Niihama

Niihama (新浜, にいはま), officially known as the Niihama Metropolis (新浜都), is the largest city in Yamatai and one of the largest cities in the world. It is one of the 34 Provinces of Yamatai and is also the most populous Yamataian province, and is the most populous metropolitan area within the Greater Niihama Area. Located on the north-eastern portion of the southern Yamataian island of Hasukuni, Niihama covers an area of 2,907.324 square kilometres. As of 2020, Niihama has an estimated population of 12.89 million. The Greater Niihama Area is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world, with an estimated 31.6 million residents in 2018.

Originally a collection of fishing villages and farming communities serving the nearby castle and port city of Satsuma, Niihama was eventually expanded in the 16th century as a secondary port to support the increased volume of trade during the Age of Discovery and colonial periods. The city of Niihama was officially founded on 11 February, 1750, within Satsuma Province. The city subsequently experienced a major boom during the industrial revolution, becoming a key port and industrial centre in southern Yamatai and rapidly growing to overtake its counterparts in the region. Niihama was devastated in the Great Niihama Fire of 1826, but was rapidly rebuilt shortly afterwards. In 1879, the neighbouring cities of Ishikawa and Wangan were absorbed. The city underwent a rapid expansion in the mid 20th century after the Second Escar-Varunan War, leading Yamatai's post-war economic recovery, reopening to international trade and investment, and rapprochment with Western Escar. The Niihama Metropolitan Area was established in the 1955 Provincial Reorganisation Plan, which split Niihama and its surrounding cities from Satsuma Province. During the 1997 Hasukuni earthquake, Niihama was only slightly damaged, displaying the city's robust earthquake-proofing technologies.

Since the province was established in 1955, the Niihama Metropolitan Government has administered the province's 21 Urban Districts, 6 Cities, and two islands. Niihama is the second-largest urban economy in the world by gross domestic product. Niihama is one of Yamatai's leading centres of business and finance, and is home to the Niihama Stock Exchange and 36 of Yamatai's largest companies. Niihama is also home to the world's tallest tower, the Niihama Takebashira, and the world's largest underground floodwater diversion facility. The Niihama Metro Central Line, completed in 1930, is the oldest underground metro line in Western Escar.

Niihama is an international centre of research and development and includes several major universities, notably the Niihama Technological Univrsity and the Southern National University of Yamatai. Niihama Station is the central train station in Niihama, and the city is served by an extensive network of rail and subways. The city is also served by Edajima International Airport, the second-busiest airport in Escar, and the Port of Niihama is the country's largest and busiest port, accounting for 10 percent of Yamatai's trade value. Notable districts of Niihama include Chuo, the central business and financial district, Nemoto, a commercial, cultural and business hub, and Minato, an upscale commercial and cultural district with various attractions for international tourists.

Etymology
The area where Niihama currently is was initially known as Azumakō (東江), meaning "eastern inlet". The name is a reference to the settlement's location on Niihama Bay, which is east of the larger Satsuma Bay. When Azumakō was expanded into a secondary port to supplement Wangan during the 17th century, the name of the city was changed to Niihama (新浜), meaning "new port".

As Niihama grew in prominence and wealth, Azumakō Bay was also renamed Niihama Bay.

Pre-18th Century
Prior to the foundation of Niihama, the area where Niihama is now located was known as Azumakō. Several fishing villages were located where Niihama currently is, with farming communities also established along the Haruna, Okugawa, and Furukawa Rivers. Fishing and shipbuilding dominated the economy of the Azumakō area well into the 15th century. The area came under the control of the Muraoka Clan, which constructed a castle at the modern location of Mogami Park. After the establishment of the port at Wangan in 1503, the Azumakō area experienced an increase in population and wealth, with agriculture and industry expanding in the area.

As the Age of Discovery began in the late 16th century, the area felt the effects of the increased international trade and followed Wangan in becoming highly cosmopolitan. In 1600, Azumakō Kajuen, a famous fruit orchard that grew fruit plants imported from overseas, was established where Kajuen Road is today.

As the colonial trade began increasing in the latter 17th century, there was a need to expand the port facilities at Wangan to deal with increasing colonial trade. More port facilities were built towards the south of Wangan. The towns of Kaname, Mogami, Okumura, and Haruna were consolidated into the new city of Niihama, so named because it was a new port to supplement Wangan. Niihama grew rapidly, benefiting from international trade and evolving into a financial centre for the industrial and agricultural communities in the area.

During the Aozora Revolution, Niihama and Wangan gained major strategic importance as a stronghold for rebel forces.

Geography and government
Niihama occupies the north-eastern part of Hasukuni. It is bordered by Ehime Province to the north-west and Satsuma Province to the south-west. Niihama measures roughly 92.4 km north to south and 74.8 km east to west, and occupies a land area of 2,907.324 km². Also within the administrative boundaries of Niihama Metropolitan Area are the islands of Kakishima and Shogaijima. Two major rivers run through Niihama, the Haruna River and the Okugawa River. In addition to its natural course, the Haruna has also been artificially diverted to form four major canals, which were used to transfer goods from the port to the western regions in the past, as well as for irrigation.

