Kagawa

• Introduction
• Chapter 1 The Ancient Origins of Kagawa
• Chapter 2 The Rise of the Sanuki Province
• Chapter 3 Kagawa in the Heian Period
• Chapter 4 The Samurai and the Medieval Era
• Chapter 5 The Unification of Japan and Kagawa’s Role
• Chapter 6 The Edo Period: Stability and Culture
• Chapter 7 The Meiji Restoration and Modernization
• Chapter 8 Kagawa in the Taisho and Early Showa Eras
• Chapter 9 World War II and Its Impact on Kagawa
• Chapter 10 Postwar Reconstruction and Recovery
• Chapter 11 The Economic Miracle and Industrial Growth
• Chapter 12 Agriculture and the Udon Tradition
• Chapter 13 The Cultural Heritage of Kagawa
• Chapter 14 Religion and Spirituality in the Region
• Chapter 15 Education and Intellectual Life
• Chapter 16 Transportation and Infrastructure Development
• Chapter 17 The Natural Environment and Geography
• Chapter 18 Festivals and Local Traditions
• Chapter 19 Kagawa in the Bubble Economy and Beyond
• Chapter 20 Demographic Changes and Urbanization
• Chapter 21 Tourism and the Seto Inland Sea
• Chapter 22 Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities
• Chapter 23 Kagawa in the 21st Century
• Chapter 24 The Future of Kagawa
• Chapter 25 Reflections on Kagawa’s Legacy

Kagawa Prefecture occupies a singular place in the Japanese imagination. It is the nation's smallest prefecture by area, yet its cultural, spiritual, and economic contributions to the story of Japan far exceed its modest geographic footprint. Nestled on the northeastern shore of Shikoku, facing the tranquil waters of the Seto Inland Sea, Kagawa has served for millennia as a gateway—between island and mainland, between ancient tradition and modern innovation, between the earthly and the divine. This book, Kagawa: A History of Kagawa, endeavors to trace the full arc of that remarkable story, from the earliest traces of human settlement to the complex realities of life in the twenty-first century.

To write a history of Kagawa is, in many respects, to write a history of Japan in miniature. The region's journey mirrors the broader national narrative in striking ways: the emergence of provincial identity in the shadow of imperial power, the turbulence of medieval warfare, the long peace of the Edo era and its flowering of local culture, the wrenching transformations of the Meiji Restoration, the devastation and renewal of the postwar decades, and the quiet anxieties of an aging, depopulating society in the contemporary age. Yet Kagawa has never been merely a passive reflection of national trends. Its people—the Sanuki folk, as they have long been known—have consistently shaped their own destiny, drawing on the region's distinctive geography, its maritime connections, and a fierce local pride that persists to this day.

The name "Sanuki" still resonates with a meaning that "Kagawa" alone cannot fully capture. For centuries, this was a province unto itself, with its own dialect, its own customs, and its own sense of place within the Japanese archipelago. The transition from province to prefecture during the Meiji era was more than an administrative reorganization; it was a fundamental reimagining of how this corner of Shikoku related to the modern Japanese state. Throughout this book, we attend carefully to the tension between local identity and national integration—a tension that animates much of Kagawa's history and that remains alive in contemporary debates about regional revitalization, cultural preservation, and economic sustainability.

No history of Kagawa would be complete without reckoning with the spiritual dimensions of life in the region. Kagawa is home to the 88 Temple Pilgrimage, one of the most sacred circuits in Japanese Buddhism, which draws thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year across the landscapes of Shikoku. The pilgrimage's roots in the life and legend of Kūkai, known posthumously as Kōbō Daishi, have imbued Kagawa and the wider island with a spiritual gravity that transcends denominational boundaries. Temples, shrines, and sacred sites dot the prefecture, and the rhythms of religious observance have shaped agricultural calendars, festival life, and community bonds for centuries. At the same time, Kagawa's religious landscape is not frozen in the past; it continues to evolve, responding to declining temple populations, shifting patterns of belief, and the creative adaptations of local communities seeking to keep tradition vital.

