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'{{About|the Japanese city|4 = other uses|5 = Kobe (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox settlement <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions --> | name = {{raise|0.2em|Kobe}} | native_name = {{lower|0.1em|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|神戸市}}}}}} | native_name_lang = ja | official_name = Kobe City<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/foreign/english/index.html |title=Kobe's official English name |publisher=City.kobe.lg.jp |date=2013-02-18 |accessdate=2013-03-31}}</ref> | settlement_type = [[Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan|Designated city]] <!-- images, nickname, motto ---> | image_skyline = Kobe montage1.jpg{{!}}border | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = From top left: [[Port of Kobe]], [[Akashi Kaikyō Bridge]], [[Kitano-chō]], [[Kobe Chinatown]], night view from [[Kikuseidai]] of [[Mount Maya|Mt. Maya]], [[Kobe Port Tower]] | image_flag = Flag of Kobe.svg | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Kobe, Hyogo.svg | nickname = | motto = <!-- maps and coordinates ------> | image_map = Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Kobe in [[Hyōgo Prefecture]] | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_base_alt = | dot_map_alt = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = |dot_y = | pushpin_map = Japan | pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = &nbsp; | latd = 34 | latm = 41 | lats = 24 | latNS = N | longd = 135 | longm = 11 | longs = 44 | longEW = E | coor_pinpoint = <!-- to specify exact location of coordinates (was coor_type) --> | coordinates_type = type:city(1545410)_region:JP | coordinates_display = inline,title | coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags --> <!-- location ------------------> | subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]] | subdivision_name = [[Japan]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Japan|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Hyōgo Prefecture]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = <!-- established ---------------> | established_title = <!-- Settled --> | established_date = | founder = | named_for = <!-- seat, smaller parts -------> | seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat --> | seat = <!-- government type, leaders --> | government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags --> | leader_party = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = [[Kizō Hisamoto]] | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 --> <!-- display settings ---------> | total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> | unit_pref = <!-- enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric --> <!-- area ----------------------> | area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink --> | area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags --> | area_total_km2 = 552.23 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note = <!-- elevation -----------------> | elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags --> | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = <!-- population ----------------> | population_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags --> | population_total = 1536499 ([[List of Japanese cities by population|5th]]) | population_as_of = May 1, 2015 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_demonym = <!-- demonym, ie. Liverpudlian for someone from Liverpool --> | population_note = <!-- time zone(s) --------------> | timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time]] | utc_offset1 = +9 | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = <!-- postal codes, area code ---> | postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> | postal_code = | area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) --> | area_code = <!-- blank fields (section 1) --> | blank_name_sec1 = City symbols | blank_info_sec1 = &nbsp; | blank1_name_sec1 = • Tree | blank1_info_sec1 = ''[[Camellia sasanqua]]'' | blank2_name_sec1 = • Flower | blank2_info_sec1 = [[Hydrangea]] <!-- blank fields (section 2) --> | blank_name_sec2 = Phone&nbsp;number | blank_info_sec2 = 078-331-8181 | blank1_name_sec2 = Address | blank1_info_sec2 = 6-5-1 Kano-chō, Chūō-ku, Kōbe-shi, Hyōgo-ken<br/>650-8570 <!-- website, footnotes --------> | website = [http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/foreign/english/index.html City of Kobe] | footnotes = }} {{nihongo|'''Kobe'''|神戸市|Kōbe-shi|extra={{IPA-ja|koːꜜbe}}}} is the [[List of Japanese cities by population|sixth-largest city]] in [[Japan]] and is the capital city of [[Hyōgo Prefecture]]. It is located on the southern side of the main island of [[Honshu|Honshū]], on the north shore of [[Osaka Bay]] and about {{convert|30|km|0|abbr=on}} west of [[Osaka]]. With a population around 1.5 million, the city is part of the [[Keihanshin]] metropolitan area along with Osaka and [[Kyoto]]. The earliest written records regarding the region come from the ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'', which describes the founding of the [[Ikuta Shrine]] by [[Empress Jingu|Empress Jingū]] in AD 201.