Native name: 小豆島 | |
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  Shōdoshima | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Seto Inland Sea,Japan |
| Coordinates | 34°30′49″N134°17′08″E / 34.51361°N 134.28556°E /34.51361; 134.28556 |
| Area | 153.30 km2 (59.19 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Kagawa Prefecture |
| District | Shōzu District |
Shōdoshima orShōdo Island (小豆島,Shōdoshima) is an island located in theInland Sea ofJapan. The name means "Island ofSmall Beans". There are two towns on the island:Tonoshō andShōdoshima, composing the district ofShōzu.
The island is famous as the setting for the novelTwenty-Four Eyes and its subsequent film adaptations and the mangaTeasing Master Takagi-san and its adaptations. The island was the first area of Japan to successfully growolives, and it is sometimes known as "Olive Island".[1]
Shōdoshima is part ofKagawa Prefecture and is located north of the prefectural capitalTakamatsu. It has an area of 153.30 km2 (59.19 sq mi) and a coastline of 126 km (78 mi). It is the23rd largest island in Japan, and the second largest in theSeto Inland Sea.[2]
Shōdoshima is home to Dofuchi Strait, the world's narrowest strait, 9.93 m (32.58 ft) meters at its narrowest.
Frequent ferries run to the island from Takamatsu,Himeji,Teshima andOkayama. Ferries run infrequently toOsaka andKōbe as well.[3]
Shōdoshima was once known as Azuki-shima and was part ofKibi (laterBizen) Province, given toSanuki Province, and finally made part of Kagawa prefecture.
Shōdoshima is a popular destination for domestic tourism in Japan. In addition to natural features such as the Dobuchi Strait, the Angel Road, Shōdoshima Olive Park and theKanka Gorge, Shōdoshima is famous as the setting for the antiwar novelTwenty-Four Eyes, written by the native authorSakae Tsuboi and later turned twice into a film (1954 and 1987), as well as a television special.[4][5] The island is the birthplace of two other distinguished writers: Sakae's husband the poetShigeji Tsuboi and the novelist and short-story writerDenji Kuroshima. All three were prominent participants in the proletarian literary movement, an important and politically radical current within modern Japanese literature.
Shōdoshima is also known for its olives, soy sauce, wild monkeys, and beaches. In addition, tourists are attracted to a miniature version of the 88-templeShikoku Pilgrimage.
The island is also famous for being the first in Japan to successfully cultivate olives. Olive trees proliferate on the island and olive-related merchandise is quite popular with tourists.[1]Milos,Greece, is Shōdoshima's sister island.
The island is the setting for the mangaTeasing Master Takagi-san and its adaptations. Native creatorSōichirō Yamamoto was raised inTonoshō Town.[6]
The island's mascot isOlive Shima-chan (Japanese:オリーブしまちゃん), who is an olive-shaped prince whose task is to find secret spots of the island and to taste test olive oil for quality. He likes white rice. His birthday is on August 15. He is assisted by Mimozanoriku-chan and Rukkarukka.
The Shodoshima Olive Park is the recreation of the fictionalGuchokipanya (lit. 'rock-scissors-paper') Bakery from the2014 live-action adaptation of the novelKiki's Delivery Service. The park was the preserved set of the said film. The park was reported to attracted nearly 300,000 visitors by 2023.[2]
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