A classic, once noted Mark Twain wryly, is what everyone wants to have read but nobody wants to read. Thus, Japan has such grand works as the hefty 11th-century "Tale of Genji," which can claim universal respect, but relatively few readers.
One classic, however, that notably defies Twain's dictum is the novel that appeared a century ago this year and quickly became one of the most-read, best-loved works in Japanese literature. "Botchan" brought fame and success to its author, Natsume Soseki, and it also threw the limelight on its setting -- Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku.
The smallest of Japan's four main islands, Shikoku is also its least visited, though this anniversary year of "Botchan" is certain to have seen more visitors than usual to Matsuyama. This spot figured, however, on the tourist map long before "Botchan," or even "Genji" saw the light of day.