Murakami (村上市, Murakami-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2020[update], the city had an estimated population of 58,300 in 22,594 households,[1] and a population density of 50 persons per km². The total area of the city was 1,174.26 square kilometres (453.38 sq mi).
Geography
Aerial video of Goishi Beach and Neya Fishing Port, Murakami
Murakami is northernmost and easternmost city of Niigata prefecture, and is located on the Sea of Japan coast, bordered by Yamagata Prefecture to the north and east. In terms of area, it is the largest in the prefecture.
Murakami has a humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Murakami is 12.8 °C (55.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,215.0 mm (87.20 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.5 °C (77.9 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.7 °C (35.1 °F).[2]
Climate data for Murakami (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Murakami has declined steadily over the past 70 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
65,589
—
1930
71,714
+9.3%
1940
74,324
+3.6%
1950
92,840
+24.9%
1960
92,322
−0.6%
1970
83,107
−10.0%
1980
80,206
−3.5%
1990
76,511
−4.6%
2000
73,902
−3.4%
2010
66,427
−10.1%
2020
58,300
−12.2%
History
Municipalities merger in 2008
The area of present-day Murakami was part of ancient Echigo Province. Murakami developed as a port and a castle town for the Murakami Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. Even today, the downtown area shows the influence of its past existence as a residence of samurai and merchants. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized as part of Iwafune District, Niigata, and the town of Murakami was established with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Murakami was raised to city status on March 31, 1954. On April 1, 2008, the towns of Arakawa and Sanpoku and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi (all from Iwafune District) were merged into Murakami.
Government
Murakami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. Murakami, collectively with the villages of Sekikawa and Awashimaura contributes two members to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Niigata 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Education
Murakami has 21 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government. There is one public middle school and three public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school.
Famous products of Murakami are tea (Murakami is the northernmost tea-growing spot in Japan), salmon, and Murakami beef. The city is also a tourist spot because of famous Senami Onsen and as a jumping off point to Awashima Island.
Japan
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![Sasagawa-nagare [ja]](/en/File:Maoroshi,_Murakami,_Niigata_Prefecture_958-0001,_Japan_-_panoramio_(1).jpg)
![Senami Beach [ja]](/en/File:Senami_Beach_01.jpg)
