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Ikata, Ehime
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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 has greatly influenced Ikata's growth. On the one hand, it has presented significant challenges to urban development that were not overcome until recently in the town's long history.
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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 has greatly influenced Ikata's growth. On the one hand, it has presented significant challenges to urban development that were not overcome until recently in the town's long history. On the other, the peninsula is what gives the town its beautiful mountain and ocean scenery which, bolstered by significant investments in infrastructure and tourist facilities, has formed the basis for a burgeoning tourism industry.
In addition to the beauty of its rugged, natural landscape, Ikata has long been known for fishing and mikan orange farming. In recent years Ikata has also become a hotspot of modern energy production—the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant produces much of Shikoku's electricity, and the town's windy mountains are dotted by dozens of windmills.
History
Prehistory
The Sadamisaki Peninsula area has been inhabited since at least the Jomon Period (10,000–300 BC), as evidenced by the discovery of stone tools and earthenware pots in the Misaki and Kushi neighborhoods.
In 1963 a local man discovered a stone ax dating back to the mid-Yayoi Period (300 BC–250 AD) in his farm plot in the Kawachi neighborhood. Upon further investigation by the Japan Archaeological Society in 1986, the area was recognized as containing the remains of a . This is a type of settlement usually located several tens of meters above the surrounding area on mountainsides, and is peculiar to the Yayoi period.
Classical era
After the Taika Reform of 646, Ikata and the greater surrounding area became known as the Uwa District in 701. The Uwa District covered the entire Nanyo region (map) until it was split in two in 866. Since districts were defined by population, one can infer that the area was underdeveloped and sparsely populated at the time.
Feudal era
Towards the end of the Heian Period, the Yawatahama and Ikata area became known as . As ownership of farmlands became increasingly concentrated in the hands of local ruling families, control of the Yano area was given to Taira no Tadamitsu, a member of the Heike clan.
Some members of the Heike family secretly settled in the Seto area in 1185 after being defeated in the Genpei Wars.
Entering the Edo Period and the Tokugawa shogunate, the Uwa District came under control of the . From 1610 to 1612, the first Uwajima feudal lord, Tomita Nobutaka, gathered farmers from the local area to dig a canal through the thinnest part of the Sadamisaki Peninsula, Seto's Mitsukue neighborhood. The project was soon canceled due to insufficient funds. By this time, the name can be seen in records of taxes paid to the feudal lords.
The Mitsukue neighborhood prospered as a port town during the feudal period, as it was used as a port of rest for daimyos on their way to and from the capital as part of the sankin kotai system. This traffic was likely the source of the demand for Nobutaka's abortive attempt to create a shortcut through the peninsula.
Modern era
A decade after the Meiji Restoration, in March 1878 the Uwa District was divided into the current Kitauwa, Minamiuwa, Higashiuwa, and Nishiuwa districts (North-, South-, East-, and West-Uwa, respectively). Ikata was designated a in 1889, and other neighborhoods along the peninsula soon followed suit, many merging to reduce the number of independent settlements from 26 to 6.
More recently, Seto's Mitsukue Bay was used for submarine training operations by the Japanese navy leading up to World War II, as the bay's shape is similar to that of Pearl Harbor. A monument named stands in Suka Park in Mitsukue as a memorial dedicated to the nine young men (ages 21–28) who were stationed in the Mitsukue area for these exercises. According to the plaque on the monument, the men were quite friendly with the locals, and stories are still told about them in the neighborhood to this day. The men died on December 8, 1941, during one of the initial attacks on Pearl Harbor.
In 1955 another round of mergers corresponding to the Great Showa Merger reduced the number of municipal entities to 3.
In 1977 the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant began operation as the first nuclear power plant on the island of Shikoku.
On April 1, 2005, Ikata merged with the nearby towns of Misaki and Seto to create the new town of Ikata, which spans the Sadamisaki Peninsula.
