics_type2              = GDP 
| demographics2_footnotes         = <ref>{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1            = Total
| demographics2_info1   = [[JP¥]] 2,465 billion<br />[[US$]] 22.6 billion (2019)
| iso_code                 = JP-39
| website                  = {{url|www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/english/}}
| module                   = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| country  = Japan
| bird     = Fairy [[Pitta (bird)|pitta]] (''Pitta nympha'')
| fish     = 
| flower   = Yamamomo (''[[Myrica rubra]]'')
| tree     = Yanase [[Sugi]] (''Cryptomeria japonica'')
}}
| anthem                   = [[:ja:高知県民の歌|Kōchi kenmin no uta]]
}}

{{nihongo|'''Kōchi Prefecture'''|高知県|Kōchi-ken|{{IPA|ja|koꜜː.tɕi, koː.tɕi̥ꜜ.keɴ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of Japan located on the island of [[Shikoku]].<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kōchi prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 538|page=538}}.</ref> Kōchi Prefecture has a population of 669,516 (1 April 2023) and has a geographic area of 7,103 [[Square kilometre|km<sup>2</sup>]] (2,742 [[sq mi]]). Kōchi Prefecture borders [[Ehime Prefecture]] to the northwest and [[Tokushima Prefecture]] to the northeast.

[[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi]] is the capital and largest city of Kōchi Prefecture, with other major cities including [[Nankoku, Kōchi|Nankoku]], [[Shimanto, Kōchi (city)|Shimanto]], and [[Kōnan, Kōchi|Kōnan]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Kōchi" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 538|page=538}}.</ref> 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 [[Dam|undammed]] rivers in Japan.

== History ==
{{See also|List of historic sites of Japan (Kōchi)}}

=== Antiquity ===

==== Before the Ritsuryō System ====
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 Kingship|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 ====
In the [[Nihon Shoki]], the first report from an [[Kokushi (official)|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 ===

==== Kamakura period ====
The [[Kamakura shogunate|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| Hōjō]] Clan began serving as the military governor for the province.

==== Muromachi period ====
After 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|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]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}.</ref>

Kōchi city is also the birthplace of noted revolutionary [[Sakamoto Ryōma]], who became one of the main instigators of the [[Meiji Restoration]].

== Geography ==
{{see also|List of cities in Kōchi Prefecture by population}}
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, Kōchi|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 engineering|river management]] has been a consistent issue. In the early [[Edo period|Edo Period]], samurai Nonaka Kenzan oversaw large scale improvements to the [[Tosa Domain|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 [[Typhoon|typhoons]]. Kōchi Prefecture experiences the 2nd most typhoons out of all the Japanese prefectures after [[Kagoshima Prefecture]]. [[1934 Muroto typhoon|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 [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]], namely the [[Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park]]; [[Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park|Ishizuchi]], [[Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park|Muroto-Anan Kaigan]], and [[Tsurugisan Quasi-National Park|Tsurugisan]] Quasi-National Parks; and eighteen Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=19 August 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Map of Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|Map of Kōchi Prefecture<br />{{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} {{legend0|#BFE|Village}}]]
[[File:高知城 天守からの景色3 Kochi Castle - panoramio.jpg|thumb|200px|Skyline of [[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi City]]]][[File:Sakamoto Ryoma.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Sakamoto Ryōma]]]]