Equally central to Kagawa's identity is its relationship with the land and the sea. The Seto Inland Sea, with its scattered islands, gentle climate, and rich fishing grounds, has been the lifeblood of the region since prehistoric times. The mountainous terrain of Kagawa's interior, while limiting in arable land, has fostered ingenuity and resilience among its inhabitants. Agriculture—most famously the cultivation of wheat that underpins the region's celebrated udon culture—has defined daily life and economic activity for generations. The story of Kagawa's agriculture is not one of mere subsistence; it is a story of adaptation, specialization, and the forging of a culinary tradition that has become synonymous with the prefecture itself, drawing visitors from across Japan and beyond.

This book is intended for a broad readership. Whether you are a scholar seeking a comprehensive overview, a traveler preparing to explore Kagawa's temples and coastlines, a resident curious about the deeper history of your home, or simply a reader drawn to the richness of regional Japanese history, the pages that follow aim to offer both depth and accessibility. The twenty-five chapters of this volume move chronologically through time while also weaving in thematic threads—culture, religion, economy, environment, and identity—that give the narrative coherence and texture. Each chapter stands on its own, yet together they form a continuous story, one that reveals how a small prefecture on a quiet sea has played an outsize role in the making of Japan.

We begin, as all histories must, at the beginning—with the ancient origins of the land itself and the first peoples who called it home. From there, we travel through centuries of change and continuity, arriving finally at a reflection on what Kagawa's legacy means not only for its residents but for all who seek to understand the intricate, layered, and endlessly fascinating story of this island nation. It is our hope that this book will deepen your appreciation for Kagawa and, through it, for the broader currents of history that have shaped the world we inhabit today.

The land that now forms Kagawa Prefecture emerged from the complex interplay of tectonic forces that shaped the Japanese archipelago millions of years ago. Situated on the northeastern fringe of Shikoku, the region’s topography is defined by low mountain ranges that run roughly parallel to the Seto Inland Sea, creating a sheltered maritime environment. These mountains, though not exceptionally high, have influenced weather patterns, soil development, and the distribution of early human activity. The sea itself, a calm, brackish body dotted with numerous islands, provided a stable marine resource base that attracted settlers long before rice cultivation took hold. Understanding Kagawa’s ancient past begins with recognizing how its geography offered both constraints and opportunities for the first inhabitants.

During the Paleolithic era, which in Japan spans from roughly 40,000 to 14,000 years ago, hunter‑gatherers roamed the Japanese islands in pursuit of megafauna such as deer, boar, and the now‑extinct Naumann’s elephant. While direct evidence of Paleolithic sites within modern Kagawa is scarce, the broader Seto Inland Sea region has yielded stone tools that suggest seasonal exploitation of coastal and forest resources. These early peoples likely moved along the shoreline, taking advantage of shellfish beds and the migratory patterns of fish. Their presence left behind only faint traces—flaked stone implements and occasional hearth remnants—yet they set the stage for more settled ways of life that would follow.

The transition to the Jomon period, beginning around 14,000 BCE, marked a significant shift toward sedentism, characterized by the production of distinctive cord‑marked pottery. In Kagawa, Jomon sites have been uncovered primarily along the fertile plains of the Sanuki region and near river mouths such as the Shinano and Kōtoku basins. Excavations reveal pit dwellings, shell middens, and stone tools indicative of a diversified economy that relied on hunting, fishing, gathering, and the early cultivation of wild plants. The abundance of marine shells in these middens underscores the importance of the Seto Inland Sea as a source of protein, while the presence of obsidian from distant sources hints at exchange networks that linked Kagawa to other parts of western Japan.

Jomon pottery from Kagawa displays regional variations that reflect both local aesthetic preferences and functional adaptations. Vessels tend to be deep‑bowled with elaborate cord impressions, suitable for storing liquids and fermented foods, while smaller jars suggest individual consumption. The decorative motifs sometimes incorporate motifs resembling waves or fish, possibly reflecting the maritime orientation of the communities. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal from hearths places the peak of Jomon activity in Kagawa between 5,000 and 3,000 BCE, a period when the climate was relatively warm and wet, fostering rich forest growth and productive coastal ecosystems.

