Shikokuchūō

Shikokuchūō Tứ quốc trung ương thị
City
Doi Taiko (Japanese drum) Festival, held on October 13 to 15 every year
Flag Seal
Location of Shikokuchūō in Ehime Prefecture
Shikokuchūō Location in Japan
Coordinates:33°59′N133°33′E
Country	Japan
Region	Shikoku
Prefecture	Ehime
Government
• Mayor	Minoru Shinohara(since April 2013)
Area
• Total	421.24 km2(162.64 sq mi)
Population (August 31, 2022)
• Total	83,635
• Density	200/km2(510/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00(JST)
City hall address	4-6-55 Miyagawa, Mishima, Shikokuchūō-shi, Ehime-ken 799-0497
Climate	Cfa
Website	Official website

Shikokuchūō City Hall

Panoramic view of downtown Kawanoe area, from Kawanoe Castle

Shikokuchūō(Tứ quốc trung ương thị,Shikokuchūō-shi,lit. "CentralShikokuCity ")is acitylocated inEhime Prefecture,Japan. As of August 31, 2022,the city had an estimatedpopulationof 83,635 in 28876 households and apopulation densityof 200 persons per km².The total area of the city is 421.24 square kilometres (162.64 sq mi). Shikokuchūō is the leading producer of paper and paper products in Japan.It is also aport cityand one of Ehime's major centers of industry.

Geography

Shikokuchūō is located in eastern Ehime Prefecture, with the Hoō Mountains to the south and the Gulf of Hiuchi of theSeto Inland Seato the north. Because the plains are narrow, a local wind called "Yamaji" blows down from the mountains toward the sea. To the south of the Hoō Mountains, the Douzan River, one of theYoshino River's tributaries, flows eastward, and further south are theShikoku Mountains,which forms the border withKōchi Prefecture.TheJapan Median Tectonic Lineruns east-west along the foot of the Hoō Mountains. The city is located 60 kilometers fromKōchi city,70 kilometers fromTakamatsu,80 kilometers fromMatsuyama, Ehimeand 100 kilometers fromTokushima.

Neighbouring municipalities

Ehime Prefecture

• Niihama

Kagawa Prefecture

• Kanonji

Tokushima Prefecture

• Miyoshi

Kōchi Prefecture

• Ōkawa
• Tosa town
• Ōtoyo
• Motoyama

Climate

Shikokuchūō has ahumid subtropical climate(KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Shikokuchūō is 12.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2030 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 23.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.3 °C.

Climate data for Shikokuchūō (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	20.3 (68.5)	23.7 (74.7)	27.6 (81.7)	29.8 (85.6)	32.2 (90.0)	35.2 (95.4)	38.3 (100.9)	37.9 (100.2)	37.2 (99.0)	32.3 (90.1)	25.8 (78.4)	22.0 (71.6)	38.3 (100.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	9.3 (48.7)	10.0 (50.0)	13.6 (56.5)	19.3 (66.7)	24.2 (75.6)	26.8 (80.2)	31.0 (87.8)	32.2 (90.0)	28.1 (82.6)	22.6 (72.7)	17.0 (62.6)	11.8 (53.2)	20.5 (68.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	5.9 (42.6)	6.2 (43.2)	9.3 (48.7)	14.4 (57.9)	19.3 (66.7)	22.7 (72.9)	26.9 (80.4)	27.9 (82.2)	24.1 (75.4)	18.6 (65.5)	13.2 (55.8)	8.3 (46.9)	16.4 (61.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	2.6 (36.7)	2.6 (36.7)	5.2 (41.4)	9.9 (49.8)	14.8 (58.6)	19.3 (66.7)	23.5 (74.3)	24.4 (75.9)	20.7 (69.3)	15.0 (59.0)	9.5 (49.1)	5.0 (41.0)	12.7 (54.9)
Record low °C (°F)	−3.5 (25.7)	−5.4 (22.3)	−3.1 (26.4)	0.7 (33.3)	5.4 (41.7)	11.8 (53.2)	17.0 (62.6)	17.9 (64.2)	10.6 (51.1)	6.7 (44.1)	0.2 (32.4)	−2.3 (27.9)	−5.4 (22.3)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	44.9 (1.77)	56.2 (2.21)	94.9 (3.74)	89.2 (3.51)	113.2 (4.46)	175.8 (6.92)	198.7 (7.82)	162.6 (6.40)	232.5 (9.15)	142.5 (5.61)	69.5 (2.74)	64.5 (2.54)	1,444.4 (56.87)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm)	7.2	8.3	10.6	9.6	9.4	12.6	10.8	8.7	10.6	8.7	7.4	9.1	113
Mean monthlysunshine hours	107.1	117.4	159.0	184.5	194.4	130.7	166.5	194.9	134.8	138.4	112.6	98.4	1,736
Source:JMA

