Kihoku, Ehime
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in Kitauwa District
, Ehime
, Japan
. The name of the town is derived from the town's location to the north, 北, of Mt. Onigajō "鬼が城."
, in Kōchi Prefecture
.
, or pheasant stew, which is made for the festival and given away.
Additional town products
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Kitauwa District
Kitauwa District, Ehime
The 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:...
, Ehime
Ehime Prefecture
is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, 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 name of the town is derived from the town's location to the north, 北, of Mt. Onigajō "鬼が城."
Geography and climate
Kihoku is located in the Onigajō mountain range. The town is composed of several villages merged into one town area. As such, it is spread out over a broad series of small valleys in the town proper. The largest town area, Hiromi, is located in a larger valley in the southwest section of the town. Other areas include Aiji in the north, Mishima centrally, and Hiyoshi in the east. Because of the higher elevation and surrounding mountains, Kihoku is generally cooler than Uwajima and Matsuyama, though at times it can be warmer. The area of Hiyoshi is higher in the mountains than Hiromi, and thus cooler. Snow falls occasionally in the winter, but rarely lasts in the town for more than a few days. Summers are hot and humid, with the rainy season lasting from mid-June to mid-July.Nearby cities and towns
- UwajimaUwajima, Ehimeis 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...
to the east - MatsunoMatsuno, Ehimeis 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.-External links:*...
to the south - Kōchi PrefectureKochi Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
to the west
Mountains
- Mt. Takatsuki 1,228 m
- Mt. Kakkōdake 1,010 m
- Mt. Izumigamori 755 m
- Mt. Tokigozen 946 m
- Mt. Gozaisho 908 m
Rivers
There are numerous rivers running through the area, the largest of which is the Hiromi River, which is a tributary of the Shimanto RiverShimanto River
The is a river in western Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. 196 km in length, it has a watershed of 2,270 km².Since the river is remote from major cities and does not have any dams, it is sometimes referred to as "the last clear stream of Japan". Fishing and production of nori is a thriving...
, in Kōchi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
.
Transportation
Route 320 connects Uwajima to Kihoku, and passes through the neighborhoods of Hiromi and Hiyoshi. Buses run from Uwajima to Hiyoshi several times a day. Kihoku is also connected to Uwajima by a single train line, which arrives once almost every hour during the day.Agriculture
Kihoku's economy is primarily agricultural. The town's main product is rice, with many paddies throughout the area. The town contains 617 hectares of paddy land yielding around 2,476 tons of rice annually.Pheasants
Kihoku residents are especially proud of their pheasant meat, which is a town delicacy. In addition to pheasant meat, pheasant sake is also produced. One of the main highlights of the Dechikonka festival is the massive pheasant nabemonoNabemono
Nabemono or simply called nabe, is a term referring to all varieties of Japanese steamboat dishes, also known as one pot dishes....
, or pheasant stew, which is made for the festival and given away.
Additional town products
- ShiitakeShiitakeThe Shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries, as well as being dried and exported to many countries around the world. It is a feature of many Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai...
mushrooms, chestnuts, yuzuYuzuThe yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
, chickens, bancha teaBancha teaBancha is a Japanese green tea. It is harvested from the second flush of sencha between summer and autumn. -Background:...
, wasabiWasabi, also known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, and mustard. Its root is used as a condiment and has an extremely strong flavor. Its hotness is more akin to that of a hot mustard rather than the capsaicin in a chili pepper,...
, melons, strawberries, Japanese yams, cucumbers, turmericTurmericTurmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is native to tropical South Asia and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive...
, milk, misoMisois a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus , the most typical miso being made with soy. The result is a thick paste used for sauces and spreads, pickling vegetables or meats, and mixing with dashi soup stock to serve as miso...
, troutTroutTrout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, fish products, crabs, wood products and potteryPotteryPottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
Points of interest
- Jōmon Ruins — The remains of a 3,000 year-old Jōmon PeriodJomon periodThe is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14,000 BC to 300 BC.The term jōmon means "cord-patterned" in Japanese. This refers to the pottery style characteristic of the Jōmon culture, and which has markings made using sticks with cords wrapped around them...
community are located near the eastern section of the Hiromi River. The ruins are composed of a small formation of stones, which are protected by an enclosure and have been designated as a historical site. - Narukawa Valley — A valley in the southwestern part of the town popular for its beautiful nature. The area offers a multitude of activities, including camping, fishing and hiking. In summer there is a sōmenSomenare very thin, white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. The noodles are usually served cold and are less than 1.3 mm in diameter. The distinction between sōmen and the next thicker wheat noodles hiyamugi and even thicker Japanese wheat noodles udon is mostly the size of the noodle...
noodle shop. There is also a scenic lodge that serves pheasant dishes, and an onsenOnsenAn is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
. - Morinosankakuboshi — A farmer's market in Hiromi where locally grown rice and vegetables can be purchased. In the shops adjacent to the market a wide variety of local products such as misoMisois a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus , the most typical miso being made with soy. The result is a thick paste used for sauces and spreads, pickling vegetables or meats, and mixing with dashi soup stock to serve as miso...
paste and boarBoarWild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
curry are also sold. - Yumesanchi — A farmer's market in Hiyoshi where locally grown rice and vegetables can be purchased. There is a large shop nearby that sells local souvenirs and food products.
- Yasumoridō Somennagashi —"Yasumori River Somen Restaurant" operates from the middle of July to the end of August each summer. The primary attraction here is the nagashi somenSomenare very thin, white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. The noodles are usually served cold and are less than 1.3 mm in diameter. The distinction between sōmen and the next thicker wheat noodles hiyamugi and even thicker Japanese wheat noodles udon is mostly the size of the noodle...
restaurant, where clumps of somen are sent flowing down a metal trough for customers to pluck out with their chopsticks. The noodles are then dipped in a sauce seasoned with yuzuYuzuThe yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
, green onions, sesame, and other ingredients. Also at the restaurant are the Yasumorishōnyu Cave, a small cave which is very cool even during the hottest time of the year, and a small pond stocked with numerous trout for fishing.
Events
- Dechikonka — The town's main annual festival. In the town's old dialect it means "Won't you come out?" The festival usually takes place on the third weekend of October, starting off with taiko performances Saturday evening. On Sunday there are various dance and musical performances on a bandstand by local groups, as well as a performance by a nationally-known singer or entertainer. As in most Japanese festivals there are also numerous vendors and stalls selling a variety of food and other products.
- Kawanobori Ekiden — "River-climbing Relay," an annual event at the beginning of August where teams of runners race up the Hiromi River. Although running in the shallows is permitted, runners must land in the water with every step, making the race very slippery and difficult. There is also a "tetsujin," "iron-man," race for individual participants.
Notable people
- Tadashi Hyōdō, one of the first female pilots in Japan, and the first Japanese woman to attain a pilot's license.
- Tadashi Shiba, a former pro baseball with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.