Hikari

Hikari is a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, whose name means brilliance or light. Its urban center lies on the alluvial plain of the Shimada River, with the Murozumi Coast and Nijigahama Beach at either end forming part of the Setonaikai National Park, and the hills to the north and east belonging to the Sekishiroyama Prefectural Natural Park. Wikipedia gives an estimated population of 49,100 in May 2023 over about 92.13 square kilometres. The area was part of ancient Suo Province, with traces of Yayoi period settlement, and Murozumi Bay was a key point for shipping on the Seto Inland Sea. During the Edo period it prospered as a port of call on the coastal trade of Choshu Domain. The town of Hikari took its name in 1940 and merged with Murozumi in 1943 to form the city. A naval arsenal operated here during the war.