#Japan #Japanese Culture #Kochi #Bonito #Tosa Kure

Tosa Kure: The Town That Loves Bonito

In a fascinating survey conducted by the Shingata Katsuo no Kuni Project Council, it has been revealed that Tosa Kure, located in NankTosa Town, Kochi Prefecture, has been crowned as the town with the greatest love for bonito in Japan. The study, which gathered responses from over 45,000 individuals across all 47 prefectures, focused on residents' attachment to and cultural practices surrounding bonito consumption.

Tosa Kure is notable for being a fishing community that has engaged in bonito pole fishing for over 400 years. With a population of approximately 3,706 as of March 2026, the town features a unique synergy of professionals dedicated to fishing, selling, and cooking bonito. The survey results clearly indicated that residents of Tosa Kure showed a significantly higher affection for bonito compared to other regions, confirming the town's reputation as the ultimate bonito haven.

Survey Findings

The survey asked questions about the enjoyment and frequency of bonito consumption among residents. An impressive 81.3% of respondents from Tosa Kure declared they really liked or were very fond of bonito, which is 1.4 times higher than the national average of 59.1%. Moreover, a mere 1.3% reported disliking bonito, marking Tosa Kure as a place where negative attitudes towards the fish are nearly nonexistent.

When it comes to how often residents eat bonito, 39.9% of them eat it at least once a week, a striking contrast to the average of just 5.4% across Japan. In fact, those eating bonito daily represented 4.9% of respondents, far exceeding the national average.

Love for Bonito Preparations

In terms of preferred culinary preparations, 66.1% of residents liked sashimi, and 85.0% favored tataki, another popular dish that emphasizes the freshness and quality of the fish. Interestingly, the consumption of katsuo-bushi (dried bonito flakes) was reported by only 22.5%, indicating a strong preference for enjoying bonito as fresh sashimi or tataki instead.

The Town of Tosa Kure

The local mayor, Hiroko Ikeda, expressed his pride in the survey results, stating that Tosa Kure's deep-rooted history of bonito appreciation showcases the extraordinary quality and freshness that can be experienced here. Mayor Ikeda not only advocates for the town's culture but embodies the spirit of