Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

Geography | Surrounding municipalities | History : Jōmon period | Kofun period | Heian period | Azuchi–Momoyama period | Edo period | Meiji period | Taisho period | World War II and postwar | Contemporary ages | Economy | Automotive industry | Aviation industry | Ceramics | Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) | Technology | Economy : Retail | Arts and crafts | Others | Education : University | Transport : Air : Rail : Bus : Road | Seaport | Sightseeing | Surrounding area | Culture : Museums | Theatres | Ikebana | Festivals | Dialect | Handicrafts | Cuisine

🇯🇵 Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is Japan's fourth-largest incorporated city and the third most populous urban area. Located on the Pacific coast on central Honshu, it is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and is one of Japan's major ports. It is also the centre of Japan's third-largest metropolitan region, known as the Chūkyō metropolitan area, one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world. Nagoya is known for its orderly grid street plan for which the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu is ultimately responsible.

In 1610, the warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu, a retainer of Oda Nobunaga, moved the capital of Owari Province from Kiyosu to Nagoya. This period saw the renovation of Nagoya Castle. The arrival of the 20th century brought a convergence of economic factors that fueled rapid growth in Nagoya, during the Meiji Restoration, and became a major industrial hub for Japan. The traditional manufactures of timepieces, bicycles, and sewing machines were followed by the production of special steels, ceramic, chemicals, oil, and petrochemicals, as the area's automobile, aviation, and shipbuilding industries flourished. These factors made the city a target for US air raids during World War II.

Following the war, Nagoya's economy diversified, but the city remains a significant centre for industry and transport in Japan. It is linked with Tokyo, Kyōto, and Osaka by the Tokaido Shinkansen, and is home to the Nagoya Stock Exchange as well as the headquarters of Brother Industries, Ibanez, Lexus, and Toyota Tsusho, among others. Nagoya is home of educational institutes such as Nagoya University, the Nagoya Institute of Technology, and Nagoya City University. Famous landmarks in the city include Atsuta Shrine, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Nagoya Castle, and Hisaya Ōdori Park, and Nagoya TV Tower, one of the oldest TV towers in Japan.

The Nagoya International Center promotes international exchange in the local community. It houses the U.S. Consulate on the 6th floor and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) on the 7th floor.

Geography Nagoya lies north of Ise Bay on the Nōbi Plain. The city was built on low-level plateaus to ward off floodwaters. The plain is one of the nation's most fertile areas. The Kiso River flows to the west along the city border, and the Shōnai River comes from the north-east and turns south towards the bay at Nishi Ward. The human-made Hori River was constructed as a canal in 1610. It flows from north to south, as part of the Shōnai River system. The rivers allowed for trade with the hinterland. The Tempaku River feeds from a number of smaller river in the east, flows briefly south at Nonami and then west at Ōdaka into the bay. The city's location and its position in the centre of Japan allowed it to develop economically and politically.

Surrounding municipalities Aichi Prefecture ◦ Tobishima; ◦ Kanie; ◦ Ama; ◦ Ōharu; ◦ Kiyosu; ◦ Kitanagoya; ◦ Toyoyama; ◦ Kasugai; ◦ Owariasahi; ◦ Seto; ◦ Nagakute; ◦ Nisshin; ◦ Tōgō; ◦ Toyoake; ◦ Ōbu; ◦ Tōkai.

History: Jōmon period In the Jomon and Yayoi period, the Ōguruwa Shell Midden was discovered before the settlement of Nagoya.

Kofun period In the Kofun period, Nagoya was settled and the Danpusan Kofun and Shiratori Kofun was built in this area. The Atsuta Shrine is of ancient origin, it is home to the Imperial Regalia of Japan, the legendary sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi. According to traditional sources, Yamato Takeru died in 113 AD. The possessions of the dead prince were gathered together along with the sword Kusanagi; and his widow venerated his memory in a shrine at her home.

