Yamaguchi City HallAerial photograph of central Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi (山口市,Yamaguchi-shi[a]) is the capitalcity ofYamaguchi Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 July 2023[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 191,470 in 88,799 households and apopulation density of 190 persons per km2.[2] The total area of the city is 1,023.23 square kilometres (395.07 sq mi).
Yamaguchi City is located almost in the center of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The city area, which is the largest in the prefecture, is long from north to south, facing theSeto Inland Sea (Yamaguchi Bay) at the south end, and borderingShimane Prefecture at the north end. The Fushino River runs through the center of the Yamaguchi Basin from north to south, and urban areas are formed on both sides of the river.
The area of Yamaguchi was part of the ancientSuō Province. During theMuromachi period it was ruled by theŌuchi clan, who at their height ruled over six provinces in theChugoku region of western Japan. The Ōuchi clan claimed descent from the royal house ofBaekje and grew wealthy due to extensive trade with Korea andMing Dynasty China. After theOnin War, they welcomed intellectuals who escaped fromKyoto, such that Yamaguchi prospered as a center of culture. Later in the Muromachi period, Christian missionaries from Spain and Portugal were welcomed, and the area became an early center for theKirishitan faith. The Ōuchi were eventually overthrown by their vassals, theMōri clan, who ruled the area as part ofChōshū Domain during theEdo Period.
Following theMeiji Restoration, the town of Yamaguchi was established withinYoshiki District, Yamaguchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1905 Yamaguchi annexed the village of Kami-unorei, followed by Shimo-unorei on July 1, 1915. On April 10, 1929: The town of Yamaguchi absorbed the village of Yoshiki to create the city of Yamaguchi.Yamaguchi annexed the village of Miyano on April 1, 1941. On April 1, 1944, Yamaguchi annexed towns of Ogōri and Ajisu, and the villages of Hirakawa, Ōtoshi, Sue, Natajima, Aiofutajima, Kagawa and Sayama (all from Yoshiki District.)
The town ofAjisu separated from Yamaguchi on November 23, 1947, followed by the town ofOgōri on November 1, 1949. Yamaguchi annexed the town of Ōuchi on May 1, 1963 and the village of Suzenji on November 3, 1963. On October 1, 2005 Yamaguchi merged with town ofTokuji (fromSaba District), and the towns ofAio,Ajisu andOgōri (all from Yoshiki District);. Yoshiki District was dissolved as a result of this merger. On January 16, 2010 Yamaguchi absorbed the town ofAtō (fromAbu District).
Although Yamaguchi City is the prefectural capital, excluding public facilities and public works, the other major industries are commerce and the tourism and distribution industries. Despite having the second largest population in the prefecture after Shimonoseki, which is a constituent city of the Kanmon metropolitan area, and the third largest gross city product in the prefecture after Shūnan and Shimonoseki, the city has a very small industrial base.
Yamaguchi has 32 public elementary schools, 17 public junior high schools operated by the city government, and six public high schools operated by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one elementary school and one junior high school operated byYamaguchi University Faculty of Education, and three private high schools. The prefecture operates two special education schools for the handicapped, and there is one special education school operated byYamaguchi University Faculty of Education.
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