Under Yamataian law, Niihama is designated as a metropolis (都). Its administrative structure is similar to that of Yamatai's other provinces, with the Niihama Metropolitan Government administering the whole Metropolitan Area. It is headed by a publicly elected governor and metropolitan assembly, with its headquarters located in Chuo District.

Niihama City itself consists of 12 Urban Districts (区). Each Urban District is a with its own elected leader and council, similarly to cities in Yamatai. The Urban Districts differ from other cities in having a unique administrative relationship with the metropolitan government. Certain municipal functions, such as waterworks, sewerage, and firefighting, are handled by the Niihama Metropolitan Government. To pay for the added administrative costs, the province collects municipal taxes, which would usually be levied by the city.

Besides the Urban Districts, Niihama also has 6 Cities (市) and 2 Towns (町), each of which has a local government. These local governments do not differ from other cities and towns in Yamatai in their scope and municipal responsibilities.



Urban Districts (区):


 * 1. Chuo
 * 2. Minato
 * 3. Fujisaki
 * 4. Wanshuku (湾宿)
 * 5. Furukawa City (name-only)
 * 6. Kita-Furukawa
 * 7. Naruse
 * 8. Yumemi
 * 9. Kaname
 * 10. Aizawa
 * 11. Nemoto
 * 12. Mogami

Cities (市) and Towns (町):


 * Besshi
 * Edajima
 * Ishikawa
 * Momota
 * Okugawa
 * Wangan
 * Kakishima Town
 * Shogaijima Town

Airports
The main airport serving Niihama is Edajima International Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the world by international passenger and cargo traffic, and has been consistently rated among the top 3 airports in the world for eight consecutive years. More than 100 airlines operate from the airport, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations across the world. The airport primarily serves international flights, though increasingly handles domestic traffic as well after a fifth terminal dedicated to domestic flights was opened in 2018. Edajima International Airport is located in the east of Edajima City on partially reclaimed land, and is connected to the rest of Niihama by the Edajima Airport Express monorail.

Domestic air traffic for the Greater Niihama Area is mainly handled by Yanagawa Airport in Yanagawa City, located in neighbouring Satsuma Province. Yanagawa Airport is the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger and cargo volume as of 2020. Increasing congestion at the airport in the late 2000s prompted the 2012-2018 expansion of Edajima International Airport to handle more domestic passenger and cargo flights. The airport is currently undergoing expansion with a new terminal and facilities expected to be completed in 2025.

Besshi Airport is the third airport that serves Niihama, located in Besshi City in north-eastern Niihama. The airport is the smallest in the Greater Niihama Area with only one runway and two terminal buildings. Besshi Airport was the first civilian airport to be constructed in Niihama, having opened in 1929. Originally the primary domestic hub for the city, Besshi Airport was unable to keep up with increased air traffic in the 1960s and the vast majority of carriers shifted to Yanagawa Airport when it opened in 1971. Today, Besshi Airport remains in use with low-cost short-range carriers that charter flights to the Nantō islands, Fujishima, and Shojin. It is also popular with amateur pilots, and is home to the Niihama Flying Club.

Two military airbases are located near Niihama, Kanazawa Airbase and Kanmonjima Naval Air Station.

Rail
Rail is the primary mode of transportation in Niihama, which has one of the most extensive urban railway networks in the world. There are four major rail operators in Niihama, the government-owned Niihama Mass Transit (大量輸送), the partially-privatized YNR South, and the private Ichioka Rail and Haikio Electric Railway.