Current events
With the installation of many new windmills in 2006 and 2007, there have been significant noise complaints from nearby residents.
Timeline
- March 1878 — Meiji reforms create the Nishiuwa District
- 1889 — Ikata is designated a village.
- March 31, 1955 — The villages of Ikata and Machimi merge, forming the old town of Ikata
- September 30, 1977 — Reactor No. 1 of the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant begins operation
- April 1, 2005 — Misaki, Seto, and the former town of Ikata merge to form the new town of Ikata
Mergers leading to modern-day Ikatauntil
April 1, 1889 | April 1, 1889 | 1955–1956 | April 1, 2005 | Ikata
(???) | Ikata
(???) | Ikata
(???) | Ikata
(???) | Kucho
(???) | Machimi
(???) | Futami
(???) | Ashinaru
(???) | Mitsukue
(???) | Seto
(???) | Shionashi
(???) | Mitsukue
(???) | Oe
(???) | Shitsu
(???) | Kojima
(???) | Kawanohama
(????) | Yotsuhama
(????) | Oku
(???) | Tabu
(???) | Kozaki
(???) | Kamagi
(???) | Kanmatsuna
(????) | Misaki
(???) | Hiraiso
(???) | Futanazu
(????) | Natori
(???) | Myojin
(???) | Matsu
(??) | Yobokori
(???) | Misaki
(???) | Kushi
(??) | Shono
(???) | Taka
(??) | Sada
(???) | Osada
(????) | Ino
(???) | |
Geography and climate
Ikata is on the Sadamisaki peninsula, Japan's narrowest peninsula and the westernmost point on the island of Shikoku. The peninsula is extremely mountainous, with steep cliffs and precious little usable flat land. To combat this, the town's bays and ponds have seen vigorous coastal reclamation efforts dating back to the early Meiji period (late 1800s). Ikata's mountainsides are covered with terraced mikan fields, and natural forest in the undeveloped areas.
The various neighborhoods of Ikata are found nestled among the foothills of the mountains, connected only by winding coastal roads and a single highway, Route 197. The biggest of the neighborhoods and the administrative center of Ikata is Minatoura, near the eastern edge of the town.
Ikata is surrounded on three sides by ocean—the Iyo Sea (part of the Inland Sea) to the north, the Uwa Sea (Pacific Ocean) to the south, and the Hoyo Strait (separating Shikoku from Kyushu) to the west.
The climate in Ikata is warm, with an average year-round temperature of 16–17 °C (61–63 °F) and 1,500ml of yearly rain. The coldest parts of winter remain above freezing (5 °C or 41 °F on average), with snowfall seen only once or twice per year. Rain is concentrated in the rainy season in June and July, and also in September.
The length of the peninsula makes accurate weather prediction difficult for the town; when driving down Melody Line, it is not uncommon to find it sunny between one set of tunnels, rainy between another, and foggy between yet another. Ikata's position, stretching out into the ocean, also makes it a frequent target for typhoons.
Nearby cities and towns
Demographics
Ikata is a small town, with a population of 12,221 as of February 29, 2008. The total area of the town is 94.37 km², making the population density 130 persons per km². However, much of the land on the peninsula is quite mountainous and not suited for development; the population density of the individual settlements, which are squeezed into the small bay areas in the foothills of the mountains, is much higher, though reliable statistics are not known.
Like much of rural Japan, Ikata faces a rapidly declining and aging population. According to the Ikata website, nearly 40% of the town's population is 65 or older. Furthermore, many elementary and middle schools have closed since the 1970s. Those that remain have very small student populations. For example, Ikata Elementary School is Ikata's largest elementary school; there were 303 students in 1987, and only 162 in 2006; Toyonoura Elementary is Old Ikata's smallest school; it had 51 students in 1987, and only 14 in 2007.
