is a
prefectureThe prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 sub-national jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
in northwestern
Shikokuis the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
,
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The capital is
Matsuyamais the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. Its name means "pine tree mountain." The city was founded on December 15, 1889....
.
History
Until the
Meiji RestorationThe , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure...
, Ehime prefecture was known as
Iyo Provincewas an old province of Japan in the area that is today Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku. Iyo bordered on Awa, Sanuki, and Tosa Provinces.The ancient provincial capital was near modern Imabari. During the Sengoku Period it was split into several fiefs, the largest one usually being run from Matsuyama...
. Since before the
HeianThe is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyoto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Confucianism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
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 SekigaharaThe , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
, the
TokugawaThe Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which now is called Tokyo...
shogun is a military rank and historical title for Hereditary Commanders in Chief of the Armed Forces of Japan. The modern rank is equivalent to a Generalissimo...
gave the area to his allies, including
Kato Yoshiaki' was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku Period to early Edo Period who served as lord of the Aizu Domain. A retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he fought in the battle of Shizugatake in 1583, and soon became known as one of the shichi-hon-yari , or Seven Spears of Shizugatake, Hideyoshi's seven...
who built
Matsuyama Castleis a flatland-mountain castle that was built in 1603 on Mount Katsuyama, whose height is 132 meters, in Matsuyama city in Ehime Prefecture . It is not to be confused with Bitchū Matsuyama Castle.- History :...
, forming the basis for the modern city of Matsuyama.
The name Ehime comes from the
Kojiki, also known as Furukotofumi and known in English as The Records of Ancient Matters, is the oldest surviving book in Japan. The body of the Kojiki is written in Chinese, but it includes numerous Japanese names and some phrases...
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
Kagawais a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...
and
Tokushimais a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is the city of Tokushima.- Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture :Long ago, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myodo-gun...
in the east and
Kōchiis a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- Geography :Kōchi Prefecture comprises the southwestern part of the island of Shikoku, facing the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest but least populous of Shikoku's four prefectures...
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 PeninsulaThe is the westernmost part of the island of Shikoku, and is the narrowest peninsula in Japan. It is covered by the town of Ikata, Ehime Prefecture, and is home to the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant....
, is the narrowest peninsula in Japan.
Cities
Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture:
- Imabari
is a city located in Ehime, Japan. It is the second largest city in Ehime prefecture.Following a recent merger, the city has an estimated population of 176,877 and density of 422 persons per km². The total area is 419.56 km².-Transportation:...
- Iyo
is a city located in Ehime, Japan.On April 1, 2005, Iyo merged with the towns of Nakayama and Futami from the surrounding Iyo District to form the new city of Iyo, raising its population to over 40,000 and nearly quadrupling its area.-Geography:...
- Matsuyama
is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. Its name means "pine tree mountain." The city was founded on December 15, 1889....
(capital)
- Niihama
is a city located in the eastern part of Ehime, Japan. It has the third largest population in Ehime, behind the prefectural capital of Matsuyama and the recently expanded city of Imabari.Niihama was founded on November 3, 1937...
- Ōzu
is a city located in Ehime, Japan.On January 11, 2005, the city merged with the municipalities of Nagahama, Hijikawa, and Kawabe to form the new city of Ōzu....
- Saijō
is a city located in Ehime, Japan.On November 1, 2004, the city of Tōyo and the towns of Komatsu and Tanbara merged with Saijō.The city was founded on April 29, 1941.The main city of Saijō is known for natural spring water...
- Seiyo
is a city located in Ehime, Japan.The city was formed on April 1, 2004 from the merger of 4 towns from the former Higashiuwa District and the town of Mikame from Nishiuwa District.-Kannon Spring Water:...
- Shikokuchūō
is a city located in Ehime, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 2004 when the cities of Kawanoe, Iyomishima, the town of Doi and the village of Shingū merged to form one new city. The name literally means "Shikoku Central City" and was so-named in the hopes of becoming the new capital of the...
- Tōon
is a city located in Ehime, Japan.As of November 1, 2004, the city had an estimated population of 34,597 and the density of 163 persons per km². The total area is 211.45 km²....
- Uwajima
is a city located in Ehime, Japan. In 1595, what is now Uwajima was known as Itajima village. Takatora Tohdo became lord of the Uwa region, and ordered the restoration of Marugushi Castle...
- Yawatahama
is a city located in the southwestern part of Ehime, Japan and has the largest fish market on Shikoku. The Mikan is the featured agricultural product....
Towns and villages
These are the towns and villages in each
districtThe was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
.
- Iyo District
The is a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004 the estimated population is 52,832 with a total area is 121.89 km².The district contains two towns*Masaki*Tobe- History :...
- Masaki
is a town located in Iyo District, Ehime, Japan.As of March 1, 2007, the town has an estimated population of 31,560 and a density of 1,605.29 persons per km². The total area is 19.66 km²....