 * YNR South Lines and Services
 * Niihama Line: The Niihama Line is the primary heavy rail line operated by YNR South, running between Kaname Station in Kaname to Tamai Station in Momota City. The line converges from the North Hasukuni Line and the Satsuma Line at Kaname Station. The line further diverges into two branch lines, the Wangan Line and the Edajima Line. The YNR lines are also used by YNR Freight for freight trains. Besides long-distance intercity trains, YNR South also operates commuter services on the Niihama Line:
 * Niihama Downtown Liner: The Niihama Downtown Liner operates on the Niihama Line only along the stretch of track between Inae Station in Kaname, where passengers can transfer to the NMT Central Line, and Seta Station in Wanshuku, where passengers can transfer to the Haikio Niihama Outer Ring Line.
 * Niihama North-South Liner: The Niihama North-South Liner operates on the entire Niihama Line, running from Tamai Station in the south to Kaname Station in the north. The train then either continues to Shirada as the Satsuma Transit Liner or to Miyamoto as the North Hasukuni Liner.
 * Wangan Line: The Wangan Line runs from Shin-Niihama Station in Nemoto, where it diverges from the main Niihama Line, to Besshi South Station in Besshi City.
 * North Bayside Liner: The North Bayside Liner runs between
 * Edajima Line: The Edajima Line runs from Suita Station in Wanshuku, where it diverges from the main Niihama Line, to Edajima Station in Edajima City. The line has its own branch line, the Tamachi Line.
 * South Bayside Service:
 * Tamachi Line:
 * Southern Shinkyuko: The Southern Shinkyuko enters Niihama from the direction of Miyamoto City, terminating at Shin-Niihama Station.
 * Hasukuni Shinkyuko: The Hasukuni Shinkyuko enters Niihama from the direction of Shirada City, terminating at Shin-Niihama Station.
 * NMT Lines
 * Niihama Central Line: The Niihama Central Line operates in a loop beginning and ending at Niihama Station in Chuo. It connects 11 of the 12 Urban Districts of Niihama, and is one of the busiest commuter lines in the world.
 * Niihama Downtown Line: The Niihama Downtown Line is a subway line between Azuma-Mogami Station in Mogami and Mukomachi Station in Kaname. The line originally terminated at Higashioji Station in Chuo, but was extended to Shin-Niihama in 2008 and later to Mukomachi in 2015. The line also loops over itself at Higashioji Station in Chuo, which is also a transfer station to the Ichioka-run Niihama East-West Line. The loop beginning and ending at Higashioji Station is consistently the busiest stretch of the line as it services Chuo, Kita-Furukawa and Minato, three of the major downtown commercial districts of Niihama.
 * Niihama North-East Line: The Niihama North-East Line runs between Niihama Station and Hikone Station in Besshi City. The line mainly serves as a commuter link for Besshi City and Wangan City residents to reach downtown Niihama. It was completed in 1985.
 * Niihama Southern Line: The Niihama Southern Line runs between Niihama Station and Kita-Edajima Station. It goes underneath Niihama Bay and is one of the oldest underwater train tunnels in the world, having been completed in 1878. The line is the primary means of commuter transit from Edajima City to downtown Niihama. When the tunnel was completed in 1878, the line only ran between Kajuen Station (果樹園) in Fujisaki, under Niihama Bay, and terminated at Edajima Station. The modern extension of the line was completed only in 1962.
 * Haikio Lines
 * Niihama Outer Ring Line: The Niihama Outer Ring Line runs between Kita-Wangan Station and Niihama Station, looping around the outer areas of Niihama and connecting bedroom communities in Wangan, Okugawa, Ishikawa, and western Niihama with the downtown core.
 * Furukawa Line: The Furukawa Line runs between Hiratsuka Station in Okugawa City and ends at Momota Station in Momota City, also passing through the residential areas in southern Ishikawa City. The line provides a rapid connection for commuters in all three cities to the downtown core. The line was sold to Haikio upon its formation during the privatisation in the 1950s.
 * Kishi-Hamada Line: The Kishi-Hamada Line runs from Kita-Wangan Station to Momota Station, passing directly through downtown Niihama.
 * Ichioka Lines
 * Satsuma Bay Line: The Satsuma Bay Line runs in a loop around Satsuma Bay, with its Niihama portion serving the western coastal areas of Ishikawa City and Momota City. The line links most of the major cities around Satsuma Bay, providing a commuter link throughout this portion of the Greater Niihama Area. The Satsuma Bay Line connects with the Niihama metro network via a stretch of line that runs parallel with the Niihama East-West Line, with transfer possible at Ishikawa Station, Kusahara Station, and Minami-Kusahara Station.
 * Greater Niihama Link Line: The Greater Niihama Link Line is a commuter line that runs from Niihama Station through most of the Satsuma Province cities that are a part of the Greater Niihama Area, following an inland route to Minami-Kanazawa Station in Kanazawa City. At Kanazawa, certain trains become the Nagamatsu Line trains and continue southwards to Nagamatsu.
 * Niihama East-West Line: The Niihama East-West Line runs between Kita-Wangan Station in Wangan and Kajuen Station in Fujisaki. The line initially terminated at Ishikawa Station, but was extended to Kajuen Station in 2004. The original portion of the line serves as a commuter link between Ishikawa City, downtown Niihama, and Wangan City, while the southern portion of the line links Ishikawa City with Fujisaki District.
 * Light Rail Systems
 * Niihama Waterfront Monorail: The Niihama Waterfront Monorail runs along the affluent Niihama Waterfront area at the head of Niihama Bay. The monorail links Ariake Station in Momota City with Hinode-Futo Station in Fujisaki District, connecting to the metro system at Kajuen Station.
 * Edajima Light Rail Transit: The Edajima LRT was completed in 2001 to provide commuter services for Edajima City's residents and rapidly-growing commercial activities. It runs in a loop around northern Edajima City, connecting with the Niihama Southern Line at Edajima Station and Kita-Edajima Station.
 * Edajima Airport Express: The Edajima Airport Express is a monorail that links Edajima International Airport with the metro system, starting at Edajima Airport Terminal 4 Station and terminating at Edajima Station.
 * Besshi Light Rail Transit: The Besshi LRT runs in a loop and connects with the NMT North-East Line at Hikone Station. The Besshi LRT was completed in four phases between 2001 and 2021. It runs in a loop around eastern Besshi, mainly serving local residents as well as tourist traffic.

International relations
Niihama has a twinning agreement with Wanshu, widely viewed as its Chiseian equivalent.