Geography and culture

Tucked away in the mountainous interior of Shikoku Island lies a small but significant town—Tosa-Yamada, in Kami City, Kochi Prefecture. This is where tradition, nature, and craftsmanship converge. Understanding the geography and cultural fabric of this area offers deep insight into the soul of the community here.

A land of mountains, rivers, and sunshine

Kochi Prefecture sits in the southern part of Shikoku, the fourth largest island in Japan. Known widely as a “sea country,” Kochi stretches from the vast Pacific Ocean to the high ridges of the Shikoku Mountains. Don’t be misled by its long coastline—Kochi is one of Japan’s most mountainous prefectures, with peaks and steep terrain dominating 89% of its land, the highest proportion in the nation. In stark contrast to the national average of 66% mountainous terrain, this rugged topography leaves only 16% of the land habitable.

The geography shapes life here in countless ways. Much of the land is built upon sedimentary rock layers known as the Shimanto Belt, making landslides a constant concern. However, these very mountains also give rise to rich, clear rivers such as the Shimanto, Niyodo, and Yoshino—each with an abundance of clean water that supports both ecosystems and human livelihoods. These rivers have also recently become popular for canoeing and outdoor recreation, attracting a new generation of nature enthusiasts.

Thanks to the warming influence of the Japan Current, Kochi enjoys a relatively mild climate, even in winter. But it also finds itself in the path of frequent typhoons—second only to Kagoshima Prefecture in typhoon landings since 1951. On the brighter side, Kochi basks in more than 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, often ranking among Japan’s sunniest regions. This sun, however, is balanced by a significant amount of rain. In the mountainous regions, rainfall can exceed 3,000 mm annually, reaching an astonishing 4,100 mm in places like Yanase—some of the highest precipitation levels in the whole country.

Kami City: A cultural crossroads in the mountains

Amid this dramatic landscape lies Kami City, a region with a strong heritage of craftsmanship and local industry. In the town of Tosa-Yamada, the natural resources of the surrounding mountains—timber, charcoal, and clean spring water—have historically supported thriving trades. Traditional industries such as sericulture, Tosa washi paper making, indigo dyeing, and the crafting of Tosa-uchi knives found a home here, giving rise to a unique blend of rural innovation and artisanal expertise.

This region’s bounty is also reflected in its cuisine. The local diet includes an impressive range of ingredients—from wild mountain vegetables and game meats to sweetfish and seafood caught in nearby rivers and oceans. Many local dishes are flavoured with citrus-based vinegars, particularly those made with yuzu, a fragrant Japanese citrus fruit well suited to Kochi’s sunny, temperate climate.

Today, Tosa-Yamada is home to a modest population of around 19,000, but its influence—historically and culturally—extends far beyond its size.