===Cities===
Eleven cities are located in Kōchi Prefecture:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Flag
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Aki, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Aki, Kōchi|Aki]]
|安芸市
|317.34
|17,810
|[[File:Aki in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kami, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Kami, Kōchi|Kami]]
|香美市
|537.95
|26,526
|[[File:Kami in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kochi, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi]] (capital)
|高知市
|309.22
|319,077
|[[File:Kochi in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Konan, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Kōnan, Kōchi|Kōnan]]
|香南市
|126.75
|32,786
|[[File:Konan in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Muroto, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Muroto, Kōchi|Muroto]]
|室戸市
|248.25
|14,006
|[[File:Muroto in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nankoku, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Nankoku, Kōchi|Nankoku]]
|南国市
|125.35
|47,776
|[[File:Nankoku in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shimanto, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Shimanto, Kōchi (city)|Shimanto]]
|四万十市
|632.42
|34,433
|[[File:Shimanto in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Sukumo Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Sukumo, Kōchi|Sukumo]]
|宿毛市
|286.11
|21,097
|[[File:Sukumo in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Susaki, Kōchi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Susaki, Kōchi|Susaki]]
|須崎市
|135.46
|22,508
|[[File:Susaki in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tosa, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Tosa, Kōchi|Tosa]]
|土佐市
|91.59
|27,602
|[[File:Tosa city in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tosashimizu, Kochi.svg|100px|border]]||[[Tosashimizu, Kōchi|Tosashimizu]]
|土佐清水市
|266.54
|14,666
|[[File:Tosashimizu in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|100px]]
|}
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Kochi Japan.jpg|[[Kōchi City]]
File:Okouzyou02.jpg|[[Nankoku, Kōchi|Nankoku City]]
File:SHIMANTO CITY.jpg|[[Shimanto, Kōchi (city)|Shimanto City]]
File:Susaki city view.jpg|[[Susaki, Kōchi|Susaki City]]
File:手結漁港 - panoramio.jpg|[[Kōnan, Kōchi|Kōnan City]]
File:Sukumo-Station-square-rotary.jpg|[[Sukumo, Kōchi|Sukumo City]]
</gallery>

=== Towns and villages ===
[[File:Kochi prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|Kochi prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
These are the towns and villages in each [[Districts of Japan|district]]:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |District
! rowspan="2" |Type
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Geisei, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Geisei, Kōchi|Geisei]]
|芸西村
|39.63
|3,846
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Village
|[[File:Geisei in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hidaka, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hidaka, Kōchi|Hidaka]]
|日高村
|44.88
|4,896
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Village
|[[File:Hidaka in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ino Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ino, Kōchi|Ino]]
|いの町
|470.71
|22,155
|[[Agawa District, Kōchi|Agawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Ino in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kitagawa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kitagawa, Kōchi|Kitagawa]]
|北川村
|196.18
|1‚328
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Village
|[[File:Kitagawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kuroshio Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kuroshio, Kōchi|Kuroshio]]
|黒潮町
|188.38
|11,559
|[[Hata District, Kōchi|Hata District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kuroshio in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Mihara, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mihara, Kōchi|Mihara]]
|三原村
|85.35
|1,627
|[[Hata District, Kōchi|Hata District]]
|Village
|[[File:Mihara in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Motoyama, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Motoyama, Kōchi|Motoyama]]
|本山町
|134.21
|3,605
|[[Nagaoka District, Kōchi|Nagaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Motoyama in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nahari, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nahari, Kōchi|Nahari]]
|奈半利町
|28.32 
|3,359
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nahari in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nakatosa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nakatosa]]
|中土佐町
|193.19
|7,156
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nakatosa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Niyodogawa, Kōchi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Niyodogawa]]
|仁淀川町
|332.96
|5,676
|[[Agawa District, Kōchi|Agawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Niyodogawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ochi, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ochi, Kōchi|Ochi]]
|越知町
|111.58
|5,847
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Ochi in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Okawa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōkawa, Kōchi|Ōkawa]]
|大川村
|95.28
|521
|[[Tosa District, Kōchi|Tosa District]]
|Village
|[[File:Okawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Otoyo, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōtoyo, Kōchi|Ōtoyo]]
|大豊町
|314.94
|4,950
|[[Nagaoka District, Kōchi|Nagaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Otoyo in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Otsuki, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōtsuki, Kōchi|Ōtsuki]]
|大月町
|103.03
|5,719
|[[Hata District, Kōchi|Hata District]]
|Town
|[[File:Otsuki in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Sakawa, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sakawa, Kōchi|Sakawa]]
|佐川町
|101.21
|13,223
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Sakawa in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Shimanto-town, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimanto, Kōchi (town)|Shimanto]]
|四万十町
|642.06
|18,269
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shimanto town in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tano, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tano, Kōchi|Tano]]
|田野町
|6.56
|2,644
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tano in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tosa-town, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tosa, Kōchi (town)|Tosa]]
|土佐町
|212.11
|3,997
|[[Tosa District, Kōchi|Tosa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tosa town in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Toyo, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tōyō, Kōchi|Tōyō]]
|東洋町
|74.09
|2,598
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Toyo in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Tsuno, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsuno, Kōchi|Tsuno]]
|津野町
|197.85
|5,680
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tsuno in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Umaji, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Umaji, Kōchi|Umaji]]
|馬路村
|165.48
|737
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Village
|[[File:Umaji in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yasuda, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yasuda, Kōchi|Yasuda]]
|安田町
|53.03
|2,614
|[[Aki District, Kōchi|Aki District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yasuda in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yusuhara, Kochi.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yusuhara]]
|梼原町
|236.51
|3,640
|[[Takaoka District, Kōchi|Takaoka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yusuhara in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|}
<gallery mode="packed">
File:いの町新町付近 - panoramio.jpg|[[Ino, Kōchi|Ino Town]]
File:くろ鉄奈半利駅からの眺め・南向き - panoramio.jpg|[[Nahari, Kōchi|Nahari Town]]
File:Irino no Matsubara, enkei.jpg|[[Kuroshio, Kōchi|Kuroshio Town]]
File:土佐あかうしの放牧.jpg|[[Motoyama, Kōchi|Motoyama Town]]
File:Yokokurayama07.jpg|[[Ochi, Kōchi|Ochi Town]]
</gallery>

