Mizukami (水上村, Mizukami-mura) is a village located in Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 August 2024, the village had an estimated population of 1,946 in 839 households, and a population density of 10 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the village is 190.96 km2 (73.73 sq mi).

Mizukami
水上村
Mizukami Village Hall
Mizukami Village Hall
Flag of Mizukami
Official seal of Mizukami
Map
Location of Mizukami in Kumamoto Prefecture
Location of Mizukami
Mizukami is located in Japan
Mizukami
Mizukami
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°18′52″N 131°00′34″E / 32.31444°N 131.00944°E / 32.31444; 131.00944
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKumamoto
DistrictKuma
Area
 • Total190.96 km2 (73.73 sq mi)
Population
 (August 31, 2024)
 • Total1,946
 • Density10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address90 Iwano, Minakami-mura, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto-ken 868-0795
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdWagtail
FlowerRhododendron
TreeCryptomeria japonica
Ichifusayama from Mizukami Kumamoto

Geography

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Mizukami is located at the easternmost tip of the Kyushu Mountains and Hitoyoshi Basin, in southeast Kumamoto. The entire area is mountainous and forested.

Neighboring municipalities

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Kumamoto Prefecture

Miyazaki Prefecture

Climate

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Mizukami has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Mizukami is as shown below

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 5,553—    
1950 6,944+25.0%
1960 5,896−15.1%
1970 4,410−25.2%
1980 3,668−16.8%
1990 3,115−15.1%
2000 2,706−13.1%
2010 2,405−11.1%
2020 2,033−15.5%

History

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The area of Mizukami was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Hitoyoshi Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Yuyama, Iwano and Edai were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. These three villages merged to form the village of Mizukami on November 1, 1895.

Government

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Mizukami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Mizukami, collectively with the other municipalities of Kuma District, contributes two members to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The local economy is based on agriculture and forestry.

Education

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Mizukami has one combined public elementary/junior high school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

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Railways

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Mizukami has no passenger railway services. The nearest train stations is Yunomae Station on the Kumagawa Railway Yunomae Line in neighboring Yunomae.

Highways

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References

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  1. ^ "Mizukami Village official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
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