This population issue was a significant part of the impetus for the recent merger of Old Ikata with Seto and Misaki. While Old Ikata is geographically more accessible, and has enjoyed the economic benefits of the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, Seto and Misaki have experienced even more severe aging and decline of their populations. In 2000, Seto's working-age population dipped below 50% of its total.
Ethnically Ikata is extremely homogeneous with only a handful of non-Japanese residents, most of whom are either temporary farm laborers from China, or English educators on the JET Programme.
Transportation and sightseeing
History
Due to Ikata's length and mountainous terrain, regular bus service did not reach the tip of the peninsula until the 1960s. Until then, the only public transportation available was local ferries that connected the bays of each neighborhood. Unfavorable weather patterns made ferry service difficult on the Inland Sea side, so most of Ikata's settlements are on the southern, Pacific Ocean side.
In 1963, the original Route 197 was completed. It follows the coastline, and is thus extremely winding and narrow, with very little room for cars to pass. Traversing the peninsula by this route takes hours and can be quite nerve-wracking; this earned it the ire of the locals, who came up with a disparaging nickname that is a pun on the actual name: .
Modern day
The Ikata leg of the new Route 197 was completed in 1987 and is the heart of transportation in modern Ikata, affectionately nicknamed "Melody Line". Unlike the old roads, Melody Line boasts two full lanes and runs relatively straight down the peninsula. Seated high in the mountains, drivers can enjoy views of both the Pacific Ocean and Inland Sea. The route terminates at Misaki and continues over to Kyushu by ferries that connect Misaki Port with Saganoseki (Oita, Oita) and Beppu, Oita.
Melody Line is such an improvement over the old roads that it has become a significant Ehime sightseeing attraction in itself, with many tourists coming to see cherry blossoms in the spring. Together with the city of Iyo's seaside Route 378, Melody Line makes one of the prefecture's recommended sightseeing routes, and one of JTB's .
Iyo Railway bus service runs up and down the peninsula, to and from Yawatahama, and offers express buses from Misaki to Matsuyama. However, commuter buses run infrequently and, due to the length of the peninsula and the scattered nature of the town's neighborhoods, bus travel remains more expensive and less convenient than in denser areas. Some tour buses also come across the strait from Kyushu by ferry.
There are no trains in Ikata. The closest station is the JR Yawatahama Station on the Yosan Line.
Points of interest
Sadamisaki Lighthouse
- This lighthouse stands at the tip of the peninsula, overlooking the Hoyo Strait. On clear days you can see across to Kyushu. Almost two kilometers of hiking trails and a campground lie at its feet as part of the Setonaikai National Park.
Seto Wind Hill Park
- This park is located atop a mountain in the Seto area. From it you can see many of Ikata's numerous windmills, spinning above the Inland Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Haikus about the windmills, submitted for Ikata's Windmill Festival, are on display in the park. Webcam images from the park, updated every hour, are available online.
Ikata Visitors House
- This hands-on science museum teaches all about nuclear power with beautiful interactive displays and fun activities for all ages. The building is connected to the Kirara-kan, which houses an aquarium and sells souvenirs and local agricultural products.
Red Wing Park
- Named after Ikata's sister city, this park is home to Adventure Hill—a playground full of climbing nets, roller slides, and other children's play equipment.
Kamegaike Onsen
- A new hot spring bathing facility and park opened to the public in August 2007. According to legend, a giant crab lives in the adjacent Kamegaike Pond.
Roadside Stations
Ikata has two Roadside Stations along Route 197. These are highway rest stops that offer refreshments, travel information, recreation facilities, and local goods for sale.
Ikata Kirara-kan
- Features an aquarium, an exhibit chronicling Ikata's relations with its American sister city, Red Wing, Minnesota, and a small museum of Old Ikata historical artifacts. Attached to the Ikata Visitors House.
Seto Agriculture Park
- Gelateria DanDan offers travelers unique ice cream and sorbet flavors like sake, kintaro potato, black sesame, and more. A Christmas tree decorated with mikan orange peels, a monument to Ikata explorer Hyoichi Kono, and the Windmill Restaurant can also be found here.