===Mergers===
{{main|List of mergers in Kōchi Prefecture}}

==Tourism==
[[File:Cape Ashizuri - 足摺岬 - panoramio (11).jpg|thumb|right|Cape of Ashizuri]]
[[File:Cape Muroto 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Cape of Muroto]]
[[File:Spring in Shimanto River.jpg|thumb|Shimanto River]]
* [[Aki Castle]] and samurai's residence district called ''Doi Kachū''
* [[Yanase Takashi Memorial Hall|Anpanman Museum]]
* [[Godaisan]]
* [[Katsurahama (beach)|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==

Various movies have been set in Kōchi. These include the following:

The 1993 ''[[Studio Ghibli]]'' movie [[Ocean Waves (film)|Ocean Waves]] (Umi ga Kikoeru).

The 2009 movie ''[[The Harimaya Bridge]]'' starring [[Danny Glover]].<ref name="AltYoda2012">{{cite book|author1=Matt Alt|author2=Hiroko Yoda|author3=Melinda Joe|title=Frommer's? Japan Day by Day|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yBBOgbFI47sC&pg=PA532|date=27 March 2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-90826-6|pages=532}}</ref><ref name="Laemmerhirt2014">{{cite book|author=Iris-Aya Laemmerhirt|title=Embracing Differences: Transnational Cultural Flows between Japan and the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UHqiBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA254|date=March 2014|publisher=transcript Verlag|isbn=978-3-8394-2600-5|pages=254}}</ref>

The 2013 movie Hospitality Department (Kencho Omotenashi Ka),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://otakumode.com/news/5174b304bec5fa0972002de6/Yukiyo-Teramoto-Makes-Short-Insert-Anime-for-ldquo-Prefectural-Office-Hospitality-Department-The-Movie-rdquo|title=Yukiyo Teramoto Makes Short Insert Anime for "Prefectural Office Hospitality Department: The Movie" - Tokyo Otaku Mode News|website=otakumode.com|date=May 2013 }}</ref> which shows views of Kōchi Prefecture.

The 2021 movie [[Belle (2021 film)|Belle]] (Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime).

==Culture==
[[File:Yosakoi Performers at Kochi Yosakoi Matsuri 2008 40.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Yosakoi]]]]

===Food===
Like most areas of Japan, Kōchi advertises itself as specializing in a major food item, often known as ''[[meibutsu]]''. Kōchi's is [[tataki|katsuo no tataki]] – skipjack tuna or [[bonito]] which is lightly seared.<ref name=lafferty>{{cite web | last = Lafferty | first = Jefferey | title=Japan's delicious fire-seared delicacy|url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201015-is-this-the-single-best-food-in-japan| publisher=[[BBC]]|date=2020-10-16}}</ref> 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
*[[Kōchi Fighting Dogs]]
;Football
*[[Kōchi United SC]]

==See also==
*[[Tosa Domain]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC  ''Japan encyclopedia.''] Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition OCLC 58053128]

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/english/}} {{in lang|en}}

{{Kōchi Prefecture}}

{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kochi Prefecture}}
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[[Category:Kōchi Prefecture| ]]
[[Category:Shikoku region]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Japan]]