Nagoya, capital of Aichi ken (prefecture), central Honshu, Japan, and one of the country’s leading industrial cities. It is located at the head of Ise Bay.
The history of Nagoya dates from 1610, when a great castle was erected by the Owari branch of the powerful Tokugawa shogunate. After the Meiji Restoration (1868), which marked the end of shogunal government, Nagoya continued as a commercial centre. The development of Nagoya’s port, especially after World War II, and the advantages of the city’s central location and abundant hydroelectric power from the rivers of central Honshu stimulated the growth of heavy industry. The traditional manufactures of timepieces, bicycles, and sewing machines were followed by the production of special steels, chemicals, oil, and petrochemicals, as the area’s automobile, aviation, and shipbuilding industries flourished.