is a city

Cities of Japan

||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...

 located in Ehime

Ehime Prefecture

is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.

The city was formed on April 1, 2004 from the merger of the towns of Akehama

Akehama, Ehime

was a town located in Higashiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On April 1, 2004 Akehama was merged with the towns of Nomura, Shirokawa and Uwa, all from Higashiuwa District, and the town of Mikame, from Nishiuwa District, to form the new city of Seiyo....

, Nomura

Nomura, Ehime

was a town located in Higashiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On April 1, 2004 Nomura was merged with the towns of Akehama, Shirokawa and Uwa, all from Higashiuwa District, and the town of Mikame, from Nishiuwa District, to form the new city of Seiyo....

, Shirokawa

Shirokawa, Ehime

was a town located in Higashiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On April 1, 2004 Shirokawa was merged with the towns of Akehama, Nomura and Uwa, all from Higashiuwa District, and the town of Mikame, from Nishiuwa District, to form the new city of Seiyo....

 and Uwa

Uwa, Ehime

was a town located in Higashiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On April 1, 2004 Uwa was merged with the towns of Akehama, Nomura and Shirokawa, all from Higashiuwa District, and the town of Mikame, from Nishiuwa District, to form the new city of Seiyo....

, all from Higashiuwa District

Higashiuwa District, Ehime

was a district located in Ehime Prefecture. Due to the mergers the district dissolved on April 1, 2004.-History:* 1878 — The Uwa District was split up by Meiji era land reforms. The Higashiuwa District was thus born...

, and the town of Mikame

Mikame, Ehime

was a town located in Nishiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On April 1, 2004 Mikame was merged with the towns of Akehama, Nomura, Shirokawa and Uwa, all from Higashiuwa District, to form the new city of Seiyo....

, from Nishiuwa District

Nishiuwa District, Ehime

The is a district located in Ehime Prefecture. As of 2007 — The district has an estimated population of 12,304 with a total area of 94.34 km².The district consists of one town.*Ikata- History :...

.

Kannon Spring Water

In the former town of Uwa there is a natural spring, the water of which is known as . This water was designated as one of Japan's by the Ministry of the Environment

Ministry of the Environment (Japan)

The ' of Japan was formed in 2001 from the sub-cabinet level Environmental Agency established in 1971. The minister is a member of the Cabinet and is chosen by the Prime Minister, usually from the Diet., the current is Goshi Hosono...

 in March of 1985. Hiking trails along the spring's mountain rivers are a popular destination in the summertime. The spring is also used for , a Japanese cuisine where bundles of cold somen noodles are set into a stream of water that flows down a track, with hungry patrons waiting alongside.

Otoi Sumo

The former town of Nomura, now a part of Seiyo, holds an annual sumo

Sumo

is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...

 competition for children and amateur adults known as the Tournament. It is held after the Kyūshū basho

Honbasho

A is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....

 and usually attracts a few professional sumo wrestlers, such as Tamakasuga, who originally hails from Nomura. The pros do not actually wrestle in serious matches, but instead allow children to go up against them, with comical results.

Castle Land

A wealthy eccentric built a castle on the side of a mountain near the Nomura Dam in the former town of Nomura. It was originally a retreat for parties, complete with overnight lodging facilities. It never achieved any measure of popularity, and the owner eventually donated it to the city of Seiyo. It now lies uninhabited and largely unused.