(by S. Miyauchi, Professional Engineer, Doctor of Engineering, JSME Fellow)
＜松山市と島並み海道 Matsuyama city and Shimanami Kaido＞
My hometown Matsuyama is often said to be the easiest place to live in Japan because the climate (warm and blue sky in winter), the landscape, humanity and food are good. See "35. Shikoku, Japan" in "52 Places to Go in 2015 - The New York Times". (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/11/travel/52-places-to-go-in-2015.html)
Matsuyama is also a historical town. In 663, Japanese army went to Baekgang (白村江) to save Paekche (百済、Korea) against Tang (唐、China). At that time waiting for the high tide for sailing in Matsuyama, so famous Waka (和歌) was sung by talented Queen Nukata Okimi (額田王).
熟田津に 船乗りせむと 月待てば 潮もかなひぬ 今は漕ぎ出でな (万葉集)
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