Introduction to Ehime Prefecture



The Land

Japan(Ehime-ken)
Surrounded by the calm Seto Inland Sea in the north, the Uwa Sea in the west and Shikoku Mountains in the south, Ehime Prefecture, with an area of about 5,676km sq. and a population of about 1,500,000, lies in the northern part of the island of Shikoku, the smallest of the four major islands of Japan.

Its capital, Matsuyama, is the largest city on Shikoku, with a population of over 500,000 and an abundance of historical and cultural resources such as the famous Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Hot Spring Spa, the oldest bathing area in Japan.

Ehime, which sounds feminine to Japanese ears and literally means "beautiful maiden", is blessed by a mild climate with an average low of 5.3degrees C (42degrees F)in January and an average high of 27degrees C(81degrees F)in August. It offers natural beauty such as the Seto Inland Sea National Park, Ashizuri Uwakai National Park and Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest mountain in western Japan, and attracts millions of tourists annually. It has an average annual rainfall is about 1,300mm, however, most of it falls during the rainy season from mid-June to mid-July.

Industry


The major industries in eastern Ehime are ship building, heavy chemical, paper pulps and textile industries. Around the city of Matsuyama, cotton textiles, agricultural machinery and apparatus, oil refineries, synthetic fiber and pottery and porcelain industries prosper. The rest of the prefecture is devoted to forestry, agriculture or fishery : most notably Ehime mandarin oranges (mikan) and cultured pearls.

History


Though there are various explanations concerning its origin, the name Ehime is very old, dating back to ancient myths and legends. Iyo, the old name for Ehime, is said to have first appeared as the name for the island of Shikoku in the "Kojiki" (Record of Ancient Matters) and the "Nihon Shoki" (Chronicles of Japan), both written in the early eighth century. It is also said that the name lyo is derived from lyu, which means hot water, since this area was famous for Dogo onsen (hot spring spa) as far back as the 6th and 7th centuries.

Following the Taika Reform of 645, this area was officially named Iyo-no-kuni. Since the beginning of Ehime's history, the Seto Inland Sea has played an important role in the life of the people. During the middle ages (after the Taika Reforms),groups of marine guards called suigun appeared. Using their extensive knowledge of tides and currents, they gradually came to dominate over the vital seaborne supply route in the Inland Sea between the westen provinces and Kyoto, then the capital of Japan. Several Suigun active in the region joined together to form a coastal guard unit called the Iyo-Suigun. Their distinguished services in suppressing pirates in the Inland Sea, the Gempei War (late 12th century) and the battles against the Mongol invasion (1274 and 1281), won them a politically important role in the region. They prospered until this area was subjugated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces in 1585.

During the feudal period, Iyo-no-kuni was cut up into eight fiefs or han known as Iyo- happan by the Tokugawa Shogunate. These were Matsuyama-han, the largest, Ozu-han, Niiya-han, Uwajima-han, Yoshida- han, Imabari-han, Saijo-han and Komatsu- han. Kato Yoshiakira who had fought bravely for Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), was named lord of Matsuyama-han and established Matsuyama Castle on Katsuyama Hill. While constructing the castle, he arranged the town around the base of the hill, which is Matsuyama's modern day downtown.

In 1867 the feudal age ended, followed by a restoration of imperial rule. In 1868 the new era was named Meiji and the new government began centralizing its administrative power by abolishing the han and feudal class system in 1871. The Iyo-happan became eight prefectures. Finally in 1873, these prefectures were combined to make Ehime Prefecture, and Prefectural offices were set up in Matsuyama.

Data

Index
Ehime
Japan
Rank
Area (square km) 5,676 377,880 26
Population (thousands) 1,475 127,746 27
Households 586,947
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Average temperature (℃) 16.1
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Cities and Towns

Name
Address
Phone Number
Matsuyama-city 4-7-2 Niban-cho Matsuyama-shi Ehime-ken 089-948-6688
Imabari-city 1-4-1 Bekku-cho Imabari-shi Ehime-ken 0898-32-5200
Uwajima-city 1 Akebono-cho Uwajima-shi Ehime-ken 0895-24-1111
Yawatahama-city 1-1-1 Kitahama Yawatahama-shi Ehime-ken 0894-22-3111
Niihama-city 1-5-1 Ikku-cho Niihama-shi Ehime-ken 0897-65-1234
Saijo-city 164 Akeyashiki Saijo-shi Ehime-ken 0897-56-5151
Ozu-city 690-1 Ozu Ozu-shi Ehime-ken 0893-24-2111
Iyo-city 820 Kominato Iyo-shi Ehime-ken 089-982-1111
Shikokuchuo-city 4-6-55 Mishimamiyagawa Shikokuchuo-shi Ehime-ken 0896-28-6000
Seiyo-city 3-434-1 Uno-machi Uwa-cho Seiyo-shi Ehime-ken 0894-62-1111
Toon-city 530-1 Minara Toon-shi Ehime-ken 089-964-2001
Kamijima-town 210 Shimoyuge Yuge Kamijima-cho Ochi-gun Ehime-ken 0897-77-2500
Kumakogen-town 212 Kuma Kumakoghen-cho Kamiukena-gun Ehime-ken 0892-21-1111
Masaki-town 631 Tsutsui Masaki-cho iyo-gun Ehime-ken 089-985-2111
Tobe-town 1392 Miyauchi Tobe-cho Iyo-gun Ehime-ken 089-962-2323
Uchiko-town 168 Hiraokako Uchiko-cho Kita-gun Ehime-ken 0893-44-2111
Ikata-town 1993-1 Minatoura Ikata-cho Nishiuwa-gun Ehime-ken 0894-38-0211
Matsuno-town 343 Matsumaru Matsuno-cho Kitauwa-gun Ehime-ken 0895-42-1111
Kihoku-town 800-1 Oazachikanaga Kihoku-cho Kitauwa-gun Ehime-ken 0895-45-1111
Ainan-town 2420 Johenko Ainan-cho Minamiuwa-gun Ehime-ken 0895-72-1211