As the Jomon era waned, the arrival of Yayoi culture around 900 BCE introduced new agricultural technologies that would transform the landscape. Originating from the Korean Peninsula, Yayoi peoples brought wet‑rice cultivation, iron tools, and a more stratified social structure. In Kagawa, the limited expanses of flat, irrigable land meant that rice paddies were concentrated in the alluvial plains along the major rivers, particularly in the northern part of the prefecture around present‑day Takamatsu and Marugame. The adoption of rice farming allowed for surplus production, which in turn supported larger, more permanent settlements and the emergence of rudimentary political centers.

Archaeological evidence of Yayoi settlement in Kagawa includes the remains of ditched enclosures, raised-floor storehouses, and iron implements such as axes and sickles. Notably, the site of Kōtoku‑shi has yielded a concentration of Yayoi pottery featuring the characteristic smooth surfaces and geometric patterns distinct from Jomon cord marks. These finds indicate that Kagawa was integrated into the broader Yayoi network that stretched across northern Kyushu, the Kansai region, and eastern Shikoku. The presence of imported bronze artifacts, though rare, further suggests that the area participated in long‑distance exchange, possibly obtaining prestige items from the Asian mainland.

The Yayoi period also saw the development of burial practices that reflected growing social differentiation. While simple pit graves remained common, some individuals were interred in larger, more elaborate tombs accompanied by grave goods such as mirrors, beads, and weaponry. These disparities hint at the emergence of elite lineages that could control agricultural surplus and coordinate labor for public works. In Kagawa, the distribution of such tombs tends to cluster near the fertile valleys, reinforcing the link between rice agriculture and social hierarchy.

By the close of the Yayoi era, around 300 CE, the Kofun period began, ushering in an age marked by the construction of massive keyhole‑shaped burial mounds, or kofun, that dominated the landscape. Although the most famous kofun clusters are found in the Kansai region, Shikoku also possesses its own assemblage, and Kagawa is no exception. Several kofun have been identified on the low hills overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, their silhouettes visible from the water and serving as territorial markers for powerful local clans. These mounds often contained wooden coffins, bronze mirrors, iron weapons, and occasionally, imported goods such as glass beads from the Asian continent.

The construction of kofun required coordinated labor, suggesting the existence of a polity capable of organizing large‑scale projects. In Kagawa, the scale of the mounds is modest compared to those of Yamato, yet they reflect a similar ideological framework: the assertion of divine authority and the embodiment of ancestral power. The placement of these tombs along coastal ridges allowed the elite to oversee maritime routes, monitor fishing grounds, and control access to the inland valleys. This strategic positioning underscores the importance of both land and sea in the political economy of early Kagawa.

Artifacts recovered from Kagawa’s kofun provide insight into the cultural connections of the period. Bronze mirrors inscribed with Chinese characters indicate contact with the continent, either directly or through intermediaries in Kyushu. Iron tools and weaponry demonstrate advances in metallurgy that improved agricultural efficiency and military capability. Pottery from the kofun contexts shows a continuation of Yayoi styles but with new forms such as haji ware, which was fired at higher temperatures and used for both utilitarian and ritual purposes. These material clues paint a picture of a society that was simultaneously rooted in local tradition and open to external influences.

Settlement patterns during the Kofun period reveal a expansion beyond the riverine plains into the foothills and upland areas. Archaeological surveys have identified numerous pit dwellings and raised-floor structures in areas that were previously underutilized, suggesting that population pressure or the search for new arable land prompted movement into higher elevations. Terrace farming techniques may have been employed to cultivate millet, barley, and other dry crops on slopes unsuitable for rice. This adaptability highlights the resilience of Kagawa’s early inhabitants in making productive use of a varied landscape.

The spiritual life of Kagawa’s ancient communities is less directly observable than material culture, yet clues emerge from the arrangement of burial sites and the presence of ritual objects. Many kofun are oriented toward specific celestial events, such as the sunrise on the summer solstice, suggesting a cosmological framework that linked the dead to cosmic cycles. Figurines depicting animals or humans, sometimes found in tombs, may have served as guardians or offerings to deities. The prevalence of bronze mirrors, which in later periods were associated with Shinto rites, hints at early forms of ancestor veneration that would later evolve into the region’s rich shrine tradition.

