Ehime Prefecture

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

Infobox Prefecture Japan
Name = Ehime
JapaneseName = 愛媛県
Rōmaji = Ehime-ken
Symbol = PrefSymbol-Ehime.png Capital = Matsuyama
Region = Shikoku
Island = Shikoku
TotalArea = 5,676.44
AreaRank = 26th
PCWater =
PopDate = 2000
Population = 1,493,126
PopRank = 27th
Density = 263
Districts = 7
Municipalities = 20
ISOCode = JP-38
Flower = Satsuma mandarin ("Citrus unshiu")
Tree = Pine ("Pinus")
Bird = Japanese robin ("Erithacus akahige")

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Website = [http://www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm]
Governor = Moriyuki Katō

nihongo|Ehime Prefecture|愛媛県|Ehime-ken is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.

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."

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.

Cities

Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture:
*Imabari
*Iyo
*Matsuyama (capital)
*Niihama
*Ōzu
*Saijō
*Seiyo
*Shikokuchūō
*Tōon
*Uwajima
*Yawatahama

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

† Scheduled to be merged [http://www.ehime-np.co.jp/rensai/shasetsu/ren017200705290037.html] .

Mergers

Former districts:

*Uwa District (historical)
*Uma District
*Shūsō District
*Onsen District

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.

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime.

Football (soccer)
*Ehime F.C.

Baseball
*Ehime Mandarin Pirates

External links

* [http://www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm Official Ehime prefecture website] en icon