Muroran, Hokkaidō

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Muroran (室蘭市; -shi) is a city and port located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 100,115 and a density of 1,241.51 people per km². The total area is 80.64 km².

1 About Muroran
2 Scenic spots
3 Education
4 Famous people
5 Sister cities
6 External links

[edit] About Muroran

The origin of Muroran's name is derived from the Ainu word "Mo Ruerani" that means "the bottom of a little slope". The little slope, in front of the former Senkai Temple in Sakimori-cho, is noted in connection with the name of Muroran.

In the late 16th century, the Muroran region came under the administration of the Matsumae clan. Muroran was developed as a trading post between the Ainu and the Matsumae clan people.

In 1892, the Port of Muroran was opened for the wooden bridge construction at Kaigan-cho (former Tokikaramoi); at the same time, the main road began construction from Hakodate (函館) to Sapporo (札幌) as the first step of Hokkaido Colonization Plan.

With the opening of a ship route from Muroran to Mori and railroad extension to Iwamizawa (岩見沢), Muroran's municipality was started on August 1, 1922 as the core of the major land and sea traffic in the pioneer era of Hokkaido. Since then, Muroran has been developing as an important transportation hub and a center of the steel industry.

Today, there are large cement factories, steel mills, oil refineries, and shipyards clustered around the port of Muroran.

[edit] Scenic spots

Hakucho Bridge (白鳥大橋) spans the Port of Muroran and is the largest suspension bridge in eastern Japan. Hakucho means swan.

Muroran holds eight specific scenic sights called Muroran-Hakkei(室蘭八景). The most famous of them is:

Chikyu Misaki (地球岬; Cape Earth) has a white lighthouse and panoramic blue ocean. Some pairs of falcons live around there.

A view of Muroran

Chikyu Misaki

Chikyu Misaki in winter

[edit] Education

Muroran Institute of Technology (national university)
Bunka Women's University Muroran Junior College
Muroran Ohtani High School
Muroran Shimizugaoka High School

[edit] Famous people

Abe Natsumi - singer, actress. Hello! Project soloist. former Morning Musume member.
Abe Asami - singer, actress. Younger sister of Abe Natsumi.
Iida Kaori - singer. Hello! Project soloist. former Morning Musume member.