Nagasaki

Nagasaki is a city in Japan, located on the island of Kyushu. It is the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture. The city's name means "Long Cape" in Japanese.

Nagasaki has a rich history as an important trading port. It was founded by the Portuguese and became the main place for trade with Portugal and the Netherlands from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Many special historical sites in the area, called the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region, are now recognized as important places and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

During wars in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Nagasaki had a major base for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Near the end of World War II, the city was affected by an atomic bombing, making it one of the few cities in the world to experience a nuclear attack. After this event, Nagasaki was rebuilt.

Today, Nagasaki is a lively city with many people. As of early 2024, about 392,000 people live there, spread across an area of about 406 square kilometers.

History

Main articles: Ecclesiastical Nagasaki and Dejima

The first recorded contact between Portuguese explorers and Japan happened in 1543, when a Portuguese ship landed on Tanegashima, an island south of Kyūshū. This marked the start of direct contact between Japan and Europe. Two Portuguese traders introduced firearms to the Japanese, which changed warfare in Japan.

Soon after, Portuguese ships began regular trade with Japan. In 1549, the Spanish Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier arrived in Kagoshima. By 1569, a permit was granted to establish a port in Nagasaki, which grew quickly into a busy port city. Portuguese goods like tobacco and textiles became popular in Japan.

During the Edo period, Japan limited foreign contact, and Nagasaki became a center for studying European science through "Dutch learning." In 1859, Japan opened to foreign trade again, and Nagasaki became a treaty port. The city modernized and grew, especially in shipbuilding.

Main article: Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki § Nagasaki

During World War II, Nagasaki was an important industrial city. On August 9, 1945, it was the second city to suffer a nuclear attack. The bombing caused great destruction, but the city was rebuilt. Today, Nagasaki remembers this event with memorials and museums, while continuing as a major port and shipbuilding center.

Geography

Nagasaki is a city located on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It is surrounded by several smaller cities and towns, including Isahaya, Saikai, Togitsu, and Nagayo. The city sits at the end of a long bay, which provides an excellent natural harbor.

Nagasaki has a humid subtropical climate, meaning it has mild winters and hot, humid summers. The city receives a lot of rain, especially during the summer months. Despite this, winters are generally drier and a bit milder than areas further inland.

Education

Nagasaki is home to several universities and junior colleges, offering a range of educational opportunities. The universities include Kwassui Women's University, Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science, Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies, and Nagasaki Wesleyan University.

Junior colleges in the city include Nagasaki Junior College, Nagasaki Junshin Junior College, Nagasaki Gyokusei Junior College, and Nagasaki Women's Junior College.

Economy

Nagasaki has a strong economy based on machinery and heavy industry. One of the most famous companies there is Mitsubishi, which is known for shipbuilding and other large-scale manufacturing. The city's location near the sea has helped it become an important place for building ships and creating big machines.

Transportation

The nearest airport is Nagasaki Airport located in the nearby city of Ōmura. The Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) offers train services on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen and Nagasaki Main Line, with trains stopping at Nagasaki Station.

The city also has a Nagasaki Electric Tramway with five different tram routes. For cars, the Nagasaki Expressway provides highways with exits in Nagasaki and Susukizuka. Six major national highways pass through the city, including Route 34.

Demographics

On August 9, 1945, Nagasaki had an estimated population of 263,000 people. By March 1, 2017, the city's population had grown to 505,723, with about 1,000 people living in each square kilometer.

Sports

Nagasaki has a football team that plays in the J.League. The team is called V-Varen Nagasaki.

Main sites

• Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan
• Confucius Shrine, Nagasaki
• Dejima Museum of History
• Former residence of Shuhan Takashima
• Former site of Latin Seminario
• Former site of the British Consulate in Nagasaki
• Former site of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Nagasaki Branch
• Glover Garden
  • Former Glover Residence
  • Former Alt Residence
  • Former Ringer Residence
  • Former Walker Residence
• Fukusai-ji
• Gunkanjima
• Higashi-Yamate Juniban Mansion
• Kazagashira Park
• Kofukuji
• Megane Bridge
• Mount Inasa
• Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum (located next to the Peace Park)
• Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
• Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
• Nagasaki Peace Park
  • Atomic Bomb Hypocenter (located near the Peace Park)
• Nagasaki Peace Pagoda
• Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium
• Nagasaki Chinatown
• Nagasaki Science Museum
• Nagasaki Subtropical Botanical Garden
• Nyoko-do Hermitage
• Oranda-zaka
• Sannō Shrine – One-legged stone torii, sometimes called an arch or gateway.
• Sakamoto International Cemetery
• Shōfuku-ji
• Siebold Memorial Museum
• Sōfuku-ji – Daiyūhōden and Daiippomon are national treasures of Japan.
• Suwa Shrine
• Syusaku Endo Literature Museum
• Tateyama Park
• Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum and Monument
• Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum
• Urakami Cathedral
• Miyo-Ken, a temple where the white snake is worshipped

Cityscape

Nagasaki City seen from the Inasayama Observatory, facing southeast.

Events

The Nagasaki Lantern Festival happens every year during the first 15 days of Chinese New Year. It is the biggest lantern festival in all of Japan. Another famous event is Kunchi, held from October 7 to 9, which is the most well-known festival in Nagasaki.

Each November, Nagasaki is the starting point for the Prince Takamatsu Cup Nishinippon Round-Kyūshū Ekiden, the world's longest relay race.

Cuisine

Nagasaki has many special foods you can try, like Tempura, Castella, and Champon. You might also enjoy Sara udon, Chinese confections, and Karasumi. These dishes show the city's rich history and tasty flavors.

Notable people

Nagasaki has been home to many famous individuals across different fields. Notable people from Nagasaki include author Kazuo Ishiguro, known for his literary works, and Maya Yoshida, a professional footballer. Other well-known figures from the city are Takashi Nagai, a writer and physician, and Ariana Miyamoto, a model and actress. The city has contributed many talented people to Japan’s culture, sports, and arts.

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan

Nagasaki has friendly relationships with several cities around the world. These sister cities include Hiroshima in Japan, St. Louis and Saint Paul in the United States, Dupnitsa in Bulgaria, Santos in Brazil, Fuzhou in China, Middelburg in the Netherlands, Porto in Portugal, and Vaux-sur-Aure in France. These partnerships help the cities learn from each other and work together on various projects.