Ehime Prefecture

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


Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県)
Map of Japan with Ehime highlighted
Capital Matsuyama
Region Shikoku
Island Shikoku
Governor Moriyuki Katō
Area (rank) 5,676.44 km² (26th)
 - % water  %
Population  (2000)
 - Population 1,493,126 (27th)
 - Density 263 /km²
Districts 7
Municipalities 20
ISO 3166-2 JP-38
Website www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm
Prefectural Symbols
 - Flower Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)
 - Tree Pine (Pinus)
 - Bird Japanese robin (Erithacus akahige)
Symbol of Ehime Prefecture
Symbol of Ehime Prefecture

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

Contents

[edit] 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."

[edit] 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 Kochi 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 longest peninsula in Japan.

[edit] Cities

Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture:

Map of Ehime Prefecture.
Map of Ehime Prefecture.

[edit] Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Ehime agency.
Ehime agency.

† Scheduled to be merged[1].

[edit] Mergers

Former districts:

[edit] 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.

[edit] Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime.

Football (soccer)

Baseball

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Shadow picture of Ehime Prefecture Ehime Prefecture
Flag of Ehime Prefecture
Cities
Imabari | Iyo | Matsuyama (capital) | Niihama | Ōzu | Saijō | Seiyo | Shikokuchūō | Tōon | Uwajima | Yawatahama
Districts and Towns
Iyo Masaki | Tobe Kitauwa Kihoku | Matsuno Nishiuwa Ikata
Kamiukena Kumakōgen Minamiuwa Ainan Ochi Kamijima
Kita Uchiko
edit

Coordinates: 33°50′N, 132°50′E