Ehime Prefecture

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Ehime Prefecture 愛媛県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	愛媛県
• Rōmaji	Ehime-ken
Flag Emblem
Country	Japan
Region	Shikoku
Island	Shikoku
Capital	Matsuyama
Subdivisions	Districts: 7, Municipalities: 20
Government
• Governor	Tokihiro Nakamura (since December 2010)
Area
• Total	5,676.23 km2 (2,191.60 sq mi)
Area rank	26th
Population  (June 1, 2019)
• Total	1,342,011
• Rank	26th
• Density	240/km2 (610/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-38
Website	www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.html
Symbols Mammal Japanese river otter ("Lutra lutra whiteleyi")[1][2] Bird Japanese robin (Erithacus akahige)[1] Fish Red sea bream (Pagrus major)[1] Flower Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)[1] Tree Pine (Pinus)[1]

Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県, Ehime-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.^[3] Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,342,011 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 5,676 km² (2,191 sq mi). Ehime Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the northeast, Tokushima Prefecture to the east, and Kōchi Prefecture to the southeast.

Matsuyama is the capital and largest city of Ehime Prefecture and the largest city on Shikoku, with other major cities including Imabari, Niihama, and Saijō.^[4]

History[]

Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime Prefecture was known as Iyo Province.^[5] Since before the Heian period, the area was dominated by fishermen and sailors who played an important role in defending Japan against pirates and Mongolian invasions.

After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Tokugawa shōgun gave the area to his allies, including Katō Yoshiaki who built Matsuyama Castle, forming the basis for the modern city of Matsuyama.

The name Ehime comes from the kuniumi part of the Kojiki where Iyo Province is mythologically named Ehime, "lovely princess".^[6]

In 2012, a research group from the University of Tokyo and Ehime University said they had discovered rare earth deposits in Matsuyama.^[7]

Geography[]

Located in the northwestern part of Shikoku, Ehime faces the Seto Inland Sea to the north and is bordered by Kagawa and Tokushima in the east and Kōchi in the south.

The prefecture includes both high mountains in the inland region and a long coastline, with many islands in the Seto Inland Sea. The westernmost arm of Ehime, the Sadamisaki Peninsula, is the narrowest peninsula in Japan.

As of 31 March 2020, 7 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Ashizuri-Uwakai and Setonaikai National Parks; Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park; and Hijikawa, Kinshako, Okudōgo Tamagawa, Sadamisaki Hantō-Uwakai, Saragamine Renpō, Sasayama, and Shikoku Karst Prefectural Natural Parks.^[8]

Cities[]

Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture:

Name		Area (km2)	Population	Map
Rōmaji	Kanji
Imabari	今治市	419.56	172,384
Iyo	伊予市	194.44	37,982
Matsuyama (capital)	松山市	429.4	509,835
Niihama	新居浜市	234.3	125,711
Ōzu	大洲市	432.24	42,655
Saijō	西条市	509.07	113,786
Seiyo	西予市	514.78	42,600
Shikokuchūō	四国中央市	421.24	83,918
Tōon	東温市	211.45	33,540
Uwajima	宇和島市	469.48	86,631
Yawatahama	八幡浜市	133.03	38,307

Towns and villages[]

These are the towns in each district:

Name		Area (km2)	Population	District	Map
Rōmaji	Kanji
Ainan	愛南町	239.58	22,287	Minamiuwa District
Ikata	伊方町	94.37	10,637	Nishiuwa District
Kamijima	上島町	30.38	7,189	Ochi District
Kihoku	鬼北町	241.87	10,772	Kitauwa District
Kumakōgen	久万高原町	583.66	8,660	Kamiukena District
Masaki	松前町	20.41	29,904	Iyo District
Matsuno	松野町	98.5	4,165	Kitauwa District
Tobe	砥部町	101.57	21,471	Iyo District
Uchiko	内子町	299.5	16,172	Kita District

Mergers[]

Former districts:

• Uwa District (historical)
• Uma District
• Shūsō District
• Onsen District

Economy[]

The coastal areas around Imabari and Saijō host a number of industries, including dockyards of Japan's largest shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding. Chemical industries, oil refining, paper and cotton textile products also are a feature of the prefecture. Rural areas mostly engage in agricultural and fishing industries, and are particularly known for citrus fruits such as mikan (mandarin orange), iyokan and cultured pearls.

