Ehime Prefecture

Ehime Prefecture 愛媛県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	愛媛県
• Rōmaji	Ehime-ken
Flag Symbol of Ehime Prefecture
Country	Japan
Region	Shikoku
Island	Shikoku
Capital	Matsuyama
Government
• Governor	Tokihiro Nakamura (since December 2010)
Area
• Total	5,676.44 km^2 (2,191.69 sq mi)
Area rank	26th
Population (November 1, 2010)
• Total	1,430,086
• Rank	27th
• Density	251.93/km^2 (652.5/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-38
Districts	7
Municipalities	20
Flower	Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)[1]
Tree	Pine (Pinus)[1]
Bird	Japanese robin (Erithacus akahige)[1]
Fish	Red sea bream (Pagrus major)[1]
Website	www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm

Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県 Ehime-ken) is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan.^[2] The capital is Matsuyama.^[3]

History

Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime Prefecture was known as Iyo Province.^[4] 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 shogun gave the area to his allies, including Kato 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."^[5]

In 2012, a research group from the University of Tokyo and Ehime University said they had discovered rare earth deposits in Matsuyama.^[6]

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 April 1, 2012, 7% 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 seven Prefectural Natural Parks.^[7]

Cities

Map of Ehime Prefecture.

Matsuyama

Uwajima

Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture:

Imabari Iyo Matsuyama (capital) Niihama

Ōzu Saijō Seiyo Shikokuchūō

Tōon Uwajima Yawatahama

Towns and villages

These are the towns in each district:

Iyo District Masaki Tobe Kamiukena District Kumakōgen Kita District Uchiko

Kitauwa District Kihoku Matsuno Minamiuwa District Ainan

Nishiuwa District Ikata Ochi District Kamijima

Ehime agency

Matsuyama Castle

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 (tangerine) and iyokan and cultured pearls.

Ikata's nuclear power plant produces a large portion of Shikoku's electricity.

Education

University

National

• Ehime University

Prefectural

• Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science

Private

• St. Catherine University
• Matsuyama University
• Matsuyama Shinonome College (women's college)

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime.

Football (soccer)

• Ehime F.C.

Baseball

• Ehime Mandarin Pirates

Culture

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

Iyo dialect, one of the Shikoku dialects, is the dialect spoken in Ehime Prefecture.

Museums

• Museum of Ehime History and Culture
• Kaimei School

Transport

Rail

• JR Shikoku
  • Yosan Line
  • Yodo Line
  • Uchiko Line
• Iyotetsu
  • Gunchu Line
  • Takahama Line
  • Yokogawara Line

Tramway

• Iyotetsu
  • Matsuyama Inner Line

Road

Expressway

Kurushima Strait Bridge on the Shimanami Kaidō

• Matsuyama Expressway
• Tokushima Expressway
• Takamatsu Expressway
• Kochi Expressway
• Nishiseto Expressway (also referred to as the Shimanami Kaidō)
• Imabari Komatsu Road

National highways

• Route 11
• Route 33 (Matsuyama-Kōchi)
• Route 56 (Matsuyama-Iyo-Uwajima-Sukumo-Susaki-Kōchi)
• Route 192 (Saijyo-Shikoku Chuo-Yoshinogawa-Tokushima)
• Route 194
• Route 196
• Route 197
• Route 317 (Matsuyama-Imabari-Onomichi)
• Route 319
• Route 320
• Route 378
• Route 380
• Route 437
• Route 440
• Route 441
• Route 494 (Matsuyama-Niyodogawa-Susaki)

Ports

• Kawanoe Port
• Niihama Port - Ferry route to Osaka
• Toyo Port - Ferry route to Osaka
• Imabari Port - Ferry route to Innoshima, Hakata Island, and international container hub port
• Matsuyama Port - Ferry route to Kitakyushu, Yanai, Hiroshima, Kure, and international container hub port
• Yawatahama Port - Ferry route to Beppu, Usuki
• Misaki Port - Ferry route to Oita
• Uwajima Port

Airport

• Matsuyama Airport

Notes

1. 愛媛県の紹介 ＞ 愛媛県のシンボル. Ehime prefectural website (in Japanese). Ehime Prefecture. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
2. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ehime" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 170, p. 170, at Google Books.
3. Nussbaum, "Matsuyama" at p. 621, p. 621, at Google Books.
4. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books.
5. Chamberlain, Basil Hall. 1882. A translation of the "Ko-ji-ki" or Records of ancient matters. section V
6. "Japan Discovers Domestic Rare Earths Reserve". BrightWire.
7. "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 19 August 2012.

References

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

External links

• Official website

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