<ref name="ikutahistory">[http://www.ikutajinja.or.jp/index1.html Ikuta Shrine official website] - "History of Ikuta Shrine" (Japanese)</ref><ref name="kobecityinfo">[http://www.kobecityinfo.com/history.html Kobe City Info] - "History". Retrieved February 2, 2007.</ref> For most of its history, the area was never a single political entity, even during the [[Tokugawa Period]], when the port was controlled directly by the [[Tokugawa Shogunate]]. Kobe did not exist in its current form until its founding in 1889. Its name comes from {{nihongo|"kanbe"|神戸}}, an archaic title for supporters of the city's Ikuta Shrine.<ref name="nagasakiu">[http://hikoma.lb.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/en/target.php?id=5363 Nagasaki University] - "Ikuta Shrine". Retrieved February 3, 2007.</ref><ref name="kojien_kanbe">Entry for {{lang|ja-Hani|「神戸（かんべ）」}}. [[Kōjien]], fifth edition, 1998, ISBN 4-00-080111-2</ref> Kobe became one of Japan's 17 [[City designated by government ordinance|designated cities]] in 1956. Kobe was one of the cities to open for trade with the [[Western world|West]] following the 1853 end of the [[Sakoku|policy of seclusion]] and has since been known as a cosmopolitan port city. While the 1995 [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] diminished. and kobe likes to suck tities city, it remains Japan's fourth busiest container port.<ref name="busyport2006">[http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/worldportrankings%5F2006.xls American Association of Port Authorities] - "World Port Rankings 2006". Retrieved April 15, 2008.</ref> Companies headquartered in Kobe include [[ASICS]], [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]], and [[Kobe Steel]], as well as over 100 international corporations with Asian or Japanese headquarters in the city such as [[Eli Lilly and Company]], [[Procter & Gamble]], [[Boehringer Ingelheim]], and [[Nestlé]].<ref name="foreign_hq">"Number of foreign corporations with headquarters in Kobe passes 100." (Japanese) in Nikkei Net, retrieved from [http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/retto/20070702c6b0202c02.html NIKKEI.net] on July 3, 2007.</ref><ref name="companyhq">[http://www.hyogo-kobe.jp/english/list/company.html Hyogo-Kobe Investment Guide] - "List of Foreign Enterprises and Examples". Retrieved February 8, 2007.</ref> The city is the point of origin and namesake of [[Kobe beef]], as well as the site of one of Japan's most famous [[onsen|hot spring]] resorts, [[Arima Onsen]]. == History == {{see also|Timeline of Kobe}} {{Commons category-inline|Kobe by decade|History of Kobe}} === Origins to the Meiji era === Tools found in western Kobe demonstrate the area was populated at least from the [[Jōmon period]].<ref name="oldkobehistory">[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/15/020/youran/rekishi.html City of Kobe] - "Kobe's History" (Japanese). Retrieved October 22, 2007.</ref> The natural geography of the area, particularly of Wada Cape in [[Hyōgo-ku, Kobe|Hyōgo-ku]], led to the development of a port, which would remain the economic center of the city.<ref name="hyogotsu">[http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/english/hyogotsu/index.html Hyogo International Tourism Guide] - "Hyogo-tsu". Retrieved February 2, 2007.</ref> Some of the earliest written documents mentioning the region include the ''Nihon Shoki'', which describes the founding of the [[Ikuta Shrine]] by [[Jingū of Japan|Empress Jingū]] in AD 201.<ref name="ikutahistory" /> During the [[Nara period|Nara]] and [[Heian period]]s, the port was known by the name {{nihongo|Ōwada Anchorage||Ōwada-no-tomari}} and was one of the ports from which [[imperial embassies to China]] were dispatched.<ref name="kobecityinfo"/><ref name="oldkobehistory"/> The city was briefly the [[capital of Japan]] in 1180, when [[Taira no Kiyomori]] moved his grandson [[Emperor Antoku]] to Fukuhara in present-day Hyōgo-ku.<ref name="oldkobehistory" /> The Emperor returned to Kyoto after about five months.<ref name="kobecityinfo"/> Shortly thereafter in 1184, the [[Taira]] fortress in Hyōgo-ku and the nearby Ikuta Shrine became the sites of the [[Genpei War]] battle of [[Battle of Ichi-no-Tani|Ichi-no-Tani]] between the Taira and [[Minamoto clan]]s. The Minamoto prevailed, pushing the Taira further. As the port grew during the [[Kamakura period]], it became an important hub for trade with China and other countries. In the 13th century, the city came to be known by the name {{nihongo|Hyōgo Port|兵庫津|Hyōgo-tsu}}.