of 18 members. Higashikagawa contributes two members to the Ehime Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is within the Kagawa 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy Higashikagawa has a mixed economy centered on light manufacturing, commercial fishing and agriculture. Traditionally, the city was noted for its production of gloves, claiming a 90% market share; however, due to labor costs, much of the market has been lost to China and southeast Asia. Another prominent industry is the manufacturing of bearings. JTEKT (formerly Koyo Seiko), one of the major companies of the Toyota Group, produces 25% of the global market share of tapered roller bearings. The former town of Hiketa is a center for producing wasanbon, a fine-grained sugar traditional to the region. In terms of fishing, Yellowtail was first successfully farmed here. Education Higashikagawa has two public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high schools operated by the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation Railways JR Shikoku - Kōtoku Line - - - - Highways Takamatsu Expressway Local attractions Hiketa Castle, where the Battle of Hiketa was fought in 1583, are in the eastern part of the city. Toramaru Puppet Land, a puppet theater, operates near Ōchi. Shirotori Zoo is the only zoo in Kagawa Prefecture. Noted people from Higashikagawa Shizuko Kasagi, singer and actress Kono Yasui, biologist, first woman Phd in Japan Shōzō Fujii, Olympic gold medalist judoka Yukiharu Yoshitaka, Olympic gold medalist judoka References External links Higashikagawa City official website Cities in Kagawa Prefecture Port settlements in Japan Populated coastal places in Japan