Heian period The Seigan-ji was built by the Fujiwara clan in the late Heian period. A member served as the head priest of the nearby Atsuta Shrine, one of the legendary shrines of Japan. It is believed that Yura-Gozen, also known as Urahime, a daughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, was married to Minamoto no Yoshitomo (1123–60) and their son Minamoto no Yoritomo's birthplace is Nagoya, he is also the founder of the Kamakura shogunate.

Azuchi–Momoyama period Oda Nobunaga and his protégés Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu were powerful warlords based in the Nagoya area who gradually succeeded in unifying Japan. In 1610, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the capital of Owari Province from Kiyosu, about seven km (4.3 miles) away, to a more strategic location in present-day Nagoya.

In May–June 1560, the Battle of Okehazama took place in Dengakuhazama, Owari Province which was just outside of what would become Nagoya city. In this battle, Oda Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto and established himself as one of the leading warlords in the Sengoku period.

Edo period During this period Nagoya Castle was constructed, built partly from materials taken from Kiyosu Castle. During the construction, the entire town around Kiyosu Castle, consisting of around 60,000 people, moved from Kiyosu to the newly planned town around Nagoya Castle. Around the same time, the nearby ancient Atsuta Shrine was designated as a waystation, called Miya (the Shrine), on the important Tōkaidō road, which linked the two capitals of Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo). A town developed around the temple to support travelers. The castle and shrine towns formed the city.

Meiji period During the Meiji Restoration Japan's provinces were restructured into prefectures and the government changed from family to bureaucratic rule. Nagoya was proclaimed a city on October 1, 1889, and designated a city on 1 September 1956, by government ordinance. Nagoya became an industrial hub for the region. Its economic sphere included the famous pottery towns of Tokoname, Tajimi and Seto, as well as Okazaki, one of the only places where gunpowder was produced under the shogunate. Other industries included cotton and complex mechanical dolls called karakuri ningyō.

Taisho period Mitsubishi Aircraft Company was established in 1920 in Nagoya and became one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in Japan. The availability of space and the central location of the region and the well-established connectivity were some of the major factors that lead to the establishment of the aviation industry there.

World War II and postwar Nagoya was the target of US air raids during World War II. The population of Nagoya at this time was estimated to be 1.5 million, fourth among Japanese cities and one of the three largest centres of the Japanese aircraft industry. It was estimated that 25% of its workers were engaged in aircraft production. Important Japanese aircraft targets (numbers 193, 194, 198, 2010, and 1729) were within the city itself, while others (notably 240 and 1833) were to the north of Kagamigahara. It was estimated that they produced between 40% and 50% of Japanese combat aircraft and engines, such as the vital Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. The Nagoya area also produced machine tools, bearings, railway equipment, metal alloys, tanks, motor vehicles and processed foods during World War II.

Air raids began on April 18, 1942, with an attack on a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aircraft works, the Matsuhigecho oil warehouse, the Nagoya Castle military barracks and the Nagoya war industries plant. The bombing continued through the spring of 1945, and included large-scale firebombing. Nagoya was the target of two of Bomber Command's attacks. These incendiary attacks, one by day and one by night, devastated 15.3 square km (5.9 sq mi). The XXI Bomber Command established a new U.S. Army Air Force record with the greatest tonnage ever released on a single target in one mission—3,162 tons of incendiaries. It also destroyed or damaged twenty-eight of the numbered targets and raised the area burned to almost one-fourth of the entire city. Nagoya Castle, which was being used as a military command post, was hit and mostly destroyed on May 14, 1945, followed by the Yokkaichi Bombing in June 1945. Reconstruction of the main building was completed in 1959. Later in the same year on July 26, 1945 the Enola Gay also dropped a conventional pumpkin bomb in the Yagoto area of Nagoya as part of a bombing raid in order to train for their mission to Hiroshima. In 1959, the city was flooded and severely damaged by the Ise-wan Typhoon.

Contemporary ages After the war the city was able to rebuild and take up its role again as one of the country's leading industrial and manufacturing centres, it became known as the "Houston and Montreal of the Orient". It also plays an increasing role in the meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) industry, hosting the Expo 2005 and the Nagoya Protocol conference in 2010.

