Galveston (CLG 3) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 79 text:

-v ,.., QL.- ,., .., ' . ' .1 ,T TKQAP ' 'Tig - mabari The present city of Imabari originated as the country people of the sur- rounding area first gathered about Fukiage Fortress, which was built in 1603 by Tede Takatora, a Samarai Lord. The remains of this fortress have survived, and the fortress grounds still surrounded by the old moat have been converted to a beautiful shrine which is a major tourist attraction. Imabari was made an open port about 45 years ago and has since established itself as one of the Inland Sae. Today the port of Imabari averages 140 ship arrivals and departures daily. Imabarils population as of 1 March 1963 was 102,692 It covers an area of approximately 29 square miles on the northwestern coast of the island of Shikoku near the Southern entrance to the Kurashima Straits and is surrounded by a range of high mountains which serve to shelter it from the severe effects of typhoons. Imabari is a part of Ehime Prefecture, and ranks as one of its principal industrial cities. Cotton textiles is a major industry of the city, and eighty percent of the cotton towels exported from japan are produced in the Imabari factories. L , 66 XX K Rs Towel city of Japan