Kōchi, Kōchi

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Lore & Background

Kōchi was originally settled as a castle town around Kōchi Castle, built in 1601 by Yamauchi Kazutoyo to replace the earlier seats of the Chōsokabe clan. The city takes its name from that of the castle. During the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi became famous as a centre of pro-imperial ideology, and later for incubating democratic and human rights movements. The city was incorporated on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Tram service began on May 2, 1904, and the city was connected to the national rail network on November 12, 1951. On July 3, 1945, at 6:22 pm (JST), 129 aircraft took off to bomb Kōchi. 1,060 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped, destroying 48% of the built up areas of the city, killing 401 civilians and rendering over 40,000 homeless. The city was designated as the first core city on Shikoku on April 1, 1998. It expanded through mergers: the villages of Kagami and Tosayama on January 1, 2005, and the town of Haruno on January 1, 2008. Kōchi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 42 members. The current mayor since 2023 is Ryugo Kuwana. The city is home to two universities, Kōchi University (national) and University of Kochi (prefectural). Its most famous dish is katsuo tataki, made by lightly searing and seasoning bonito.

Reader's Guide

Kōchi's significance lies in its role as the political, commercial, and industrial hub of Kōchi Prefecture, holding over 40% of the prefectural population. Its history as a castle town under the Tosa Domain and its later prominence in pro-imperial and democratic movements during the Meiji period mark it as a key site in Japanese regional history. The city's survival and reconstruction after the devastating 1945 air raid, which destroyed 48% of built-up areas and killed 401 civilians, underscore its resilience. Kōchi's designation as the first core city on Shikoku in 1998 reflects its administrative importance. Culturally, the city is known for the Yosakoi festival held in August, its Sunday street markets close to a kilometre in length, and the preserved Kōchi Castle, which still exists in its pre-restoration form. Notable figures from Kōchi include Sakamoto Ryōma (1836–1867), samurai and politician, and botanist Tomitaro Makino (1862–1957). The city's wet subtropical climate is the most typhoon-prone of Japan's major cities, and has twice received over 50 cm of rainfall in a day from a typhoon. Its urban character is shaped by the tram service run by Tosaden Kōtsū and JR Shikoku's Dosan Line. Its legacy is that of a regional capital that balances historical heritage with modern governance and economic activity.

Did You Know?

• Kōchi has twice received over 50 cm (20 in) of rainfall in a single day from a typhoon.
• The city's tram service began on May 2, 1904, making it one of Japan's older tram systems.
• Kōchi was the first city on Shikoku to be designated as a core city, on April 1, 1998.
• The Yosakoi festival, held in August, features thousands of dancers performing at various places around the city.
• The city's most famous dish, katsuo tataki, is made by lightly searing and seasoning bonito.