Economy Nagoya is the centre of Greater Nagoya, which earned nearly 70 percent of Japan's 2003 trade surplus.

Automotive industry Nagoya's main industry is automotive. Toyota's luxury brand Lexus, Denso, Aisin Seiki Co., Toyota Industries, JTEKT and Toyota Boshoku have their headquarters in or near Nagoya. Mitsubishi Motors has an R&D division in the suburb of Okazaki. Major component suppliers such as Magna International and PPG also have a strong presence here. Spark plug maker NGK and Nippon Sharyo, known for manufacturing rolling stock including the Shinkansen are headquartered there.

Aviation industry The aviation history has historically been of importance since the industrialisation. The aviation tradition continues with Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation headquartered in the Nagoya Airfield's terminal building in Komaki. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) aircraft is produced at a factory adjacent to the airport. The MRJ is a partnership between majority owner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyota with design assistance from Toyota affiliate Fuji Heavy Industries an aircraft manufacturer.

Ceramics Japanese pottery and porcelain has a long tradition due to suitable clay being available in Owari Province. Before and during the Edo period there were two main kilns in the region: Seto and Tokoname. In Nagoya Castle a type of oniwa-yaki (literally "garden ware") called Ofukei ware was produced by the feudal lord's court. Almost every feudal lord had his own oniwa-yaki, also to have gifts made. In the town itself Toyoraku ware and Sasashima ware Japanese tea utensils were made with refined tastes. Ofukei ware started under the first Owari lord Tokugawa Yoshinao and was interrupted once, but continued on until the end of the Edo period. It became widely known in Japan. The lord's taste in ceramics was also imitated by other Owari samurai, such as Hirasawa Kurō and Masaki Sōzaburō, who made their own pieces.

Toyoraku ware continued on until the Taishō era under the 8th generation. Colourful pieces and gorgeous tea utensils were highly valued. Sasashima ware also experienced its heyday during this time. Colourful and soft ceramic items such as sake and tea utensils and objects were produced and intently collected.

An early type of manufactured production was the blue-and-white Kawana ware. With the advent of industrialization during the Meiji era of the late 19th century, some export wares were produced. Industrial-scale export porcelain was made by old Noritake, also Nagoya E-tsuke (名古屋絵付) became popular.

Production of industrial ceramics continues to be an important economic factor with companies such as INAX, NGK, and NGK Insulators.

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) The city has an increasing role in the meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) industry. The city offers venues for conferences and congresses such as the Nagoya Congress Center and the Nagoya International Exhibition Hall, the Nagoya Kanko Hotel and Kawabun.

Technology Mechanised puppets, called "karakuri ningyō", are a traditional craft from the area. Robot technology is another rapidly developing industry. A materials engineering industry is developing. Brother Industries, which is known for office electronics such as multifunction printers is based in Nagoya, as is Hoshizaki Electric, which is known for commercial ice machines and refrigeration equipment. Many small machine tool and electronics companies are also based in the area.

Economy: Retail Retail is of importance in the city. Traditional department stores with roots in Nagoya are Matsuzakaya, Maruei and the Meitetsu Department Store. Oriental Nakamura was bought by Mitsukoshi from Tokyo in 1977.

Arts and crafts The Owari province was historically well known for the cloisonné art form. The Ando Cloisonné Company continues the long tradition.

Others The confectionery company Marukawa is well known.

The city offers venues for conferences and congresses such as the Nagoya Congress Center and the Nagoya International Exhibition Hall.

Education Nagoya has mostly state-run primary and secondary schools. The area in the city limits includes international schools such as the Nagoya International School and Colégio Brasil Japão Prof. Shinoda Brazilian school.

