Welcome to City of Higashimurayama

City Profile

The Short History of Higashi-Murayama City

The history of this city can be traced back far in ancient time. For instance, the ruins of Stone age, "The Stone Henge" was discovered at Akitsu-cho in August, 1965, and it is estimated that they were worked in the middle of Joumon("Rope-printed") era. These remainders are also presumed to be the festival plaza for old inhabitants, combined with an ancient religion, the heliolatry (the sun worship) or something like an astronomical measurement facilities about 4 - 5,000 years ago. Besides, so many "Joumon" claywares and Stone tools were excavated in Tamako-cho areas.

In both ages of "Kamakura" and "Muromachi" (13-16C.), it has been thriven as the important stage for travellers, and also noted as the critical terrain feature because of Sayama heights, as the tactical hinterland.

There are so many historical and cultural spots and places here, for example, "Sentai Jizou-do" (pagoda for 1000 Budha statues) in Shofuku Temple, which has been believed to be enshrined by "Tokimune Houjo" (Director- General of "Kamakura" Regime (13C.)),

This pagoda is only one national treasure in Tokyo.
"Kumegawa Old Battlefield", which was engaged with "Yoshisada Nitta" (famous samurai leader) for "Kamakura" offerisive operation (14C.), the place of fight between "Yoshimune Nitta" and "Takauji Ashikaga", and also noted by reinforcement campaign by "Souun Houjo" for "Uesugi" Samurai Force. (16 C.)

In the Tokugawa Shogunate (17C.-19C.), Higashimurayama was cultivated to supply agricultural crops (sweet potato, oathes, rice, spinatch etc.) to center Edo Capital & Shogun practiced "Taka gali" (wild hawk Hunting by Japanese archery) here.

It was 22nd year of Meiji (1889) when 5 villages, leading by Kumegawa, joined to be a new big village, and also it was 26th year of "Meiji" (1893) to be belonged to Tokyo Prefecture. It was grown to be Town in 17 year of Showa (1942), and, further- more, as the 13th city in Tokyo Cosmopolitan, the municipal structure was enforced on 1 April in 39 year of Showa (1964).

Origin of the City Name of "Higashimurayama"

Accordlng to "Hogen Monogatari" (The Tales of Hogen era, 10C.), among the well known samurai leaders, participated in armed march to Kyoto (ancient and antique capital of Japan), belonged to Genji Faction in 8 Eastern territories, nearly half of them were the brave warriors from Musashi 7 Groups,(Musashi Shichi Tou). One of these Groups was Murayama, and the eastern art of their land reached to this city so that Higashi-Murayama (Eastern Mura-yama) stands for above derivation, that is, the name of samurai group and one of direction.

The soil of this area consists of volcanic layer, so called "Kanto Loam", and it has a specific quality of few dampness so that most of farming fields could not help become the dry- fields for barley or wheat in spite of most farmer's desire for rice-field ownership. A few "water-holding" rice-fields can be seen in the part of Noguchi-cho and Tamako-cho at the present city.

Furthermore, in the age of wild and broad "Musashino" pampas there so often happened strange phenomena, so called "Nigemizu", a kind of mirage or delusive sight for thirsty inhabitants. The natural phnomenon still appears sometimes around the city, and it looks like a floating puddle or marsh just in front of our sight. And whenever we want to pursue after and catch up, it always run away and finally fade out from our sight. That is the reason why we call it "Nige" (run-away) "Mizu" (water), and also the reason why our city was once called "Nige-Mizu-No- Sato" (The Hamlet of Run-Away Water).