City history
Explore the rich history of Nagoya, from its origins in the Owari Province to its modern status as a major industrial and cultural hub.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Etymology is disputed"
Before becoming a centralized city, the region was part of the Owari Province, a vital territory in feudal Japan.
Etymology is disputed
The historical administrative province that encompasses the modern-day Nagoya metropolitan area.
Long valley or bay
The name became the standard designation following the abolition of the feudal han system.
Chapter two
Nagoya transitioned from local solar time to unified Japan Standard Time, synchronizing the city with the rest of the nation.
As part of a post-war national policy, Nagoya briefly observed daylight saving time before its discontinuation in 1952.
Chapter three
A massive fortification built as the seat of the Owari Tokugawa clan, symbolizing feudal power in the region.
Nagoya was officially incorporated as a city under the Meiji government's modern municipal systems.
The city underwent massive urban planning and reconstruction following one of the most devastating typhoons in Japanese history.