Ehime Prefecture

is a prefecture in the Shikoku region of Japan on the island of Shikoku. The capital city is Matsuyama.
History.
Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province. 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.
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.
National Parks.
National Parks are established in about 7% of the total land area of the prefecture.
Shrines and Temples.
"Ōyamazumi jinja" is the chief Shinto shrine ("ichinomiya") in the prefecture.