Ehime Prefecture

Prefectures of Japan Ehime

Is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.[3] Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,342,011 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 5,676 km² (2,191 sq mi). Ehime Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the northeast, Tokushima Prefecture to the east, and Kōchi Prefecture to the southeast.

Matsuyama is the capital and largest city of Ehime Prefecture and the largest city on Shikoku, with other major cities including Imabari, Niihama, and Saijō.[4]

History

Prefectures of Japan Ehime

See also: Historic Sites of Ehime Prefecture

Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime Prefecture was known as Iyo Province.[5] Since before the Heian period, the area was dominated by fishermen and sailors who played an important role in defending Japan against pirates and Mongolian invasions.

After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Tokugawa shōgun gave the area to his allies, including Katō Yoshiaki who built Matsuyama Castle, forming the basis for the modern city of Matsuyama.

The name Ehime comes from the kuniumi part of the Kojiki where Iyo Province is mythologically named Ehime, “lovely princess”.[6]

In 2012, a research group from the University of Tokyo and Ehime University said they had discovered rare earth deposits in Matsuyama.[7]

Economy

The coastal areas around Imabari and Saijō host a number of industries, including dockyards of Japan’s largest shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding. Chemical industries, oil refining, paper and cotton textile products also are a feature of the prefecture. Rural areas mostly engage in agricultural and fishing industries, and are particularly known for citrus fruits such as mikan (mandarin orange), iyokan and cultured pearls.

Ikata Nuclear Power Plant produces a large portion of Shikoku Electric Power.

Education

Universities and colleges
National

Ehime University

Prefectural

Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science

Private

St. Catherine University
Matsuyama University
Matsuyama Shinonome College (women’s college)

Senior high schools
Prefectural

Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Central Senior High School
Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Higashi High School
Ehime Prefectural Mishima High School
Ehime Prefectural Uwajima Fisheries High School

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime.

Football (soccer)

Ehime F.C.

Baseball

Ehime Mandarin Pirates

Basketball

Ehime Orange Vikings

Culture

The oldest extant hot spring in Japan, Dōgo Onsen, is located in Matsuyama. It has been used for over two thousand years.

These are anime set in Ehime Prefecture.

Tokyo Love Story is a story with characters are from Ehime Prefecture.Therefore, a lot of shooting was done in Ehime. Baishinji Station is famous for being filmed.

Shodō Girls was made based on the true story of a high school student in Shikokuchūō. A member of the calligraphy club began doing Performance calligraphy at shopping malls and events to liven up the local region. After that, the Shodō Performance Koshien (俳句甲子園) was held in 2008.

Botchan is a novel written by Natsume Sōseki. It was based on his experience in Matsuyama. Movies, dramas, and manga are published based on the novel. Botchan Ressha and Botchan Stadium are associated with this.

Saka no Ue no Kumo is written by Ryōtarō Shiba. The main characters are Akiyama Yoshifuru, Akiyama Saneyuki and Masaoka Shiki, all of whom are from Ehime prefecture. It was broadcast on NHK as a TV drama.

Koi wa Go・Hichi・Go！ （恋は五・七・五！）is set in Haiku Koshien, which is actually performed. The shooting was done at a high school, university, and library in Ehime. The haiku of this movie was supervised by Itsuki Natsui, haiku poet from Ehime.

Destruction Babies (ディストラクション・ベイビーズ) is set in Ehime. This movie was made based on the true story that the director head from a person he met when he visited Matsuyama. The director won an award at the Locarno Festival in 2016, and the film was selected as semi-grand prix at the Three Continents Festival in 2016.

There are festivals in Ehime Prefecture.

Uwajima Ushi-oni Festival is held for three days, with a parade of many Ushi-oni walking around the city, a traditional Uwajima dance, a fireworks display, and a run on the final day.

Niihama Taiko Festival is the autumn festival in Niihama. The drum stand is lifted by about 150 men. It is one of the three biggest fight festivals in Japan.

The Matsuyama Autumn Festival includes a mikoshi event called Hachiawase (鉢合わせ) which takes place near Dōgo Onsen and Isaniwa Shrine.

Hot Springs

There are Hot Springs in Ehime Prefecture.

Dōgo Onsen appears in the Nihon Shoki. This Hot Spring has three public baths: the main building, Tsubaki no Yu, and Asuka no Yu.
Sora to Mori is a combined warm bath facility. There are hot springs, restaurants, and body care.
Nibukawa Onsen is a hot spring located in Imabari. The source originates from the crevices of the Inugawa Valley in this hot spring town.

Language

Iyo dialect is a Japanese dialect spoken in Ehime Prefecture. Nanyo is influenced by the Kyushu dialect, and Chuyo and Toyo are influenced by the Kinki dialect.
Museums

Museum of Ehime History and Culture
Kaimei School

Transport

Kurushima Strait Bridge on the Shimanami Kaidō
Railway

Shikoku Railway (JR Shikoku)
Yosan Line
Yodo Line
Uchiko Line
Iyo Railway (Iyotetsu)
Gunchū Line
Takahama Line
Yokogawara Line
Matsuyama Inner Line

Road
Expressway

Matsuyama Expressway
Tokushima Expressway
Takamatsu Expressway
Kochi Expressway
Nishiseto Expressway (also referred to as the Shimanami Kaidō)
Imabari Komatsu Road

National highways

Route 11
Route 33 (Matsuyama-Kōchi)
Route 56 (Matsuyama-Iyo-Uwajima-Sukumo-Susaki-Kōchi)
Route 192 (Saijyo-Shikoku Chuo-Yoshinogawa-Tokushima)
Route 194
Route 196
Route 197
Route 317 (Matsuyama-Imabari-Onomichi)
Route 319
Route 320
Route 378
Route 380
Route 437
Route 440
Route 441
Route 494 (Matsuyama-Niyodogawa-Susaki)

Ports

Kawanoe Port
Niihama Port – Ferry route to Osaka
Toyo Port – Ferry route to Osaka
Imabari Port – Ferry route to Innoshima, Hakata Island, and international container hub port
Matsuyama Port – Ferry route to Kitakyushu, Yanai, Hiroshima, Kure, and international container hub port
Yawatahama Port – Ferry route to Beppu, Usuki
Misaki Port – Ferry route to Oita
Uwajima Port

Airport

Matsuyama Airport