Education: University State and private colleges and universities primarily located in the eastern area. Some Western-style institutions were founded early in the Meiji era, with more opening during the Taishō and Shōwa eras. Nagoya University was set up in 1871 as a medical school and has produced six Nobel Prize laureates in science. Nanzan University was established by the Roman Catholic Society of the Divine Word in 1932 as a high school and expanded to include Nanzan Junior College and the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture. The main campus was designed in the 1960s by the renowned architect Antonin Raymond. Some universities specialise in engineering and technology, such as Nagoya University Engineering school, Nagoya Institute of Technology and Toyota Technological Institute; these universities receive support and grants from companies such as Toyota.

Other colleges and universities include: Aichi Prefectural College of Nursing & Health, Aichi Shukutoku Junior College, Aichi Toho University, Chukyo University, Daido University, Doho University, Kinjo Gakuin University, Kinjo Gakuin University Junior College, Meijo University, Nagoya City University, Nagoya College of Music, Nagoya Future Culture College, Nagoya Gakuin University, Nagoya Management Junior College, Nagoya Women's University, St. Mary's College, Nagoya, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Sugiyama Jogakuen University Junior College, Tokai Gakuen Women's College. Various universities from outside Nagoya have set up satellite campuses, such as Tokyo University of Social Welfare.

The Hōsa Library dates to the 17th century and houses 110,000 items, including books of classic literature such as historic editions of The Tale of Genji that are an heirloom of the Owari Tokugawa and were bequeathed to the city. The Nagoya City Archives store a large collection of documents and books. Tsuruma Central Library is a public library and Nagoya International Center has a collection of foreign-language books.

National Universities • Nagoya University (名古屋大学, Nagoya Daigaku) • Nagoya Institute of Technology (名古屋工業大学, Nagoya Kōgyō Daigaku); Prefectural University • Aichi Prefectural College of Nursing & Health (愛知県立看護大学, Aichi kenritsu kango Daigaku) • Nagoya City University (名古屋市立大学, Nagoya shiritsu Daigaku); Private Universities • Aichi University (愛知大学, Aichi Daigaku) • Aichi Gakuin University (愛知学院大学, Aichi gakuin Daigaku) • Aichi Shukutoku University (愛知淑徳大学, Aichi Shukutoku Daigaku) • Aichi Toho University (愛知東邦大学, Aichi Toho Daigaku) • Chukyo University (中京大学, Chūkyō Daigaku) • Daido University (大同大学, Daidō Daigaku) • Doho University (同朋大学, Dōhō Daigaku) • Kinjo Gakuin University (金城学院大学, Kinjō Gakuin Daigaku) • Meijo University (名城大学, Meijō Daigaku) • Nagoya College of Music (名古屋音楽大学, Nagoya Ongaku Daigaku) • Nagoya Gakuin University (名古屋学院大学, Nagoya Gakuin Daigaku) • Nagoya Women's University (名古屋女子大学, Nagoya Joshi Daigaku) • Nanzan University (南山大学, Nanzan Daigaku) • Sugiyama Jogakuen University (椙山女学園大学, Sugiyama Jogakuen Daigaku) • Tokyo University of Social Welfare (東京福祉大学, Tokyo Fukushi Daigaku) • Tokai Gakuen University (東海学園大学, Tokai Gakuen Daigaku) • Toyota Technological Institute (豊田工業大学, Toyota Kōgyō Daigaku).

Transport: Air Nagoya is served by Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), built on an artificial island in Tokoname. The airport has international flights and a high volume of domestic flights.

A second airport is Nagoya Airfield (Komaki Airport, NKM) near the city's boundary with Komaki and Kasugai. On February 17, 2005, Nagoya Airport's commercial international flights moved to Centrair Airport. Nagoya Airfield is now used for general aviation and as an airbase and is the main Fuji Dream Airlines hub.

Transport: Rail Nagoya Station, the world's largest train station by floor area, is on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line, the Tōkaidō Main Line, and the Chūō Main Line, among others. JR Central, which operates the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, has its headquarters there. Meitetsu is also based in Nagoya, and along with Kintetsu provides regional rail service to the Tōkai and Kansai regions.

High-speed rail JR Central • Tōkaidō Shinkansen line; Conventional lines JR Central • Tōkaidō Main Line • Chūō Main Line • Kansai Main Line; Subways Nagoya Subway provides urban transit service.

