Niihama, Ehime
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NiihamaJapanMap.png
Niihama (新居浜市; -shi) is a city located in the eastern part of Ehime, Japan. As of May 2004, the city has an estimated population of 127,563 and the density of 544.40 persons per km². The total area is 234.30 km². Niihama has the third largest population in Ehime, behind the prefectural capital of Matsuyama and the recently expanded city of Imabari.
The city was founded on November 3, 1937. The city flower is Azalea and the city tree is Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora). Niihama is famous for its Besshi copper mine as well as the annual Niihama Taiko Festival (also known as "The Man Festival", otokomatsuri 男祭り) that is the center of annual drunken and boisterous activity, drawing tourists from around the country to watch this exciting (and somewhat dangerous!) festival.
Dezhou (徳州: Shandong province, China) is Niihama's sister city.
Niihama is known for its local dialect, Niihama-ben.
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Geography
Niihama is positioned in the north-center area of Shikoku, in the eastern part of Ehime prefecture. Niihama is enveloped by mountains to the south and east, hills to the west, and the Seto Inland Sea to the north. The Kokuryo River flows from the mountains to the Seto Inland Sea and divides the city into an areas east of the river (kawahigashi) and west of the river (kawanishi). Being surrounded by mountains, Niihama feels geographically isolated from its closest neighbors, Saijo to the west and the newly formed Shikokuchuo City to the east. The border with Kochi prefecture lies in the mountains far south of the center of town.
The island of Ōshima, northeast of the main part of the city, also is part of Niihama.
The largely mountainous village of Besshi joined the city of Niihama in 2003 greatly increasing the size of the city, if not its population.
Economy
The Besshi copper mine (once considered to be one of the most productive in the world) jump-started the Sumitomo corporation. Even though the mine has since closed, Sumitomo remains a large presence in town. The economy of Niihama is supported largely by factories as well as activities at its ports.
Transportation
The Japan Railway Yosan Line runs through Niihama. Highways and local roads connect Niihama to the rest of the island. On the highway, Matsuyama is under an hour away, and the other main cities of Shikoku (Takamatsu, Kochi, and Tokushima) are all just over an hour's drive away.
External links
- Official website (http://www.city.niihama.ehime.jp/) in Japanese