Nagoya - Japan's fourth-largest city and an industrial center Map of the Chubu region Nagoya is located at roughly the geographic heart of Japan. Besides being a major urban center and the capital of Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya is also vital to Japan's manufacturing industry. Japan's image as a world leader in manufacturing is, in a large part, due to the industries based in Nagoya and its surrounding area. On the outskirts of Nagoya, for example, is Toyota City, the location of the headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation, famous all over the world as a maker of motor vehicles. In addition, the Nagoya area is studded with any number of other manufacturing businesses. Historically, Nagoya has also been the birthplace of many historic military figures, including shogun. From the latter half of the Muromachi-era (16th century), such historic figures as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu emerged from the Nagoya area and left their names forever written into Japanese history. These men also left Nagoya with a monument to their prosperity, Nagoya Castle. Built in the Edo-era in the year 1612 by the Owari Tokugawa family, this castle served as their fortress and living quarters at the height of their achievement. The brilliant gold mythical sea creature that adorns the roof of the castle tower has become synonymous with Nagoya itself.

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Okehazama Kosenjo Matsuri (Historic Battlefield Festival in Okehazama) - Historic battlefield in Okehazama, Hall of Kotoku-in Temple, and other venues in Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture - June 7th (Sat)-8th (Sun), 2008 Memorial services at Sennin-zuka, which is an old warriors burial mound, and for former lord Imagawa Yoshimoto, are held, and there is a warrior parade and a hiking festival. Matchlock guns are shot in a dramatic and realistic reenactment of a battle of those by-gone days. http://www.city.toyoake.aichi.jp/sangyosinko/kosenjo/kosenjo2.html (Japanese version only)

Tango no Sekku in Hida Takayama (Boys’ Festival in Hida Takayama) - Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture - May 1st (Thur)-June 5th (Thur), 2008 Carp streamers and warrior dolls are displayed in the city of Takayama during the period between May 1st and June 5th with visitors able to see such displays at different sightseeing spots and traditional old houses throughout the area. http://www.hida.jp/english/

Nagara River Ukai Fishing (fishing with cormorants) - Nagara River, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture - May 11th (Sun)-October 15th (Wed), 2008 Ukai is an ancient fishing method catching Japanese trout by using tamed cormorants. Against the background of the historic Mt. Kinka and Gifu Castle on its peak, with fires blazing on the river's surface to attract fish, the scene of the master and the cormorants cooperating together enthralls visitors, taking them back some hundred years ago. http://www.ukai-gifucity.jp/ukai/ (Japanese version only)

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