Transport: Bus Several private and public bus companies operate with of routes throughout the region. Most local bus routes complement existing rail service to form an effective intermodal transit network. • Nagoya Municipal Bus • Meitetsu Bus • Mie Kotsu.

Transport: Road Expressways • Nagoya Expressway • Mei-Nikan Expressway • Tōmei Expressway • Isewangan Expressway • Higashi-Meihan Expressway • Chitahantō Road; Japan National Route • National Route 1 • National Route 19 • National Route 22 • National Route 23 • National Route 41 • National Route 153 • National Route 154 • National Route 155 • National Route 247 • National Route 302 • National Route 363 • National Route 366

Seaport Nagoya Port is the largest port by international trade value in Japan. Toyota Motor Corporation exports via this port.

Sightseeing Nagoya's two most famous sightseeing spots are Atsuta Shrine and Nagoya Castle. • Atsuta Shrine is the second-most venerable shrine in Japan, after Ise Grand Shrine. It is said to hold the Kusanagi sword, one of the three imperial regalia of Japan, but it is not on public display. It holds around 70 festivals per year. The shrine hosts over 4,400 national treasures that span its 2,000 year history. • Nagoya Castle was built in 1612. Although a large part of it burned down during World War II, the castle was restored in 1959, adding amenities such as elevators. The castle is famous for two magnificent Golden tiger-headed carp (金の鯱, Kin no Shachihoko) on the roof, often used as the symbol of Nagoya.

Other attractions include: • Gokiso Hachimangū shinto shrine • Nagoya TV Tower and Hisaya-Ōdori Park, located in the central Sakae district • JR Central Towers is part of the Nagoya Station • Midland Square: The new international sales headquarters for Toyota features Japan's highest open-air observation deck. • The Port of Nagoya area, which includes the former Italian-themed shopping mall called Italia Mura as well as the popular Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. • Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Higashiyama Sky Tower • The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology near Nagoya station • Danpusan Kofun: The maximum old burial mound (Kofun) in Aichi. • The Noritake factory: The home of Noritake fine chinaware is open to visitors and allows people to learn about the history of the establishment. It includes a cafe, information/technology displays, and shopping facilities. It also holds a few unrestored areas that serve as reminders of devastation caused by the final stages of World War II. • The SCMaglev and Railway Park • The Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts (N/BMFA) (permanently closed) • The Ōsu shopping district and nearby temples, Ōsu Kannon and Banshō-ji • The Tokugawa Art Museum and the Tokugawa Garden, a surrounding Japanese garden • The Nagoya City Science and Art Museums, located in Shirakawa Park, not far from Fushimi Subway Station • The MUFG Money Museum, now located near the Akatsuka-shirakabe 赤塚白壁 bus stop on Dekimachi-dōri. • Legoland Japan, Japan's first Legoland resort.

Surrounding area Nagoya is a starting point for visits to the surrounding area, such as Inuyama, Little World Museum of Man, Meiji Mura, Tokoname, Himakajima, Tahara, Toyohashi and Toyokawa and Hamamatsu. Reachable with at most a two-hour journey are Gifu, Gujo Hachiman, Gifu, Ise Shrine, Takayama, Gifu, Gero Onsen and the hill stations in the Kiso Valley Magome and Tsumago.

Culture Nagoya was a major trading city and political seat of the Owari lords, the most important house of the Tokugawa clan. They encouraged trade and the arts under their patronage, especially Tokugawa Muneharu, the 7th lord, who took a keen interest in drama and plays and lived lavishly. Under his rule, actors and actresses began to visit Nagoya. Arts and culture was further supported by the city's wealthy merchants. Culture flourished after the feudal Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji era. During World War II many old buildings and artefacts were destroyed. The region's economic and financial power in the post-war years rekindled the artistic and cultural scene.

Culture: Museums Nagoya has multiple museums, including traditional and modern art, handicrafts to industrial high-tech, natural and scientific museums.

