Iruma, Saitama 2.81

Iruma is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, in the central Kantō region of Japan., the city had an estimated population of 148,460 and a population density of 3,320 persons per km². Its total area was 44.69sqkm.GeographyLocated in the Satama Highlands of far southern Saitama Prefecture, Iruma is bordered by Tokyo to the south. The Iruma River flows through the city.Surrounding municipalities Saitama Prefecture Sayama Hannō Tokorozawa Oume MizuhoHistoryIruma developed as a series of three post towns on the Nikkō Wakiōkan highway during the Edo period. The town of Toyooka and villages of Kaneko, Miyadera, Fujisawa and Higashikaneko were created within Iruma District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The Imperial Japanese Army Air Academy established an airfield in the area in 1938, which later developed into Iruma Air Base. On April 1, 1954 Higashikaneko became Seibu Town. On September 30, 1956, Toyooka, Kaneko, Miyadera, Fujisawa and Seibu merged to form the town of Musashi. Musashi was elevated to city status on November 1, 1966, becoming the city of Iruma. In 2017 Japan became the first country ever to elect an openly transgender man to any public office when Tomoya Hosoda was elected as a councillor for the city of Iruma.