Ehime Prefecture

prefecture of Japan

Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県, Ehime-ken) is a prefecture in the Shikoku region of Japan on the island of Shikoku.[1] The capital city is Matsuyama.[2]

Ehime
愛媛県
Japanese transcription(s)
 • RomajiEhime-ken
Flag of Ehime
Official seal of Ehime
Location of Ehime in Japan
Location of Ehime in Japan
Coordinates: 33°50′N 132°50′E / 33.833°N 132.833°E / 33.833; 132.833
Country Japan
RegionShikoku
IslandShikoku
CapitalMatsuyama
Government
 • GovernorTokihiro Nakamura (since December 2010)
Area
 • Total5,676.44 km2 (2,191.69 sq mi)
 • Rank26th
Population
 (November 1, 2010)
 • Total1,430,086
 • Rank27th
 • Density250/km2 (650/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-38
Prefectural flowerSatsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)
Prefectural treePine (Pinus)
Prefectural birdJapanese robin (Erithacus akahige)
Prefectural birdRed sea bream (Pagrus major)
Number of districts7
Number of municipalities20
Websitewww.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm

History

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Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province.[3] The name Ehime comes from the Kojiki. It means "beautiful maiden."

After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Tokugawa shogun gave the area to his allies. Kato Yoshiaki built Matsuyama Castle which became the center of the modern city of Matsuyama.[2]

Drought is common in Ehime history.[4]

Geography

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Ehime faces the Seto Inland Sea in the southwestern part of Shikoku. The prefecture is bordered by Kagawa Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture in the east. Kōchi is to the south. The prefecture has a long coastline and it includes many islands.

The Yanase Dam was built in 1953.[4]

Cities

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National Parks

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National Parks are established in about 7% of the total land area of the prefecture.[5]

Shrines and Temples

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Ōyamazumi jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture. [6]

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References

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  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Ehime" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 170; Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO), Ehime Prefecture, Regional Information[permanent dead link]; retrieved 2012-4-6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Nussbaum, "Matsuyama" at p. 621.
  3. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Berga, L. (2006). Dams and Reservoirs, Societies and Environment in the 21st Century, Vol. 1, p. 41.
  5. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-13.
  6. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-2-9.

Other websites

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  Media related to Ehime prefecture at Wikimedia Commons