Shikokuchuo City is the easternmost city in Ehime Prefecture in the Toyo Region. It has a population of about 82,000 people and is the only city that borders the three other prefectures on the island of Shikoku. It merged from three towns and one village (Doi, Mishima, Kawanoe, and Shingu) in 2004 to become a combined municipality. The name Shikokuchuo (often shortened to “Shikochu”) translates to “Central Shikoku.” Besides being well connected to other parts of Shikoku, it is Japan’s leading paper manufacturer and processor. It is known as “Kami no Machi” or in English, “the Paper Town.”

四国中央市とは愛媛県の東端で東予地方にあります。人口が約8.2万人で四国で他の3つの県と接する唯一の市です。2004年には4つの町（土居町、三島市、川之江町、新宮村）から合同されていました。四国中央（「しこちゅー」によく短くなっている名）という市名は「Central Shikoku」に直接翻訳されます。四国での他のところに便利で繋がっている以外、四国中央市は日本での有数製紙と加工メーカーです。四国中央市は「紙のまち」といつも呼ばれています。

Throughout the year there are many different events people can enjoy in Shikokuchuo. The National Shodo Koshien Performance is held in July and see over 20 high schools compete in a calligraphy dance performance on sheets of paper that cover a gym floor. In October, there is the Autumn Festival where large taiko drum floats are paraded throughout the city to celebrate the harvest. Since Shikokuchuo is made of four former towns, there are often multiple versions of festivals during the year.

一年中に四国中央市で楽しめるイベントが色々あります。書道パフォーマンス甲子園は７月に開催されて20校以上の高校が体育館の床が敷き詰められた巨大な紙に書道しながらダンスを演奏するという全国大会です。10月には秋祭りがあって収穫を祝うために市内でたくさんの太鼓台が拾われます。四国中央市は4つの旧町から合同されてたので毎年場所によって祭りの特徴が少し異なります。