Shōdoshima, Kagawa

Shōdoshima (小豆島町, Shōdoshima-chō) is a town in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, with a population of 13,646.[2] The town was established in 2006 and covers various ports and communities on the eastern half of Shōdoshima, the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea.[3] Shōdoshima is roughly halfway between the much larger islands of Shikoku to the south and Honshu to the north, and has a mild and relatively dry climate.

This article is about the town. For the island, see Shōdoshima.
Shōdoshima
小豆島町
Town
Clockwise from top: Bay looking south from Olive Park, soy sauce warehouse, Kankakei Gorge
Flag
Seal
Location of Shōdoshima in Kagawa Prefecture
Shōdoshima
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°29′N 134°14′E
CountryJapan
RegionShikoku
PrefectureKagawa Prefecture
DistrictShōzu
Government
 • MayorIchirō Sakashita
Area
[1]
 • Total95.59 km2 (36.91 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total13,646
 • Density140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address2100-4 Ikeda, Shōdoshima-chō, Shōzu-gun, Kagawa-ken
761-4388
Websitewww.town.shodoshima.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerOlive
TreeOlive

Soy sauce production, which flourished through the early 20th century, remains a major industry.[4] Other industries include sōmen noodles, tsukudani (made with soy sauce), fishing and agriculture.[5] In Japan, olives were first successfully cultivated here in the 1910s[6] and olive oil production resurged in the late 20th century.[7]

Tourism is also economically important.[5] Shodoshima participates in the Setouchi Triennale, a regional art festival,[8] and the mountainous interior is home to Kankakei Gorge. The book and film Twenty-Four Eyes was set on the island, and a movie studio park and museum attracts visitors.[5]

Notable locations

The town of Shōdoshima was created in 2006 by merging the former towns of Ikeda and Uchinomi, both from Shōzu District.[3] The total area is 95.59 km²,[1] and covers the entire eastern half of the island of Shōdoshima. Notable communities and locations include:

  • Kankakei Gorge
  • Sakate, a port in the southeast
  • Kusakabe, a port and community, with soy sauce production concentrated to the east
  • Olive Park/Olive Garden, olive orchards and tourist sites
  • Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Studio, a tourist site for the book and film Twenty-Four Eyes

References
  1. "Areas of Prefectures, Cities, etc. (in Japanese)". Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. January 1, 2021. p. 64. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  2. "Population Statistics, Kagawa Prefecture [in Japanese]". Kagawa Prefecture. September 1, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  3. "Outline of Shodoshima Town [in Japanese]". Shodoshima Town. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. "History". Shodoshima Soy Sauce. Shodoshima Shoyu Association.
  5. "導入促進基本計画 [Basic Industry Promotion Plan] (in Japanese)". Shodoshima Town. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. "The Oldest Olive (in Japanese)". Olive Garden. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  7. "Olives [in Japanese]". Shodoshima Town. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  8. "Shodoshima". Art Setouchi. Retrieved 1 April 2021.


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