Kami, Kōchi Prefecture, Shikoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Kami (香美市, Kami-shi) is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2022, the city had an estimated population density of 48 persons per km². The total area of the city is 537.86 square km (207.67 sq mi).

Geography Kami is located in the eastern part of Kōchi Prefecture. It is the only city in Kōchi prefecture that does not face the sea.

Neighbouring municipalities Kōchi Prefecture • Aki • Nankou • Kōnan • Motoyama • Ōtoyo; Tokushima Prefecture • Miyoshi • Naka.

History As with all of Kōchi Prefecture, the area of Kami was part of ancient Tosa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by the Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle. The area was organized into villages within Kami District with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Kami was established on March 1, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Kahoku and Tosayamada, and the village of Monobe. On the same day, the remaining municipalities of Kami District merged to form the city of Kōnan, and the district was abolished as a result.

Government Kami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 20 members. Kami contributes one member to the Kōchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kōchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Kami's economy is centered on agriculture and forestry. The production of forged knives is a traditional local handicraft.

Education Kami has seven public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Kōchi Prefectural Board of Education. The Kochi University of Technology is located in Kami.

Transport: Rail Shikoku Railway Company - Dosan Line • Shigetō - Shingai - Tosa-Yamada - Yamada-Nishimachi

Transport: Road • Kōchi Expressway • National Route 32 • National Route 195. •

Local attractions • Ryūga Cave, Natural Monument and National Historic Site • TosaYamada stadium • Yanase Takashi Memorial Hall.