Nagoya Castle's collection is from the Owari Tokugawa era. The main tower is a museum that details the history of the castle and the city. The Honmaru Palace, destroyed in World War II, was reconstructed in 2018; it is a prime example of the Shoin-zukuri architecture of the feudal era. Tokugawa Art Museum is a private museum belonging to the Owari Tokugawa, who lived in Nagoya castle for 16 generations. Among other things, it contains 10 designated national Treasures of Japan, including some of the oldest scrolls of The Tale of Genji. The Nagoya Noh Theatre houses various precious objects of Noh theatre. The Nagoya City Museum showcases the history of the town.

Yōki-sō is a villa and gardens located in Chikusa-ku, close to Nittai-ji. It was constructed in the Taishō era for Ito Jirozaemon Suketami XV, the first president of Matsuzakaya.

Paintings and sculpture are exhibited at the Nagoya City Art Museum. Modern art is displayed at the Aichi Arts Center. The Aichi Arts Center also is the venue of rotating exhibitions. The city is also home to the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts, a sister museum to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which was founded to bring aspects of the MFA's collection to Japan.

The art of porcelain and ceramics can be seen at the Noritake Garden. Toyota has two museums in the city, the Toyota Automobile Museum which shows vintage cars, and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, which showcases company history, including its start as a textile mill.

The Nagoya City Tram & Subway Museum has trams and subway cars, as well as the Nagoya City Science Museum. The SCMaglev and Railway Park opened in March 2011 with various trains from the Central Japan Railway Company.

Other art museums in Aichi prefecture are the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum and the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art. Meiji Mura is an open-air museum with salvaged buildings from the Meiji, Taishō and Showa eras. Another museum in Nagoya is the Mandolin Melodies Museum.

Other museums in the city include the International Design Centre Nagoya, the Japan Spinning Top Museum and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Money Museum.

The civic authorities promote tourism and have taken steps to safeguard architectural heritage by earmarking them as cultural assets. Apart from the castle, temples, shrines and museums in the city, a "Cultural Path" was instituted in the 1980s, located between the Tokugawa Art Museum and Nagoya Castle. This residential area has historic buildings such as the Nagoya City Archives, the Nagoya City Hall main building, the Aichi Prefectural Office main building, the Futaba Museum, the former residence of Sasuke Toyoda, the former residence of Tetsujiro Haruta and the Chikaramachi Catholic Church. Most buildings date from the Meiji and Taishō era and are protected.

Theatres Nō and Kyōgen theatre date back to the feudal times of the Owari Tokugawa lords. The Nagoya Noh Theater at Nagoya Castle continues that tradition and is a prominent feature in the cultural life of the city, with monthly performances.

Developed during the Edo period, one of Japan's kabuki grand stages is Misono-za, which also hosts various other Japanese entertainment such as concerts.

In 1912, the musician Gorō Morita invented the Nagoya harp music instrument.

In 1992, the large, modern Aichi Arts Center was opened in Sakae. It is the main venue for performing arts, featuring a main hall that can be used for opera and theatre and a concert hall. The Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra performs there, as well as many visiting guest orchestras.

Ikebana Ishida-ryū (石田流) is a school of Ikebana, or Japanese floral art. It was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Nagoya.

Festivals Apart from the main national festivals and holidays, other festivals in Nagoya are unique to the city/region.

Major events include the June Atsuta Festival, the July Port Festival, the August Nagoya Castle Summer Festival Castle and the October Nagoya Festival. Wards and areas host local festivals such as the Daidō-chōnin Matsuri (大須大道町人祭, Street Performer's Festival) in Ōsu.

Dialect The Nagoya dialect (名古屋弁, Nagoya-ben) is spoken in the western half of Aichi Prefecture, centering on Nagoya. It is also called Owari dialect (尾張弁, Owari-ben). The Nagoya dialect is relatively close to standard Japanese and to the Kansai dialect, differing in pronunciation and vocabulary.

