Maritime city "Imabari"

 What is "Imabari"?

Imabari City is located in the northeastern part of Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, almost in the center of the Seto Inland Sea. It
consists of a plain area with a central urban area, a lush mountainous area, and islands scattered in the Seto Inland Sea, and is home to approximately 140,000 people.

Known as one of Japan's leading towel-producing regions, Imabari towels are highly regarded both domestically and internationally for their high quality.
Furthermore, its location in the Seto Inland Sea, a national park, and the Shimanami Kaido, a series of magnificent bridges connecting the islands, have made it a mecca for cyclists, attracting many visitors from both within Japan and abroad.
However, Imabari City also has another, lesser-known side: it is Japan's largest maritime city.

 What is a "maritime city"?

A maritime city refers to a port city where maritime industries such as shipping, shipbuilding, and marine equipment manufacturing (manufacturing of ship parts and machinery) are highly concentrated, and which serves as an economic and cultural center.
In Japan, Imabari City fits this description.
Following the municipal merger in 2005, maritime industries that were scattered throughout Imabari City and Ochi District were consolidated into a single administrative area.
As a result, it became the number one city in Japan in terms of industrial concentration and production volume, and was born as "Japan's largest maritime city," a unique hub of maritime industries unparalleled in the world. It
also boasts the largest number of shipyards in Japan, and in particular, the Hashihama Bay on the coast of Imabari City is home to the world-renowned "shipbuilding row houses" where numerous shipyards stand.

Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea.
Therefore, much of what we need for our daily lives—food, energy, and other necessities—is transported by ship.
In fact,over 99% of Japan's trade with other countries is conducted by ship.
Large ships can transport large quantities of goods from distant countries at low cost, supporting our way of life.

 Japan's largest pirate group, the Murakami Pirates

Imabari is a town that has developed in close connection with the sea since ancient times.
In the past, the Seto Inland Sea was home to what is said to be the largest pirate group in Japan.
However, these pirates were not merely plunderers. They were intimately familiar with the strong currents of the Kurushima Strait, and acted as pilots, safely guiding sailors and maintaining order in trade and distribution in the Seto Inland Sea.
While collecting tolls as payment for safe voyages, they also engaged in various businesses, such as dealing in fresh seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea.
This history of piracy has changed over a long period of time and has eventually been passed down to Imabari's diverse maritime industries.

 Salt production and Hashihama Bay

In the past, salt production flourished on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, and Imabari was one of them.
In the Edo period, salt fields were built in the tidal flats of Hatohama Bay in Imabari, and it became famous as one of the leading salt-producing areas in Japan.
Also, in the Kurushima Strait, where strong winds and rough currents occur, many ships used Hatohama Bay as a port to wait for favorable tides and winds, and it played an important role as a port.
Repairs were carried out on ships while they were anchored, and eventually new ships were built there, leading to the development of the shipbuilding industry.
Taking advantage of its strategic location as a key point for maritime traffic, this bay prospered as a salt field and port town, becoming so bustling that it was called "Little Nagasaki of Iyo."
The richness of the salt fields and the advantageous location of the Kurushima Strait allowed the shipping and shipbuilding industries to take root in this area, and Imabari, Japan's leading maritime city, was born here.
Hatohama Bay is approximately 1 km long and 300 m wide. This Hamahama Bay is the birthplace of shipbuilding in Imabari.