Ehime Prefecture

{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}} {{Redirect|Ehime|the school ship|Ehime Maru and USS Greeneville collision}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Ehime Prefecture | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|愛媛県}}}} | settlement_type = Prefecture | translit_lang1 = Japanese | translit_lang1_type = Japanese | translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|愛媛県}} | translit_lang1_type1 = Rōmaji | translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Ehime-ken}} | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | image1 = Isidutisan20220226 1.jpg | caption1 = View of Mount Ishizuchi | image2 = Dogo Onsen 2017-04-05 (34099934150).jpg | caption2 = Dogo Onsen | image3 = Matsuyama Castle Keep Tower 20170123-1.jpg | caption3 = Matsuyama Castle | image4 = Tensyaen20210406 12.jpg | caption4 = Uwajima Tensya Garden | image5 = Tounaru 20230526 3.jpg | caption5 = Besshi copper mine heritage site | image6 = Godankougen05.jpg | caption6 = Shikoku Karst (Godan Plateau) }} | image_caption = | image_flag = Flag of Ehime Prefecture.svg | flag_size = 100px | image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Ehime prefecture.svg | blank_emblem_size = 80px | blank_emblem_type = Emblem | image_map = Map of Japan with highlight on 38 Ehime prefecture.svg | coordinates = {{Coord|33|50|N|132|50|E|region:JP-38_scale:500000|display=inline, title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Japan | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Shikoku | subdivision_type2 = Island | subdivision_name2 = Shikoku | seat_type = Capital | seat = Matsuyama | parts_type = Subdivisions | parts_style = para | p1 = Districts: 7 | p2 = Municipalities: 20 | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Tokihiro Nakamura (since December 2010) | area_total_km2 = 5,676.23 | area_water_percent = | area_rank = 26th | population_footnotes = | population_total = 1,334,841 | population_as_of = October 1, 2020 | population_rank = 28th | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type2 = GDP | demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = Total | demographics2_info1 = JP¥5,138 billion US$37.9 billion (2022) | iso_code = JP-38 | website = {{URL|https://www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.html}} | module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes | country = Japan | bird = Japanese robin (''Erithacus akahige'')<ref name=symbols /> | fish = Red sea bream (''Pagrus major'')<ref name=symbols /> | flower = Satsuma mandarin (''Citrus unshiu'')<ref name=symbols>{{cite web|script-title=ja:愛媛県の紹介＞愛媛県のシンボル |url=http://www.pref.ehime.jp/shokai/sinboru.html |work=Ehime prefectural website |publisher=Ehime Prefecture |access-date=9 September 2011 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109163141/http://www.pref.ehime.jp/shokai/sinboru.html |archive-date=9 January 2008 }}</ref> | tree = Pine (''Pinus'')<ref name=symbols /> | mammal = Japanese river otter ("Lutra lutra whiteleyi")<ref name=symbols /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://extinct-animals-facts.com/Recently-Extinct-Animal-Facts/Extinct-Japanese-River-Otter-Facts.html|title=Japanese River Otter Facts}}</ref> }} | anthem = Ehime no uta }}

{{Nihongo|'''Ehime Prefecture'''|愛媛県|Ehime-ken|{{IPA|ja|eꜜ.çi.me, e.çi.meꜜ.keɴ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku.<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ehime" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 170|page=170}}.</ref> Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,334,841<ref name="population1">{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/ehime/ |title= Ehime Population}}</ref> and 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. Ehime Prefecture also borders Hiroshima Prefecture for {{convert|74|m|ft}} on Hyōtanjima.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=ja:愛媛県～広島県の“隠れ県境”がまさかの日本最短!? 最長県境も愛媛県!? 意外と知らない県境の“魅力”と“可能性” |url=https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/itv/1567351 |access-date=31 August 2025 |work=TBS News |date=17 February 2025 |language=ja}}</ref>

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.<ref>Nussbaum, "Matsuyama" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 621|page=621}}.</ref>

Notable past Ehime residents include three Nobel Prize winners: Kenzaburo Oe (1994 Nobel Prize in Literature), Shuji Nakamura (2014 Nobel Prize in Physics), and Syukuro Manabe (2021 Nobel Prize in Physics).

==History== {{See also|Historic Sites of Ehime Prefecture}}

Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime Prefecture was known as Iyo Province.<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}.</ref> 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".<ref>Chamberlain, Basil Hall. 1882. ''A translation of the "Ko-ji-ki" or Records of ancient matters''. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kj/kj012.htm section V]</ref>

In 2012, a research group from the University of Tokyo and Ehime University said they had discovered rare earth deposits in Matsuyama.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japan Discovers Domestic Rare Earths Reserve|url=http://www.brightwire.com/news/207869-japan-discovers-domestic-rare-earths-reserve|publisher=BrightWire|access-date=2012-05-10|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723024000/http://www.brightwire.com/news/207869-japan-discovers-domestic-rare-earths-reserve|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==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 Kōchi 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 narrowest peninsula in Japan.