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,the population of Shikokuchūō has decreased slightly since the 1960s.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	67,329	—
1930	71,067	+5.6%
1940	74,134	+4.3%
1950	101,575	+37.0%
1960	100,209	−1.3%
1970	92,663	−7.5%
1980	95,168	+2.7%
1990	97,215	+2.2%
2000	94,326	−3.0%
2010	90,187	−4.4%
2020	82,754	−8.2%

History

The area of Shikokuchūō was part of ancientIyo Province.Ruins found within the city limits suggest that the area was first inhabited more than 12,000 years ago. People first lived in the hilly areas along the Kinugawa River, and then spread to the coastal plains from theJomon periodto theYayoi period.In the middle of theKofun period,Toguyama Kofun, which is said to be the tomb of Prince Kinashi Karu, was constructed. In the late Kofun period, in the 6th century, burial mounds began to be built in hilly areas. In the first half of the 7th century, theUmamukaiyama Kofun,which has one of the largest stoneburial chambersin Shikoku, was built. After theNara periodTaika Reforms,this area came to be calledUma District.The city limits of Uma District and modern Shikokuchūō are almost the same. As Uma is centrally located in Shikoku, it was historically a transportation hub between Shikoku's major cities. Due to its strategic importance, during theSengoku periodUma was repeatedly invaded by the neighboring warlords.During theEdo Period,the area as divided between the holdings ofImabari Domain,Saijō Domainandtenryōterritory administered on behalf of theTokugawa shogunatebyIyo-Matsuyama Domain.Industry began to flourish in Uma during the Edo period, and the city grew as a port town. The Tosa kaidō offered access toTosa Provincein the south, so Uma was also a stopping spot, or ‘post station,’ for the Tosa daimyō and travelers to and from Tosa.Paper making began in Uma around 1750,and much later grew into the region's major industry.

Following theMeiji restoration,the area was divided into 25 villages with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on December 15, 1889. The villages of Mishima and Kawanoe were raised to town status in 1898. The village of Doi was raised to town status in 1954 and the villages of Shinritsu and Kamiyama merged to form the village of Shingū the same year. Late that year, Kawanoe and Mishima were raised to city status, with Mishima renamed Iyomishima.

Shikokuchūō city was founded on April 1, 2004 when the cities ofKawanoe,Iyomishima,the town ofDoiand the village ofShingūmerged. The name literally means "ShikokuCentral City "and was so named in the hopes of becoming the new capital of the island of Shikoku, should the four prefectures be merged into one state.However, this name has been roundly criticized for its unoriginality, and is known as one of the "strange city names" throughout Japan.

The former cities of Kawanoe and Iyomishima (the two largest of the four municipalities that merged) have fought for political control over the new city.

Government

Shikokuchūō has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity council of 22 members. Shikokuchūō contributes three members to the Ehime Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Ehime 3rd district of thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.

Economy

Shikokuchūō is one of the major industrial cities in the Ehime and Shikoku regions, and is one of Japan's leading paper manufacturing areas.

Paper industry

The history of the paper industry in Shikokuchūō extends back to around 1750, whenwashiwas first produced in the Uma area.The area does not have much flat land, and is ill-suited to rice farming, but as water andpaper mulberry(kōzo) are plentiful, it is ideal for paper manufacturing.The modern paper industry began to flourish when mechanized manufacturing techniques were developed in the Meiji era. After World War II, the paper industry contributed to the city's rapid economic growth.