Handicrafts The industry of Japanese handicrafts in the city is centuries old. • Arimatsu and Narumi dye: during the construction of Nagoya Castle in the 17th century, the lords of Owari called in skilled craftsmen from Bungo Province in Kyushu, known for their tie-dyed fabrics. These craftsmen and their families were treated generously by the Owari and settled in the Arimatsu und Narumi neighbourhoods. Only the base fabric is dyed, leaving parts that were knotted as white spots. This highly specialised process requires 6–12 months to complete. • Geta clog straps: wooden clogs called geta were the shoes of the feudal era. The Owari devised a unique pattern for the cotton straps of the clogs and ordered them to be made by local weavers. The technique has developed over the generations. The straps became stronger and more resilient but more comfortable for the feet with the discovery of cotton velvet. • Shippo: the technique for enamelware called shippo arrived from the Netherlands towards the end of the Edo period. The patterns appear almost transparent and are often used on pottery. • Candles: wax is taken from a wax tree and painted around a rope made of grass and Japanese paper (washi) over and over again into layers. When cut in half, the candle looks as if it grew like a tree with rings. Japanese candles produce less smoke and are harder to blow out, since the wick tends to be larger. Artists paint the candles in coloured patterns. • Yuzen: the art of silk dyeing was introduced by craftsmen from Kyoto during the rule of Owari Togukawa. The initial designs were extravagant and brightly coloured, but over time became more muted and light-coloured. • Sekku Ningyo: festival dolls were introduced by markets during the Meiji era. Nagoya craftsmen rank among the top producers. • The city also gave its name to a type of obi, the sash that is used to tie a kimono. The term Nagoya obi can refer to an older type of obi used centuries ago. This type was cord-like. The current Nagoya obi (名古屋帯?) – or to differentiate from the fukuro Nagoya obi, also called kyūsun Nagoya obi (九寸名古屋帯?, "nine-inch nagoya obi") – is the most-used obi type today. It was developed by a seamstress living in Nagoya at the end of the 1920s. The new, easy-to-use obi gained popularity among Tokyo's geisha, from whom it then was adopted by fashionable city women for their everyday wear. The Nagoya obi was originally for everyday wear, not for ceremonial outfits, but one made from exquisite brocade can be accepted as semi-ceremonial wear. A more formal version is called the Fukuro Nagoya obi (袋名古屋帯?) or hassun Nagoya obi (八寸名古屋帯?, "eight-inch Nagoya obi"), which is more formal. • Japanese pottery and porcelain has a long tradition due to suitable clay being available in Owari Province. Seto ware and Tokoname ware are from the region. In the town itself Ofukei ware, Toyoraku ware, Sasashima ware and Kawana ware were produced. • Netsuke artists such as Tametaka and Ikkan were well-known during the Edo period.

Cuisine The city and the region are known for their unique local Nagoya cuisine (名古屋めし, Nagoya meshi). Dishes include: • Tebasaki: chicken wings marinated in a sweet sauce with sesame seeds, basically a type of yakitori • Tenmusu: a rice ball wrapped with nori that is filled with deep-fried tempura shrimp • Kishimen: flat udon noodles with a slippery texture, dipped in a light soy sauce soup and a sliced leek or other flavouring added. It can be eaten cold or hot. • Red miso: various dishes that use red miso, such as miso katsu (pork cutlet) with sweet miso sauce and miso nikomi udon (hard udon stewed in miso soup) • Hitsumabushi: rice dish with unagi in a lidded wooden container. This dish is enjoyed three ways; as unadon, with spice and as chazuke.

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan 
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Image: Adobe Stock vichie81 #194869876

Nagoya is rated Gamma - by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) which evaluates and ranks the relationships between world cities in the context of globalisation. Gamma level cities are cities that link smaller economic regions into the world economy.

Nagoya is ranked #103 and rated C by the Global Urban Competitiveness Report (GUCR) which evaluates and ranks world cities in the context of economic competitiveness. C cities are international gateway cities. Nagoya was ranked #968 by the Nomad List which evaluates and ranks remote work hubs by cost, internet, fun and safety. Nagoya has a population of over 2,327,557 people. Nagoya also forms part of the Greater Nagoya metropolitan area which has a population of over 9,107,414 people. Nagoya is ranked #246 for startups with a score of 1.404.