Culture
Etymology of name
The origin of the name Ikata is unclear and there are several competing theories.
- It may have come from or , meaning "a place with small houses or shacks".
- Ika can be found in the names of places surrounded by mountains or located in foothills; ta can mean "land". Ikata could therefore be "a place by the mountains".
- In the Ainu language, ika means "to pass through the mountains and cross the land". However, the Ainu are thought to have had little influence as far south as Shikoku.
Food
Ikata is known for its mikans and mikan juice. More than 20 different varieties of mikan are grown in Ikata. Old Ikata also has a very old sake brewing tradition that dates back to the Edo Period, with several toji brewmasters in the local area. There is even a museum dedicated to the Ikata Toji.
The Seto area produces vegetables such as the bright-purple kintaro potato, and also catches baby sardines called . Misaki has a strong fishing tradition, producing lots of and . Four Misaki Fishing Co-op products are part of the Ehime brand: Horse mackerel, mackerel, , and .
One Ikata specialty cuisine is , a tempura-fried patty of pressed white fish meat and vegetables. Other variations include , which is the same but fried and breaded like tonkatsu, and which is prepared like a croquette.
Language
Residents of Ikata speak the Iyo dialect of Japanese, which is similar in many respects to the Hiroshima dialect. One feature particular to the Nanyo (southern Ehime) region is the use of the sentence-final particle ga as a replacement for no in some contexts. For example, Nani shiteru no? (?????? "What are you doing?" in standard Japanese) becomes Nani shiyoru ga? in Iyo dialect.
Ikata's largest town celebration in late summer, the Kinahaiya Ikata Festival, is another example of the Iyo dialect—kinahai ya literally means "come on over" (kinasai yo ????? in standard Japanese).
Festivals and events
Ikata has a wide variety of festivals and attractions the year around.
February
- Men and women of receive the blessings of local Buddhist priests in the form of a set of ceremonial dances. Afterwards, lucky decorative ornaments and free sake are offered to the crowd.
April:Held on Seto's Komo Highland atop Mt. Miharashi, the main event of this festival is an outdoor barbecue featuring locally-raised beef.
May
JuneJulyAugust:This is Ikata's largest summer festival. Attractions include film and dance competitions, a taiko performance, children's sumo, and bare-handed fish catching, all concluded with a fireworks display in the evening.
- Local single women put on a wedding dress fashion show, followed by fireworks in the evening. An outdoor barbecue and bare-handed fish wrangling are held in the nearby Suka Park.
September
- Every September a handful of local men and women gather along the Oku beach to sing and perform this dance, with the purpose of placating the dead spirit of a woman who is said to have been washed ashore in Oku long, long ago.
October:Each main region of Ikata holds its own separate Autumn Festival. Misaki's is perhaps the most spectacular of the three. The main attraction is the battle between the and the , which are two ceremonial mikoshi floats carried by the young local men and women. Participants compete in repeatedly pulling the floats up along a giant scaffolding, then trying to drop theirs on top of the other.
Folklore
The rats of Kuroshima
There are two small, uninhabited islands in the Uwa Sea near Yawatahama that belong to Ikata: Kuroshima and Karasushima. A legend written in the 13th century text tells the following story:
The giant crab of Kamegaike
Local legend tells of a giant crab, eight tatami mats in size, that lives in the Kamegaike Pond in Old Ikata's Futami neighborhood.
Industry
Ikata's main industries are farming (largely citrus fruits such as mikans), fishing, and electrical power. Ikata produces a substantial fraction of Shikoku's electricity. There are two main power production methods currently in use.
Wind power
The former town of Seto erected eleven Mitsubishi MWT-1000 wind generators in January 2002. The Old Ikata installed two Vestas V52-850kW generators in March 2005. Together they have an expected yearly energy output of 34,700 MWh.
