Flag of Kochi
Officially Kochi Prefecture
Locally Kōchi-ken · 高知県
What the flag looks like
A white ring on a dark red field, with a red blade pointing up into its center: 土 (to), とさ (Tosa) and コ (ko) combined.
What it means
土 and とさ stand for Tosa, the old province, and コ for Kōchi; the blade points upward for progress, and the ring stands for peace and cooperation.
How to remember it
Kochi's
white ring on dark red has a blade pointing up inside it; Kumamoto's
white ring is open at the left.
Fun facts
- Sakamoto Ryōma, a hero of the Meiji Restoration, was born in Kōchi.
- The Shimanto River is often called the last clear stream in Japan.
Kochi at a glance
- Type
- Prefecture (ken)
- Island
- Shikoku
- Capital
- Kōchi
- Region
- Shikoku
- Population
- 643,437
- Area
- 7,104 km²
- Languages
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese yen (¥)
- Flag adopted
- 1953
Flags often confused with Kochi
- Kumamoto: Kochi and Kumamoto both have a white ring on dark red. Kochi's ring is closed with a red blade pointing up inside; Kumamoto's is a ク with a flat side open toward the hoist.