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Ehime

Ehime Prefecture
愛媛県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 愛媛県
 • Rōmaji Ehime-ken
Flag of Ehime Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Ehime Prefecture
Symbol of Ehime Prefecture
Location of Ehime Prefecture
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)
Area rank 26th
Population (November 1, 2010)
 • Total 1,430,086
 • Rank 27th
 • Density 251.93/km2 (652.5/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-38
Districts 7
Municipalities 20
Flower Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)
Tree Pine (Pinus)
Bird Japanese robin (Erithacus akahige)
Fish Red sea bream (Pagrus major)
Website www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm

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

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 Mongolian 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 kuniumi part of the Kojiki where Iyo Province is mythologically named Ehime "lovely princess."

In 2012, a research group from the University of Tokyo and Ehime University said they had discovered rare earth deposits in Matsuyama.

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.


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