Iyo
伊予市
City
Iyo City Hall
Iyo City Hall
Flag of Iyo
Flag
Official seal of Iyo
Seal
Location of Iyo in Ehime Prefecture
Location of Iyo
Iyo is located in Japan
Iyo
Iyo
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°45′N 132°42′E / 33.750°N 132.700°E / 33.750; 132.700
CountryJapan
RegionShikoku
PrefectureEhime
Government
 • MayorKuninori Takechi
Area
 • Total194.44 km2 (75.07 sq mi)
Population
 (August 31, 2022)
 • Total35,888
 • Density180/km2 (480/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address820 Kominato, Iyo-shi, Ehime-ken 799-3193
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerRapeseed blossom (Brassica napus)
TreeMetasequoia
The sunset seen from the scenic Futami coast
Goshikihama Park Lighthouse

Iyo (Japanese: 伊予市, Hepburn: Iyo-shi) is a city located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2022, the city had an estimated population of 35,888 in 16169 households and a population density of 180 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 194.44 square kilometres (75.07 sq mi).

Geography

Iyo is situated in the center of Ehime, approximately 10 kilometers southwest of the prefectural capital of Matsuyama. The western portion of the city, from Gunchū in the north down to Futami's Shimonada in the south, hug the coast of the Inland Sea, nestled in the southwestern section of the Dogo Plain. The southeastern portion of the city enters into the mountains in the interior of the prefecture, and the Nakayama area in particular is quite mountainous.[2]

Neighbouring municipalities

Ehime Prefecture

Climate

Iyo has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Iyo is 15.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1770 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.5 °C.[3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Iyo has decreased slowly since the 1950s.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 37,394—    
1930 39,638+6.0%
1940 39,469−0.4%
1950 52,614+33.3%
1960 49,106−6.7%
1970 42,612−13.2%
1980 42,843+0.5%
1990 41,516−3.1%
2000 40,505−2.4%
2010 38,022−6.1%

History

Iyo is part of ancient Iyo province. While archaeological artifacts show that the Iyo area has been settled since at least as far back as the Yayoi period (300 BC to 250 AD), the origins of the present city of Iyo can be traced back to the year 1635, when the Matsuyama han ceded the territory including Iyo to the Ōzu Domain. The port at Gunchū, the heart of present-day Iyo, became the main commercial port for Ōzu Domain and the surrounding community flourished. The town of Gunchū was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on December 15, 1889.[5]

On January 1, 1955, the town of Gunchū was merged with the villages of Kita-yamasaki, Minami-yamasaki and Minami-iyo to form the city of Iyo.[5] On April 1, 2005, Iyo absorbed the towns of Nakayama and Futami (both from Iyo District), raising its population to over 40,000 and nearly quadrupling its area. [5] The seal of the city of Iyo incorporates the red of the sunset of Futami, the green of Nakayama, and the blue of the original Iyo city seal.[2]

Government

Iyo has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Iyo contributes one member to the Ehime Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ehime 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Iyo houses the national headquarters for Marutomo and Yamaki, food manufacturing companies that specialize in dried Bonito flakes. Other main products include mikan and Nakayama chestnuts and other fruits and vegetables. In addition, Futami has had some success in making its sunset a local tourist draw, creating a seaside park, a sunset museum and an annual sunset concert at its Shimonada Station.

Education

Iyo has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has one public high school operated by the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Shikoku Railway Company - Yosan Line

Iyotetsu Gunchū Line

Highways

Notable individuals from Iyo

References

  1. ↑ "Iyo city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. 1 2 "Iyo city official profile" (in Japanese). Japan.
  3. ↑ Iyo climate data
  4. ↑ Iyo population statistics
  5. 1 2 3 "Iyo city official history" (in Japanese). Japan.
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