Ehime Prefecture

is a prefecture in the Shikoku region of Japan on the island of Shikoku.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Ehime" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 170; Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO),  Ehime Prefecture, Regional Information; retrieved 2012-4-6. The capital city is Matsuyama.Nussbaum, "Matsuyama" at p. 621.

History
Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province.Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780. 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.

Drought is common in Ehime history.Berga, L. (2006).  Dams and Reservoirs, Societies and Environment in the 21st Century, Vol. 1, p. 41.

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.

Cities
Imabari
Iyo
Matsuyama (capital)
Niihama
Ōzu
SaijōSeiyo
Shikokuchūō
Tōon
Uwajima
Yawatahama

National Parks
National Parks are established in about 7% of the total land area of the prefecture.Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-13.

Shrines and Temples
Ōyamazumi jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.  
"Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 ; retrieved 2012-2-9.

Related pages
 Provinces of Japan
 Prefectures of Japan
 List of regions of Japan
 List of islands of Japan
 Ehime F.C.

References

Other websites

http://www.pref.ehime.jp/index-e.htm ;