The name of this prefecture means "fragrant river," and there is a reference in the Shoku Nihongi annal of 767 of a Kagawa county. One explanation for the name is that there was a Kabakawa ("Birch River"), along which there was an old birch tree that gave the water from nearby springs a special aroma, which in turn was transmitted to the river, making it fragrant.
Total Area
Takamatsu City: 194,04 km2
Kagawa Pref.: 1,882.60 km2
Population
Takamatsu City: ~ 330,997
Kagawa Pref.: ~ 1,027,004
Major Industries
Tourism
Fishing
Agriculture
Petrochemical
Shipbuilding
Major Products
Food
Petroleum, coal products
Metal products
Electric machinery
Transportation equip.
Geography The smallest prefecture in Japan, Kagawa is the eastern of the two upper "humps" of Shikoku island. In the south, the Sanuki mountain range, which descends into the Sanuki Plain. The northern border is the Seto Inland Sea, and the prefecture boasts about 690 km of coastline.
Climate As with most of Shikoku, the temperature is mild. Kagawa's average annual rainfall is about 1,150mm. Wettest season is from June to July.