As of 31 March 2020, 7 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Ashizuri-Uwakai and Setonaikai National Parks; Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park; and Hijikawa, Kinshako, Okudōgo Tamagawa, Sadamisaki Hantō-Uwakai, Saragamine Renpō, Sasayama, and Shikoku Karst Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/park/doc/data/natural/naturalpark_4.pdf |script-title=ja:自然公園都道府県別面積総括 |trans-title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |language=ja |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=31 March 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>

===Cities=== thumb|Ehime prefecture population pyramid in 2020 {{See also|List of cities in Ehime Prefecture by population}}thumb|250px|Map of Ehime Prefecture. {{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} thumb|right|Matsuyama thumb|right|Uwajimaright|thumb|The Ehime Prefectural Capitol Building

Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture: {| class="wikitable sortable" ! colspan="2" |Name ! rowspan="2" |Area (km2) ! rowspan="2" |Population (2020)<ref name="population1" /> ! rowspan="2" |Map |- !Rōmaji !Kanji |- |frameless|25x25px Imabari |今治市 |419.56 |151,672 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Iyo |伊予市 |194.44 |35,133 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Matsuyama (capital) |松山市 |429.4 |511,192 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Niihama |新居浜市 |234.3 |115,938 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Ōzu |大洲市 |432.24 |40,575 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Saijō |西条市 |509.07 |104,791 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Seiyo |西予市 |514.78 |35,388 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Shikokuchūō |四国中央市 |421.24 |82,754 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Tōon |東温市 |211.45 |33,903 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Uwajima |宇和島市 |469.48 |70,809 |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Yawatahama |八幡浜市 |133.03 |31,987 |frameless|50x50px |}

===Towns and villages=== These are the towns in each district: {| class="wikitable sortable" ! colspan="2" |Name ! rowspan="2" |Area (km2) ! rowspan="2" |Population (2020)<ref name="population1" /> ! rowspan="2" |District ! rowspan="2" |Map |- !Rōmaji !Kanji |- |frameless|25x25px Ainan |愛南町 |239.58 |19,601 |Minamiuwa District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Ikata |伊方町 |94.37 |8,397 |Nishiuwa District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Kamijima |上島町 |30.38 |6,509 |Ochi District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Kihoku |鬼北町 |241.87 |9,682 |Kitauwa District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Kumakōgen |久万高原町 |583.66 |7,404 |Kamiukena District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Masaki |松前町 |20.41 |29,630 |Iyo District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Matsuno |松野町 |98.5 |3,674 |Kitauwa District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Tobe |砥部町 |101.57 |20,480 |Iyo District |frameless|50x50px |- |frameless|25x25px Uchiko |内子町 |299.5 |15,322 |Kita District |frameless|50x50px |}

===Mergers=== {{main|List of mergers in Ehime Prefecture}}

Former districts:

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

==Economy== thumb|Iyokan 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.{{Citation needed|reason=Presentation of the material on the grounds|date=October 2018}}

==Education== {{div col}}

===Universities and colleges=== ====National==== *Ehime University ====Prefectural==== *Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science

====Private==== *Matsuyama Shinonome College (women's college) *Matsuyama University *St. Catherine University

===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 {{div col end}}

==Sports== [[File:EhimePreParkStadium130811-3.JPG|thumb|Ningineer Stadium.]] The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime.

'''Association football:''' *Ehime FC *FC Imabari

'''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 television shows and movies 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 (書道パフォーマンス甲子園) 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. * ''My-HiME'' is set in Ehime.

There are major 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. *The Velo-city conference, the world's largest conference dedicated to daily cycling and active mobility, will be held in Ehime in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Velo-city |title=Ehime Prefecture wins bid to host Velo-city 2027: A first for Japan! |url=https://www.velo-city-conference.com/en/blog/ehime-prefecture-wins-bid-to-host-velo-city-2027-a-first-for-japan-/ |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=www.velo-city-conference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Hot springs=== These are several hot springs (''onsen'') 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=== * Kaimei School * Museum of Ehime History and Culture

==Transport== thumb|right|Kurushima Strait Bridge on the Shimanami Kaidō {{div col|colwidth=16em}}

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

===Road===

====National highways====

*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|11}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|33}} (Matsuyama-Kōchi) *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|56}} (Matsuyama-Iyo-Uwajima-Sukumo-Susaki-Kōchi) *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|192}} (Saijyo-Shikokuchūō-Yoshinogawa-Tokushima) *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|194}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|196}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|197}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|317}} (Matsuyama-Imabari-Onomichi) *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|319}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|320}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|378}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|380}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|437}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|440}} *{{jct|country=JPN|Route|441}} *{{jct|country=JPN|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 {{Div col end}}

==Notable people==   * Kazuyoshi Ishii (born 1953), founder of Seidokaikan karate and K-1 * Tadashi Irie (born 1944), yakuza member * Daichi Kamada (born 1996), footballer * Naoki Kuwata (born 1977), actor and model * Tetchō Suehiro (1849–1896), politician, novelist and journalist

==International relations== Ehime Prefecture is making use of its long tradition of involvement with people overseas through international exchanges in areas such as the economy, culture, sports and education.<ref name=":sister">{{cite web |title=International exchange activated with globalization|publisher=Ehime Prefecture|url=http://www.pref.ehime.jp/h30100/global/industry/grobal.html|access-date=2018-10-27}}</ref> *{{flagicon|Canada}} British Columbia, Canada *{{flagicon|China}} Dalian, China *{{flagicon|United States}} Hawaii, United States *{{flagicon|China}} Liaoning, China *{{flagicon|Australia}} New South Wales, Australia *{{flagicon|Australia}} Queensland, Australia

== Notes == {{Reflist}}

==References== * Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC ''Japan encyclopedia.''] Cambridge: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition OCLC 58053128]

==External links== {{Commons category|Ehime prefecture}} * {{Official website|https://www.pref.ehime.jp}}

Category:Ehime Prefecture Category:Shikoku region Category:Prefectures of Japan