- Tobe
is a town located in Iyo District, Ehime, Japan.As of January 1, 2005, the town merged with the village of Hirota, Ehime. Following this merge the town has an estimated population of 22,780 and a density of 224 persons per km². The total area is 101.57 km²....
- Kamiukena District
The is a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004 — The estimated population is 11,222 with a total area of 583.66 km².It consists of one town.*Kumakōgen- History :...
- Kumakōgen
is a town located in Kamiukena District, Ehime, Japan. The town was formed on August 1, 2004 from the merger of the town of Kuma with three neighboring villages, Mikawa, Omogo, and Yanadani....
|
Kita District The is a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 2005, the estimated population is 20,782 with a total area is 299.50 km².The district includes one town.*Uchiko- Origin of name :...
- Uchiko
is a town located in Kita District, Ehime, Japan.On January 1, 2005 the towns of Ikazaki and Oda merged with Uchiko. As of January, 2005 , the town has an estimated population of 20,782 and a density of 69.4 persons per km²...
Kitauwa DistrictThe is a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 17,299. The total area is 340.37 km².The district has two towns:*Kihoku*Matsuno- History :...
- Kihoku
is a town located in Kitauwa District, Ehime, Japan. The town was formed on January 1, 2005 from the merger of the town of Hiromi with the village of Hiyoshi.- Geography :...
†
- Matsuno
is a town located in Kitauwa District, Ehime, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 4,809 and a density of 48.82 persons per km². The total area is 98.50 km²....
†
Minamiuwa DistrictThe is a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004, the estimated population is 28,100 and the total area is 239.54 km².The district includes one town.*Ainan- History :...
- Ainan
is a large town made up of smaller village suburbs in southern Ehime Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku in Japan.On October 1, 2004 all the former towns of Minamiuwa merged together to form a larger town, Ainan....
|
Nishiuwa District The is a district located in Ehime Prefecture. As of 2007 — The district has an estimated population of 12,304 with a total area of 94.34 km².The district consists of one town.*Ikata- History :...
- Ikata
is a small town located in Nishiuwa District, Ehime, Japan. Following a recent merger with the neighboring towns of Misaki and Seto, the town now spans the mountainous Sadamisaki Peninsula, the narrowest peninsula in Japan and the westernmost point on the island of Shikoku.This unique geography...
Ochi DistrictThe is a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004 the total population of 8,419 with a total area is 30.35 km².It consists of one town:*Kamijima- History :*September 12, 1895 — The village of Yuge broke off the village of Uoshima....
- Kamijima
is a town located in Ochi District, Ehime, Japan. On October 1, 2004 the town was formed from the merger of the following towns and villages: Ikina, Iwagi, Uoshima, and Yuge...
|
† Scheduled to be merged
http://www.ehime-np.co.jp/rensai/shasetsu/ren017200705290037.html.
Mergers
Former districts:
- Uwa District
was a district in Iyo Province , Japan.-History:*866 - Uwa District divided into Uwa and Kita Districts.*On February 25, 1876, Okinoshima, Himejima, and Ugurujima Islands were sent to Hata District in Tosa Province...
(historical)
- Uma District
was a district located in Ehime Prefecture. Due to the mergers, the district dissolved on on April 1, 2004.Before the mergers as of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 19,040 with the total area of 165.50 km².- History :...
- Shūsō District
was a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Due to the mergers, the district dissolved on November 1, 2004.- History :* April, 1897 — Shūfu District and Kuwamura District merged to become the Shūsō District....
- Onsen District
was a district located in Ehime Prefecture. Due to the mergers — The district dissolved on January 1, 2005.The district had an estimated population of 40,690 and the total area was 248.73 km² .- History :This district was located in what is currently the center of Matsuyama...
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
mikanCitrus unshiu is a seedless and easy-peeling citrus mutant of Chinese origin, but introduced to the West via Japan. In Japan, it is known as unshu mikan . In China, it is known as Wenzhou migan...
(tangerine) and
iyokanThe iyokan , also known as anadomikan , is a Japanese citrus fruit. It is the second most widely produced citrus fruit in Japan after the unshū mikan. It was discovered in the Meiji era in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is now produced mostly in Ehime Prefecture.The peel is thicker than a mikan, but it...
and cultured pearls.
Ikatais a small town located in Nishiuwa District, Ehime, Japan. Following a recent merger with the neighboring towns of Misaki and Seto, the town now spans the mountainous Sadamisaki Peninsula, the narrowest peninsula in Japan and the westernmost point on the island of Shikoku.This unique geography...
's nuclear power plant produces a large portion of Shikoku's electricity.
Sports
The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime.
Football (soccer)
- Ehime F.C.
Ehime F.C. is a professional football club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan. After winning the JFL championship in 2005, the club now plays in J. League division 2. Ehime F.C. is one of only four J. League clubs whose names simply consist of a place name and "F.C."...
Baseball
- Ehime Mandarin Pirates
The are a semi-professional baseball team in the Shikoku Island League of Japan. Established in 2005, the Mandarin Pirates mainly play their home games at Botchan Stadium in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture.-External links:*...
External links