Tokushima Prefecture (徳島県, Tokushima-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [to.kɯ̥ꜜ.ɕi.ma, tokɯ̥.ɕiꜜ.ma, to.kɯ̥.ɕi.maꜜ.keɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Tokushima Prefecture has a population of 682,439 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,146 km2 (1,601 sq mi). Tokushima Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the north, Ehime Prefecture to the west, and Kōchi Prefecture to the southwest.
Tokushima is the capital and largest city of Tokushima Prefecture, with other major cities including Anan, Naruto, and Yoshinogawa. Tokushima Prefecture is located on the Kii Channel, connecting the Pacific Ocean and Seto Inland Sea, across from Wakayama Prefecture on the Kii Peninsula of the island of Honshu. Tokushima Prefecture is connected to Awaji Island across the Naruto Strait by the Ōnaruto Bridge as part of the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, connecting the prefecture to the city of Kobe and the San'yō Expressway on Honshu.
History
Until the Meiji Restoration, Tokushima Prefecture was known as Awa Province.
Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture
In ancient times, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun. In the first wave of government consolidation following the abolishment of the fiefdom system and construction of prefectures in 1871, it became known as Myodo Prefecture. At the time, it included the Awa region to the south and the Awaji Island regions as well. In 1873 it further incorporated the region currently occupied by Kagawa Prefecture in its borders.
In the second wave of government consolidation, on September 5, 1875, the Sanuki Region separated to form the modern day Kagawa Prefecture. On August 21, 1876, Awaji Island separated to join Hyōgo Prefecture and the Awa region separated to form Kochi Prefecture.
On March 2, 1880, Myodo Prefecture fully separated from Kochi Prefecture to be inaugurated as Tokushima Prefecture.
Post-war
1945 August – End of World War II. The Washi no Mon gate to Tokushima Castle is destroyed by fire.
1946 December – The Nankai earthquake occurs, causing vast damage throughout the prefecture.
1947 May – Naruto City is inaugurated.
1949 May – Tokushima University is created.
1951 June – Komatsushima City is inaugurated.
1953 November – The Prefectural Library is completed in Tokushima Park
1957 November – The Nagayasuguchi Dam is completed along the Naka River
1958 January – A ferry from Komatsushima to Wakayama sinks. All passengers are lost.
1958 May – Anan City is inaugurated.
1959 April – Shikoku Hoso begins TV broadcasts.
1960 May – A tsunami caused by a quake in Chile causes damage in the prefecture's south.
1961 April – The Short Term Women's College in Tokushima is opened, later reformed into Shikoku University.
1961 July – The Lesser Naruto Bridge is opened in the Lesser Naruto Straits.
1963 April – The Tokushima Municipal Culture Center is completed.
1963 July – A new thermal electric power plant is created in Anan.
1967 January – Construction of the Tokushima Airport terminal is completed.
1970 August – Construction of the Koboke Dam on the Yoshino River is terminated.
1972 January – Use of a railway connecting the towns of Itano and Kamiita is terminated.
1972 July – Construction of Route 11 over the Yoshino River Ohashi is completed.
1973 April – A railway is opened connecting the Mugi and Kaifu regions.
1974 October – Tokushima-born Takeo Miki is elected as Prime Minister of Japan.
1975 March – Construction of the Ikeda Dam over the Yoshino River is completed.
1976 July – A ceremony is held to celebrate the beginning of construction for the Onaruto Bridge.
1981 October – The National University Naruto Kyoiku Daigaku is opened.
1982 August – Ikeda Highschool takes first place in the 64th National Baseball Championships.
1985 March – Use of the Komatsushima trainline is stopped.
1985 – The Onaruto Bridge, connecting Tokushima and Hyōgo Prefectures, is completed.
1989 May – The 40th National Planting Festival is held in the Kamiyama Shirin Park.
1990 January – Plans for a seaside park in Tokushima City are called off.
1990 November – Construction of the Bunka no Mori park area is completed, and the Tokushima Prefectural Library shifts grounds to here.
1991 June – Plans for a resort in the Kurozo Marsh in Ikeda-cho are called off.
1992 March – A railway is opened connecting the Kaifu and Kamoura regions.
1993 August – Route 55 is extended from Komatsushima City down to Anan City.
1993 September – The 48th National Citizen's Athletics Festival, Shikoku East Summer Festival is held conjunctively with Kagawa Prefecture.
1993 October – The East Shikoku Autumna Athletics Festival is held.
1993 October – Construction of Asty Tokushima is completed.
1994 March – The first highway in the prefecture is completed, running from Aizumi to Wakimachi.
1995 January – The Kobe earthquake occurs
1998 March – The Otsuka Museum of Fine Arts is opened.
1998 April – Tokushima and mainland Japan are connected with the completion of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
1999 July – Construction of the Awa Odori Dance Hall is completed.
2000 January – A referendum for building a sluice-gate dam over the Yoshino River is rejected by the citizens.
2000 July – Construction of a second thermal electric power generator is completed within the prefecture.
2000 October – Construction of the Hosokawauchi Dam over the Naka River is terminated.
2001 August – The 13th National Agricultural Youth Exchange takes place.
2002 March – Governor Toshi Endo is arrested under charges of bribery.
2002 October – The Prefectural Calligraphy Hall is opened.
2003 June – The Komatsushima factory for Toyobo is shut down.
2004 October – Yoshinogawa City is inaugurated.
2004 October – The 28th National Planting Festival is held in Kamiyama's Shirin Park.
2004 December – The soccer team Tokushima Vortis enters J2, making the first ever Shikoku J-league team.