Ikata is investing heavily in wind power infrastructure, with 45 additional towers currently under construction. The town plans to have a total of 60 generators within the next few years.
Nuclear power
Ikata is the site of Shikoku's only nuclear power plant. The Ikata Nuclear Power Plant has two Mitsubishi 538 MWe Pressurized Water Reactor units with the Two Reactor Coolant Loop design (similar to the original Westinghouse design at Prairie Island, Kewaunee, and Point Beach plants) and one Mitsubishi Pressurized Water Reactor unit with the Three Reactor Coolant Loop design (similar to the Westinghouse Surry, North Anna, and Robinson plants). Units 1 and 2 started up on September 30, 1977 and March 19, 1981 respectively. Unit 3 is a three loop PWR rated at 846 MWe that started up on December 15, 1994.
April 1, 2007, marked a milestone for the Ikata plant as it reached a total of 300 million kilowatt-hours of energy generated since beginning operations in 1977.
The Ikata Power Plant was referenced in the 1995 movie Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. Godzilla attempts to attack the power plant, but meets resistance from the Self Defense Force's "Super-X III" weapon.
International exchange and sister cities
Relations with Ikata's only overseas sister city, Red Wing, Minnesota, USA, originally began as an exchange of technical knowledge and skills between engineers at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant and Red Wing's Prairie Island plant. The two towns became official sister cities in August 1995.
Since then, Ikata has put much effort into expanding the horizons of its residents through English language education via the JET Programme, and an annual international student exchange with Red Wing. Beginning in 1995, Ikata middle school students have traveled almost yearly to Red Wing for home stays of one to two weeks, and students from Red Wing likewise come to Ikata to learn about life in rural Japan.
Ikata's high school, Misaki High School, maintains an exchange program with Australia.
Ikata has two sister cities, both of which also have nuclear power plants:
Politics
Ikata experienced significant political turbulence leading up to and immediately following the April 1, 2005 merger with Seto and Misaki.
To begin with, multiple potential merger plans were put forth, one of which was for all of the contiguous Nishiuwa District towns (Misaki, Seto, Old Ikata, and Honai) to merge. However, when Honai announced that it would merge with the nearby city of Yawatahama, polls indicated that Misaki residents still preferred to merge with Honai and Yawatahama, rather than Seto and Old Ikata, despite their being discontiguous (a Misaki-Honai-Yawatahama merger would make Misaki an exclave). Ultimately this was found to be impractical, and the Misaki-Seto-Ikata merger was approved with some grumbling over the naming of the new town.
Once the merger was decided upon, suggestions for the new town's name were solicited from the residents. Despite the many other reasonable suggestions and the seeming unfairness toward Seto and Misaki, the "new" name was chosen to be "Ikata."
Following the merger a heated mayoral race was held, with 11 members of incumbent Kiyoyoshi Nakamoto's campaign arrested for electoral fraud. Challenger Yoshihisa Hatanaka ultimately won, only to be arrested in February 2006 for corruption relating to government construction contracts. He resigned soon thereafter.
A second race was held in April 2006, with Kazuhiko Yamashita defeating rival Kiyohiko Takakado by only 90 votes. Voter turnout was 87.43%.
There has been and still remains political resistance among some Ikata residents to the nuclear power plant. Most recently this has revolved around the now-approved plan to implement MOX fuel in Unit 3 of the Ikata plant.
Notable people from Ikata
- Shuji Nakamura, inventor of the blue LED, hails from the former town of Seto.
- Adventurer Hyoichi Kono successfully reached the North Pole in 1997. He died in 2001 while attempting to walk from the North Pole back to his birthplace, the former town of Seto.
- Nenten Tsubouchi is a haiku poet whose unique and quirky poems have been featured in elementary school textbooks in Japan. He was born in the Kucho neighborhood of Ikata.
Gallery
See also
External links
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