Murayama, Yamagata Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Murayama (村山市, Murayama-shi) is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2020, the city had an estimated population density of 120 persons per km². The total area of the city is 196.98 square km (76 sq mi).

Geography Murayama is located in north-east Yamagata Prefecture, in a river valley of the Mogami River, with branches of the Ōu Mountains to the east and west.

Neighboring municipalities Yamagata Prefecture ◦ Sagae; ◦ Higashine; ◦ Obanazawa; ◦ Kahoku; ◦ Ōishida; ◦ Ōkura; ◦ Funagata.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Murayama has declined steadily over the past 70 years and is now less than it was a century ago.

History The area of present-day Murayama was part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitamurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The town of Tateoka was established with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Murayama was established on April 1, 1954 with the merger of Tateoka with the villages of Nishigo, Okura, Tozawa, Okubo and Fumoto.

Murayama became the registered host town for the Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In 2019, during Japan's national "Host Town Summit 2019", Murayama received first-place awards in each of the three award categories: "Best Host Town Leader", "Best Communicator", and "Poster Session". Bulgaria went on to win the gold medal in the group all-around competition.

Government Higashine has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members. The city contributes one member to the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Yamagata District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Murayama is based on agriculture.

Education Murayama has eight public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail East Japan Railway Company - Yamagata Shinkansen • Murayama; East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line • Murayama - Sodesaki.

Transport: Road • Tōhoku-Chūō Expressway – Murayama Interchange • National Route 13 • National Route 347.