Ehime Prefecture

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
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Romaji	Ehime-ken
Flag Symbol
Location of Ehime in Japan
Coordinates: 33°50′N 132°50′E
Country	Japan
Region	Shikoku
Island	Shikoku
Capital	Matsuyama
Government
• Governor	Tokihiro Nakamura (since December 2010)
Area
• Total	5,676.44 km2 (2,191.69 sq mi)
• Rank	26th
Population  (November 1, 2010)
• Total	1,430,086
• Rank	27th
• Density	250/km2 (650/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-38
Prefectural flower	Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)
Prefectural tree	Pine (Pinus)
Prefectural bird	Japanese robin (Erithacus akahige)
Prefectural bird	Red sea bream (Pagrus major)
Number of districts	7
Number of municipalities	20
Website	www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm

History

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

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

Imabari Iyo Matsuyama (capital) Niihama Ōzu Saijō

Seiyo Shikokuchūō Tōon Uwajima Yawatahama

National Parks

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

Shrines and Temples

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

Related pages

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan
• Ehime F.C.