The city paper museum, Kami no Machi Shiryokan, has exhibits and information on traditional paper making and the modern paper industry.

Education

Shikokuchūō has 18 public elementary schools and six public middle schools and one combined public elementary/middle school operated by the city government. The city has three public high schools operated by the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Shikoku Railway Company-Yosan Line

• Kawanoe-Iyo-Mishima-Iyo-Sangawa-Akaboshi-Iyo-Doi-Sekigawa

Highways

• Matsuyama Expressway
• Kōchi Expressway
• Takamatsu Expressway
• Tokushima Expressway
• National Route 11
• National Route 192
• National Route 319

Ports

• Port of Mishima-Kawanoe

Local attractions

Manabe house

The Manabe house is the oldest extantminka(traditional Japanese house) in Ehime, and is designated as a national cultural treasure. The house was built by the Manabe family, who were descended from members of theHeike clanwho fled to Shikoku after the Heike's defeat in theGenpei War.

Junshin-do

The Buddhist monk Junshin dwelt here after he was expelled from Tosa province (modern day Kochi). As is described in the lyrics of theYosakoi narukodancing song, Junshin had an illicit affair with a comb-maker's daughter, and the two of them attempted to elope. After they were caught leaving Tosa without permission, Junshin was permanently expelled from Tosa, and the two of them were separated. Junshin lived in this building for the remainder of his life.

Kofun

Manyburial mounds,orkofun,were built in the area during the mid to late Kofun period. These include the Toguzan burial mounds, the Kyogaoka burial mounds (circa sixth century AD), and theUmamukaiyama Kofun(early seventh century).The Toguzan kofun is said to be the grave of crown princeKinashi no Karu no Miko,son of the nineteenth emperor, who in theKojikiwas banished to Iyo by his brother.

Tosa Kaidō

TheTosa Kaidōis a direct route over the mountains between Tosa (modern day Kochi) and Iyo (modern day Ehime) that was used from ancient times to the Edo era. In Shikokuchūō, the road starts in Kawanoe, passes through Shingu, and continues to Sasagamine ridge in Otoyo Town, Kochi. Parts of the road date back to 793, when it was made an official government route of the Daijo-kan (the central government in Kyoto).The road later fell out of use by the government, but continued to be used by travelers and people in Shikoku for the next nine hundred years. From 1718, the Edo shogunate began to use the road for sankinkotai, the policy of forcing the daimyō of every han to move periodically between Edo and his han.

In recent years the Tosa Kaidō has been maintained through the efforts of volunteers. Hikers can walk on a footpath from Kawanoe to Otoyo, Kochi. (The path sometimes joins Ehime prefectural road 5.)

Kawanoe Castle

Kawanoe Castle

Kawanoe Castle was built in 1337 at the beginning of the Nanboku-cho period. For the next several hundred years, it was attacked repeatedly by armies from Sanuki, Awa, and Tosa. It fell to the armies of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585, when he conquered Shikoku. The castle was torn down in 1611, and some of it was used for Matsuyama Castle. In 1984, Kawanoe City began a project to rebuild Kawanoe Castle. Construction was completed in 1988.

In Popular culture

Shodo Girls

Main article:Shodo Girls

The 2010 movieShodo Girls!! Watashi-tachi no Koshienwas filmed in Shikokuchūō. The movie is about a high school calligraphy club which prepares to compete in the "Shodo Girls Koshien" —a performance calligraphy event involving teams drawing on 10m x 12m sheets of paper while performing to music.ShodoGirls is based on a true story.

Notable people from Shikokuchūō

• Ken Kamakura,baseball player
• Minoru Shiraishi,voice actor
• Yoshikazu Shirakawa,photographer
• Kiyonori Sokabe,trumpeter
• Kumiko Takahashi,drummer (chatmonchy)
• Syukuro Manabe,meteorologist

External links

• Media related toShikokuchūō, Ehimeat Wikimedia Commons
• Geographic data related toShikokuchūōatOpenStreetMap
• Shikokuchuo City official website(in Japanese)
• Shikokuchuo City official website