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| The sign reads "Town of Katsuo-Bonito-Fish, This is USA". Usa (u-sa) is indeed the name of the town, which is located in Kochi prefecture in Shikoku Island, Japan. The beautiful coast line called the Black Current Line, or Kuroshio-Line, is well-known for the steep mountains that surround numerous isolated beaches and ports. | |
| December in Kochi is not exactly as cold as in Tokyo. The mountains are still green and the colored leaves of poisonous scarlet sumac reflect the bright sunshine. Underneath, wild leopord plant spreads its shiny massive leaves on the ground and extends the stems and brilliant flowers. The songs of black kites seem to increase serenity in this quiet place. | |
| Shown in the photo are scarlet sumac and green pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira, Pittosporaceae). The scarlet sumac (Rhus succedanea, Anacardiaceae) is closely related to the lacquer tree (Rhus verniciflua) whose sap is used as a coating material ('urushi'). Both species have pinnate leaves which turn red in Autumn. | |
| High above in the air, the black kites (Milvus migrans lineatus, Accipitridae, Falconiforms) glide in circle, gradually going upward using the air current. The black kite has a square tail and white spots under the flight feather. The black kites in Japan are migratory. M. m. milvus, which is an European species, is closely related to M. m. lineatus. | |
| The leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum, Asteraceae) grows in shady places near coast. The wax coated reniform leaves protect the plants from the draught and insects. There are many cultivated species of this plant which are used to decorate shady gardens. Fibrous brown hair covers its stem. |
⇒ Go to Welcome to Usa, Kochi page