Ikata Nuclear Power Plant produces a large portion of Shikoku Electric Power.^{[citation needed]}

Education[]

Sports[]

The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime.

Football (soccer)

• Ehime F.C.

Baseball

• Ehime Mandarin Pirates

Basketball

• Ehime Orange Vikings

Culture[]

The oldest extant hot spring in Japan, Dōgo Onsen, is located in Matsuyama. It has been used for over two thousand years.

These are anime set in Ehime Prefecture.

• Tokyo Love Story is a story with characters are from Ehime Prefecture. Therefore, a lot of shooting was done in Ehime. Baishinji Station is famous for being filmed.
• Shodō Girls was made based on the true story of a high school student in Shikokuchūō. A member of the calligraphy club began doing Performance calligraphy at shopping malls and events to liven up the local region. After that, the Shodō Performance Koshien (俳句甲子園) was held in 2008.
• Botchan is a novel written by Natsume Sōseki. It was based on his experience in Matsuyama. Movies, dramas, and manga are published based on the novel. Botchan Ressha and Botchan Stadium are associated with this.
• Saka no Ue no Kumo is written by Ryōtarō Shiba. The main characters are Akiyama Yoshifuru, Akiyama Saneyuki and Masaoka Shiki, all of whom are from Ehime prefecture. It was broadcast on NHK as a TV drama.
• Koi wa Go・Hichi・Go！ （恋は五・七・五！）is set in Haiku Koshien, which is actually performed. The shooting was done at a high school, university, and library in Ehime. The haiku of this movie was supervised by Itsuki Natsui, haiku poet from Ehime.
• Destruction Babies (ディストラクション・ベイビーズ) is set in Ehime. This movie was made based on the true story that the director head from a person he met when he visited Matsuyama. The director won an award at the Locarno Festival in 2016, and the film was selected as semi-grand prix at the Three Continents Festival in 2016.

There are festivals in Ehime Prefecture.

• Uwajima Ushi-oni Festival is held for three days, with a parade of many Ushi-oni walking around the city, a traditional Uwajima dance, a fireworks display, and a run on the final day.
• Niihama Taiko Festival is the autumn festival in Niihama. The drum stand is lifted by about 150 men. It is one of the three biggest fight festivals in Japan.
• The Matsuyama Autumn Festival includes a mikoshi event called Hachiawase (鉢合わせ) which takes place near Dōgo Onsen and Isaniwa Shrine.

Hot Springs[]

There are Hot Springs in Ehime Prefecture.

• Dōgo Onsen appears in the Nihon Shoki. This Hot Spring has three public baths: the main building, Tsubaki no Yu, and Asuka no Yu.
• Sora to Mori is a combined warm bath facility. There are hot springs, restaurants, and body care.
• Nibukawa Onsen is a hot spring located in Imabari. The source originates from the crevices of the Inugawa Valley in this hot spring town.

Language[]

Iyo dialect is a Japanese dialect spoken in Ehime Prefecture. Nanyo is influenced by the Kyushu dialect, and Chuyo and Toyo are influenced by the Kinki dialect.

Museums[]

• Museum of Ehime History and Culture
• Kaimei School

Transport[]

International sister cities / Economic exchange counterparts[]

Ehime Prefecture is making use of its long tradition of involvement with people overseas through international exchanges in areas such as the economy, culture, sports and education.^[9]

• Dalian (China)
• Liaoning (China)
• British Columbia (Canada)
• Queensland (Australia)
• New South Wales (Australia)
• Hawaii (United States)

Notes[]

References[]

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ehime prefecture.

• Official website

Coordinates: 33°50′N 132°50′E / 33.833°N 132.833°E / 33.833; 132.833