Ehime Prefecture

"Ehime" redirects here. For the school ship, see Ehime Maru and USS Greeneville collision.

Ehime Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	愛媛県
• Rōmaji	Ehime-ken
Symbol of Ehime Prefecture
Country	Japan
Region	Shikoku
Island	Shikoku
Capital	Matsuyama
Government
• Governor	Tokihiro Nakamura (since December 2010)
Area
• Total	5,676.44 km2 (2,191.69 sq mi)
Area rank	26th
Population (November 1, 2010)
• Total	1,430,086
• Rank	27th
• Density	251.93/km2 (652.5/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-38
Districts	7
Municipalities	20
Flower	Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)
Tree	Pine (Pinus)
Bird	Japanese robin (Erithacus akahige)
Fish	Red sea bream (Pagrus major)
Website	www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm

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

History

Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province. Since before the Heian period, the area was dominated by fishermen and sailors who played an important role in defending Japan against pirates and Mongol 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 Kojiki and means "beautiful maiden."

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.

Cities

Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture:

• Imabari
• Iyo
• Matsuyama (capital)
• Niihama

• Ōzu
• Saijō
• Seiyo
• Shikokuchūō

• Tōon
• Uwajima
• Yawatahama

Map of Ehime Prefecture.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages 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

The Matsuyama castle

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Ehime Prefecture

Former districts:

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

Economy

The area around Matsuyama has a number of industries, including shipbuilding, chemicals, oil refining, and paper and textile products. The rural areas of the prefecture mostly engage in agricultural and fishing industries, and are particularly known for citrus fruit such as mikan (tangerine) and iyokan and cultured pearls.

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

Education

University

• Ehime University
• Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science
• St. Catherine University
• Matsuyama University
• Matsuyama Shinonome 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.

Museums

• Museum of Ehime History and Culture
• Kaimei School

Transport

Railroad

• JR Shikoku
  • Yosan Line
  • Yodo Line
  • Uchiko Line

• Iyotetsu
  • Gunchu Line
  • Takahama Line
  • Yokogawara Line

Tramway

• Iyotetsu
  • Matsuyama Inner Line

Road

Expressway

• Matsuyama Expressway
• Tokushima Expressway
• Takamatsu Expressway
• Kochi Expressway
• Shimanami Expressway
• Imabari Komatsu Road

National Highway

• Route 11
• Route 33 (Matsuyama-Kochi)
• Route 56 (Matsuyama-Iyo-Uwajima-Sukumo-Susaki-Kochi)
• 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)

Port

• 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

References

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 10-ISBN 0-674-01753-6; 13-ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128

External links

• Official Ehime prefecture website (English)