By the end of the Kofun period, around 538 CE, the foundations for a more centralized state were being laid across the Japanese archipelago, influenced by the introduction of Buddhism and the adoption of Chinese administrative models. In Kagawa, the transition from clan‑based polity to integration into the emerging Yamato state was gradual. Local leaders likely retained considerable autonomy while acknowledging the supraregional authority of the Yamato court, especially as trade and diplomatic missions increased along the Seto Inland Sea routes. The region’s ports became waypoints for envoys traveling between Kyushu and the capital, facilitating the flow of goods, ideas, and religious practices.

The introduction of Buddhism to Kagawa, though not as early as in Nara or Kyoto, left a lasting imprint that would shape the region’s religious landscape for centuries. Early Buddhist temples, likely modest wooden structures, began to appear in the sixth and seventh centuries, often sited near existing clan strongholds or along major roads. These temples served not only as places of worship but also as centers of learning, where monks copied sutras and transmitted knowledge of medicine, astronomy, and engineering. The presence of Buddhist artifacts, such as bronze bells and stone statues, from this period attests to the gradual permeation of new spiritual currents into the local milieu.

Concurrently, indigenous Shinto practices continued to thrive, rooted in the worship of kami associated with natural features such as mountains, rivers, and the sea. Shrines dedicated to deities like Ōmononushi, linked to Mount Shōdo, and various sea kami became focal points for community gatherings and seasonal festivals. The coexistence of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines created a religious syncretism that characterizes much of Japanese spirituality, and Kagawa’s early sites exemplify this blend. Pilgrimage routes that would later form part of the Shikoku 88‑Temple Pilgrimage began to take shape as monks traveled between these sacred places, establishing a network of spiritual travel that linked the prefecture to the broader island.

Agricultural innovation persisted throughout these formative centuries. While rice remained the cornerstone of the diet, the cultivation of wheat, barley, and millet supplemented food security, especially in areas where irrigation was challenging. The development of specialized tools, such as iron plows and sickles, increased yields and reduced labor demands. Furthermore, the region’s coastal fisheries flourished, with techniques for netting, trapping, and drying fish becoming more sophisticated. Shellfish cultivation, particularly of clams and oysters, also appears in archaeological middens, indicating an early form of aquaculture that contributed to the local economy.

Trade and exchange played a vital role in Kagawa’s ancient prosperity. The Seto Inland Sea functioned as a maritime highway, connecting the island of Shikoku with Honshu, Kyushu, and even distant ports via the Kuroshio Current. Goods such as salt, produced in the shallow tidal flats, were highly prized and exported to inland regions lacking access to marine resources. In return, Kagawa received commodities like silk, ceramics, and metalwork from the Asian mainland and other Japanese provinces. The movement of people—merchants, monks, and envoys—facilitated cultural diffusion, allowing ideas about governance, technology, and religion to circulate freely.

Environmental changes also influenced the trajectory of ancient Kagawa. Pollen analysis from lake cores indicates fluctuations in forest composition, with periods of expansion of evergreen broadleaf trees alternating with phases dominated by pine and cedar, reflecting shifts in climate and human activity. Episodes of increased charcoal deposition suggest periods of intensified land clearance, possibly linked to agricultural expansion or settlement growth. These data reveal that the inhabitants were not passive occupants but active agents who modified their surroundings through deforestation, terracing, and the management of water resources.

The legacy of Kagawa’s ancient origins is embedded in the landscape itself: the distribution of place names that derive from old Japanese terms for wetlands, harbors, and hilltops; the presence of ancient roadways that followed ridgelines and valley floors; and the enduring cultural practices that trace their roots to Jomon foraging, Yayoi farming, and Kofun ancestor veneration. Though the written record from these early periods is sparse, the material remnants—pottery shards, stone tools, burial mounds, and temple foundations—offer a tangible connection to the lives of those who first called this corner of Shikoku home. Their adaptations to the sea‑bound setting, their ingenuity in cultivating limited arable land, and their spiritual engagement with the natural world laid the groundwork for the distinctive identity that Kagawa would continue to cultivate throughout the ages.