26 February 1981. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Muroto in 2020 is 11,742 people. Muroto has been conducting censuses since 1920. History As with all of Kōchi Prefecture, the area of Muroto 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. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Muroto was established within Aki District, Kōchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. In 1934, a typhoon caused tremendous devastation, killing 3,000 people. Muroto merged with the towns of Murotomisaki, Kiragawa, Sakihama and Hane and was elevated to city status on March 1, 1951. Government Muroto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 12 members. Muroto, together with the town of Tōyō, 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 Commercial fishing dominates the local economy of Muroto. The city is suffering from depopulation due to the decline of the fishery industry. Education Muroto has five public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and one public middle school operated by the Kōchi Prefectural Department of Education. Transportation Railway Muroto has no passenger railway service. The nearest train station is Nahari Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railways Asa Line. Plans to extend the line from Nahari to Muroto have been floated since 1971, but no action has been taken. Highways Local attractions Cape Muroto Hotsumisaki-ji, 24th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Shinshō-ji, 25th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Kongōchō-ji, 26th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage References External links Muroto Global Geopark in English Muroto-Anan Coast Quasi-National Park in English Cities in Kōchi Prefecture Global Geoparks Network members Geoparks in Japan Populated coastal places in Japan Muroto, Kōchi