Ehime Prefecture

**Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県 *Ehime-ken*)**

Capital	Matsuyama
Region	Shikoku
Island	Shikoku
Governor	Moriyuki Kato
Area	5,676.44 km² (26^th)
- % water	%
Population (2000)
- Population	1,493,126 (27^th)
- Density	263 /km²
Districts	7
Municipalities	22
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

Ehime agency.

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

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Culture
6 Tourism
7 Miscellaneous topics
8 External links
9 Categories

History

Until the Meiji reformation, 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 Yoshiakira who built Matsuyama Castle, forming the basis for the modern city of Matsuyama.

Geography

Map of Ehime Prefecture.

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.

Cities

Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture:

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Mergers

(as of February 7, 2006)

Main article: Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan

On April 1, 2003 the village of Besshiyama from Uma District merged into the (expanded) city of Niihama.

On April 1, 2004 all towns and villages in the former Higashiuwa District (dissolved by this merger) and Mikame from Nishiuwa District merged, forming the new city of Seiyo.

On April 1, 2004 the cities of Kawanoe and Iyomishima, the town of Doi and the village of Shingu (both from Uma District, dissolved by this merger) merged to form the new city of Shikokuchuo.

On August 1, 2004 the town of Kuma and the villages of Mikawa, Omogo, and Yanadani from Kamiukena District merged to form the new town of Kumakogen.

On September 21, 2004 the towns of Kawauchi and Shigenobu from Onsen District merged to form the new city of Toon.

On October 1, 2004 Ikina, Iwagi, Uoshima, and Yuge (all from Ochi District) merged, forming the new town of Kamijima.

On November 1, 2004 the former city of Saijo merged with the former city of Toyo and the towns of Komatsu and Tanbara from the former Shusou District (dissolved by this merger) merged to create the new city of Saijo.

On January 1, 2005 the village of Hirota from Iyo District merged into the town of Tobe.

On January 1, 2005 the town of Hiromi and the village of Hiyoshi (both from Kitauwa District) merged to form the new town of Kihoku.

On January 1, 2005 the towns of Ikazaki (from Kita District) and Oda (from Kamiukena District) merged into the town of Uchiko.

On January 1, 2005 the city of Hōjō and the town of Nakajima from Onsen District (dissolved by this merger) merged into the (expanded) city of Matsuyama.

On January 11, 2005 the towns of Hijikawa and Nagahama as well as the village of Kawabe (all from Kita District) merged into the city of Ozu.

On January 16, 2005 the new city of Imabari was formed by the mergers of 11 towns and villages (all from Ochi District) and the old city of Imabari. Towns and villages involved in this merger were Asakura, Hakata, Kamiura, Kikuma, Miyakubo, Namikata, Omishima, Onishi, Sekizen, Tamagawa, and Yoshiumi. With this merger, there are no more villages left in Ehime Prefecture.

On March 28, 2005 the town of Honai from Nishiuwa District and the old city of Yawatahama merged to form the new city of Yawatahama.

On April 1, 2005 the towns of Misaki and Seto from Nishiuwa District merged into the town of Ikata.

On August 1, 2005 the new city of Uwajima was formed by the mergers of 3 towns from Kitauwa District and the old city of Uwajima. Mima, Tsushima and Yoshida were involed in this merger with the old city of Uwajima.

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 industires, and are particularly known for citrus fruit such as mikan (tangerine) and iyokan and cultured pearls.

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

Ehime is said to physically resemble the shape of a Tiger, but one of the most famous symbols for the prefecture is the Mikan, or mandarin orange, which grow in abundance near many seaside communities.