Mizukami is located at the easternmost tip of the Kyushu Mountains and Hitoyoshi Basin, in southeast Kumamoto. The entire area is mountainous and forested.
Mizukami has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Mizukami is as shown below
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1940
5,553
—
1950
6,944
+25.0%
1960
5,896
−15.1%
1970
4,410
−25.2%
1980
3,668
−16.8%
1990
3,115
−15.1%
2000
2,706
−13.1%
2010
2,405
−11.1%
2020
2,033
−15.5%
History
The area of Mizukami was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Hitoyoshi Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Yuyama, Iwano and Edai were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. These three villages merged to form the village of Mizukami on November 1, 1895.
Government
Mizukami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Mizukami, collectively with the other municipalities of Kuma District, contributes two members to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The local economy is based on agriculture and forestry.
Education
Mizukami has one combined public elementary/junior high school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
