Nationwide Survey of 45,000 People Reveals Tosa Kure (Nakatosacho, Kochi) as the 'No. 1 Bonito-Loving Town' in Japan!

The 'Shin Katsuonokuni Project' Promotion Committee (headed by Mayor Hiromitsu Ikeda of Nakatosacho) conducted a survey on 'Affection for Bonito and Bonito Food Culture' among residents of Tosa Kure (Nakatosacho, Kochi) and general consumers across all 47 prefectures in Japan, receiving 45,368 valid responses.

As a result, Tosa Kure ranked top in both 'Affection for Bonito' (the percentage of those who answered 'Like' or 'Very Much Like') and the frequency of eating bonito, officially making it the 'No. 1 Bonito-Loving Town in Japan.'

Moving forward, the committee hopes this data will help more people discover the charm of Tosa Kure and its bonito food culture.

### What is 'Bonito Town' Tosa Kure?
Tosa Kure, located in Nakatosacho in central-western Kochi, is a fishing town with a population of 3,706 (as of March 2026). The town has maintained a tradition of pole-and-line bonito fishing for over 400 years. It is home to professionals in 'catching,' 'selling,' and 'eating,' and is famous as a place where even Kochi locals travel specifically for high-quality bonito.

### Comment from Mayor Hiromitsu Ikeda of Nakatosacho
'The result of being "No. 1 in Bonito Love" is exactly what I expected. Tosa Kure is a town that has loved, appraised, and savored bonito throughout its long history. Bonito is a unique fish where the flavor can vary greatly regardless of freshness. I believe many Japanese people have yet to experience the true taste of bonito. In our town, professional fishermen catch them one by one, and expert craftsmen prepare only the best. As a chef myself, I serve as a "Bonito Ambassador," traveling nationwide to let people taste its true deliciousness. I sincerely hope everyone visits Nakatosacho to enjoy the finest bonito in Tosa Kure.'

Mayor Ikeda is known for his 'Bonito Diplomacy,' carrying his own knives to promote the town's pride.

### Survey Summary

**1. Survey for Tosa Kure Residents**
- Targets: 1,000 men and women aged 20-75 in the Kure district.
- Valid responses: 386.
- Period: November 2025.
- Method: Mail and internet survey based on age demographics.

**2. Nationwide Survey across 47 Prefectures**
- Targets: 47,000 people (1,000 per prefecture) aged 20-75.
- Valid responses: 44,982.
- Period: February to March 2026.
- Method: Internet survey using the research tool 'freeasy.'

### Key Findings
- When asked, 'Do you like eating bonito?', 81.3% in Tosa Kure said 'Like' or 'Very Much Like,' the highest among all surveyed regions. This is 1.4 times the national average (59.1%). Only 1.3% said they 'Disliked' it, showing it is a town where almost no one dislikes bonito.
- Regarding frequency, 39.9% in Tosa Kure eat bonito 'Daily' or 'Weekly,' significantly higher than the national average (5.4%). The 'Daily' rate in Tosa Kure (4.9%) is 5.4 times the national average.
- Preferred ways of eating: Tosa Kure topped the list for 'Sashimi' (66.1%) and 'Tataki' (85.0%), while ranking lowest for 'Bonito Flakes' (22.5%). This confirms that Tosa Kure's food culture is centered on raw consumption.