History

The Origin of 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 1872, the Port of Muroran was opened for the wooden bridge construction at Kaigan-cho (former Tokikaramoi); at the same time, the main road was began construction from Hakodate to Sapporo as the first step of Hokkaido Colonization Plan.

With the opening a ship route from Muroran to Mori and railroad extension to Iwamizawa, 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.

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Time Line

The Edo Period	1593	The Muroran region annexed to the Matsumae Clan.
	1796	The British Ship, Providence called at the Etomo Entrance of the harbor of Muroran. Orson, who was one of the sailors of the ship, was died by the accident, was buried in the Daikoku Island near the port.
	1854	An American armed cargo vessel called at the Etomo Entrance and its crews surveyed the Muroran bay.
The Meiji Period	1869	By the establishment of the prefectural system, Muroran belonged to the Muroran county and came under the control of the Hokkaido Colonization Office.
	1872	Founding of the Port of Muroran.
	1894	The Port of Muroran designated as a Special Exporting Port.
	1900	Muroran designated as a Town and the first town mayor elected.
The Taisho Period	1916	Water supply started in Muroran.
	1922	Muroran designated as a City.
The Showa Period	1936	The Muroran City Emblem created.
	1939	Muroran Higher Technical School (present Muroran Institute of Technology) founded by the Government of Japan.
	1953	Muroran Aquarium opened.
	1963	Muroran Youth Science Building opened
	1969	Bunka University for Women, Muroran Junior College opened.
	1972	Muroran Citizen's Charter established.
	1976	Affiliation with Shimizu (present Shizuoka) City as a Sister City
	1981	Muroran Express Highway opened.
	1985	Construction work on Hakucho Bridge started.
	1986	International Regular Line for Container Ships between Muroran and Singapore opened
	1987	Cape Chikyu (Chikyu Misaki) got No.1 in nation's popular sightseeing spot ranking.
The Heisei Period	1990	Regular Ferry Line between Muroran and Naoetsu opened.
	1991	Affiliation with Knoxville, Tennessee USA as a Sister City.
	1995	Affiliation with Joh-etsu City, Niigata Prefecture as a Sister City.
	1998	Muroran Highway was opened. Affiliation with Hirara, Okinawa Prefecture as a Sister City [Friendship].
	1999	Former Muroran Station Building was registered as a Cultural Asset of Japan.
	2002	Affiliation with Rizhao, China as a Sister City [Friendship]

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Fact and Figures

• Fact and Figures

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