To set up a UBI Lab for Nagoya see: https://www.ubilabnetwork.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/UBILabNetwork

Nagoya is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Design see: https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities

Twin Towns, Sister Cities Nagoya has links with:

🇲🇽 Álvaro Obregón, Mexico 🇧🇪 Antwerp, Belgium 🇺🇸 Baltimore, USA 🇧🇪 Brussels, Belgium 🇦🇺 Fremantle, Australia 🇺🇸 Houston, USA 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, USA 🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico 🇺🇸 Moses Lake, USA 🇯🇵 Nakatsugawa, Japan 🇨🇳 Nanjing, China 🇦🇺 Port Jackson, Australia 🇫🇷 Reims, France 🇯🇵 Rikuzentakata, Japan 🇨🇳 Shanghai, China 🇦🇺 Sydney, Australia 🇹🇼 Taichung, Taiwan 🇺🇿 Tashkent, Uzbekistan 🇯🇵 Toyota, Japan 🇮🇹 Turin, Italy 🇧🇪 Zeebrugge, Belgium
Text Atribution: Wikipedia Text under CC-BY-SA license | GaWC | GUCR | Nomad | StartupBlink

East of: 136.907

🇯🇵 Nanto 136.929

🇯🇵 Handa 136.933

🇯🇵 Inuyama 136.948

🇯🇵 Ōbu 136.95

🇯🇵 Nanao 136.967

🇷🇺 Komsomolsk-on-Amur 137.009

🇯🇵 Takaoka 137.017

🇯🇵 Nagakute 137.033

🇯🇵 Miyoshi 137.062

🇯🇵 Kawabe 137.067

West of: 136.907

🇷🇺 Amursk 136.9

🇯🇵 Komaki 136.9

🇯🇵 Taketoyo 136.9

🇯🇵 Fusō 136.9

🇯🇵 Naka 136.9

🇯🇵 Tōkai 136.89

🇯🇵 Kōnan 136.867

🇯🇵 Kakamigahara 136.833

🇯🇵 Ichinomiya 136.807

🇯🇵 Gifu 136.766

Antipodal to Nagoya is: -43.093,-35.181

Locations Near: Nagoya 136.907,35.1814

🇯🇵 Naka 136.9,35.183 d: 0.7  

🇯🇵 Komaki 136.9,35.283 d: 11.3  

🇯🇵 Nagakute 137.033,35.183 d: 11.5  

🇯🇵 Kōnan 136.867,35.317 d: 15.5  

🇯🇵 Ichinomiya 136.807,35.299 d: 15.9  

🇯🇵 Tōkai 136.89,35.02 d: 18  

🇯🇵 Fusō 136.9,35.35 d: 18.8  

🇯🇵 Seto 137.083,35.217 d: 16.5  

🇯🇵 Inuyama 136.948,35.362 d: 20.4  

🇯🇵 Ōbu 136.95,35 d: 20.5  

Antipodal to: Nagoya -43.093,-35.181

🇧🇷 Tubarão -49,-28.467 d: 19083.4  

🇧🇷 Criciúma -49.372,-28.678 d: 19080.7  

🇧🇷 São José -48.617,-27.6 d: 19022.8  

🇧🇷 Palhoça -48.667,-27.633 d: 19023.5  

🇧🇷 Viamão -51.023,-30.088 d: 19081.8  

🇧🇷 Gravataí -50.983,-29.933 d: 19073.7  

🇧🇷 Biguaçu -48.667,-27.5 d: 19010.7  

🇧🇷 Alvorada -51.079,-30.001 d: 19071.4  

🇧🇷 Rio Grande -52.099,-32.041 d: 19111.4  

🇧🇷 Cachoeirinha -51.083,-29.95 d: 19067.5  

Bing Map

Option 1