<ref name="hyogotsu" /> During this time, Hyōgo Port, along with northern Osaka, composed the province of [[Settsu Province|Settsu]] (most of today's Kobe belonged to Settsu except [[Nishi-ku, Kobe|Nishi Ward]] and [[Tarumi-ku, Kobe|Tarumi Ward]], which belonged to [[Harima Province|Harima]]). Later, during the [[Edo period]], the eastern parts of present-day Kobe came under the jurisdiction of the [[Amagasaki Domain]] and the western parts under that of the [[Akashi Domain]], while the center was controlled directly by the [[Tokugawa shogunate]].<ref>[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/06/014/year/year.html#3 City of Kobe] - "Old Kobe" (Japanese). Retrieved February 16, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.city.ashiya.hyogo.jp/english/history.html City of Ashiya] - "An Outline History of Ashiya". Retrieved February 16, 2007.</ref> It was not until the [[abolition of the han system]] in 1871 and the establishment of the current [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture system]] that the area became politically distinct. Hyōgo Port was opened to foreign trade by the government of the [[Bakufu]] at the same time as Osaka on January&nbsp;1, 1868, just before the advent of the [[Boshin War]] and the [[Meiji Restoration]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OFYajIf9QgC&pg=PA304 |title='&#39;The Cambridge History of Japan'&#39; p.304 |publisher=Books.google.com |date=1989-07-28 |accessdate=2013-03-31}}</ref> The region has since been identified with the West and many foreign residences from the period remain in Kobe's [[Kitano-chō|Kitano area]]. <gallery> File:Viewofkobe.PNG|Hyōgo Port in the 19th century<ref>From the [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?110089 NYPL Digital Library]</ref> File:Kobe kaigan street01 1920.jpg| The Bund, built in the 1860s - 1930s File:Choueke house02 1920.jpg|[[Kitano-chō|Kitano area]], built in the 1880s - 1910s File:Old hyogo prefectural office bld03 1920.jpg|Former Hyogo prefectural office, built in 1902 </gallery> === Modern era === [[File:KobeFormerSettelment Map JapDirectory (1905).tif|thumb|Map of the Foreign Settlement.]] Kobe, as it is known today, was founded on April&nbsp;1, 1889, and was [[City designated by government ordinance|designated]] on September&nbsp;1, 1956 by government ordinance. The history of the city is closely tied to that of the Ikuta Shrine, and the name "Kobe" derives from {{nihongo|"kamube"|神戸|kamube}} (later ''kanbe''), an archaic name for those who supported the shrine.<ref name="nagasakiu"/><ref name="kojien_kanbe"/> During [[World War II]], Kobe was bombed in the [[Doolittle Raid]] on April 18, 1942, along with [[Tokyo]] and a few other cities. Eventually, it was bombed again with incendiary bombs by [[B-29 Superfortress|B-29]] bombers on March&nbsp;17, 1945, causing the death of 8,841 residents and destroying 21% of [[Bombing of Kobe in World War II|Kobe's urban area]]. This incident inspired the well-known [[Studio Ghibli]] film ''[[Grave of the Fireflies]]'' and the [[Grave of the Fireflies (novel)|book]] by [[Akiyuki Nosaka]] on which the film was based. Following continuous pressure from citizens, on March&nbsp;18, 1975, the Kobe City Council passed an ordinance banning vessels carrying [[nuclear weapon]]s from Kobe Port. This effectively prevented any U.S. warships from entering the port, policy being not to disclose whether any warship is carrying nuclear weapons. This [[nuclear proliferation|nonproliferation]] policy has been termed the "[[Japan's non-nuclear policy#The Kobe Formula|Kobe formula]]".<ref>[http://www.prop1.org/prop1/jkobef.htm Kobe City Council] - "Resolution on the Rejection of the Visit of Nuclear-Armed Warships into Kobe Port", 18 March 1975. Retrieved February 16, 2007.</ref><ref>Kamimura, Naoki. "Japanese Civil Society and U.S.-Japan Security Relations in the 1990s". retrieved from [http://www.ippnw.org/MGS/V7N1Kamimura.html International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War] on February 2, 2007</ref> On January 17, 1995, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred at 5:46 am [[Japan Standard Time|JST]] near the city. About 6,434 people in the city were killed, 212,443 were made homeless, and large parts of the port facilities and other parts of the city were destroyed.<ref>[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/06/013/report/january.2008.pdf The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Statistics and Restoration Progress] (Jan. 2008). Retrieved April 14, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/en/topics_hanshin.html Great Hanshin Earthquake Restoration]. Retrieved April 14, 2008.</ref> The earthquake destroyed portions of the [[Hanshin Expressway]], an elevated freeway that dramatically toppled over. In Japan, the earthquake is known as the [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] (or the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake). To commemorate Kobe's recovery from the 1995 quake, the city holds an event every December called the [[Kobe Luminarie|Luminarie]], where the city center is decorated with illuminated metal archways. The [[Port of Kobe]] was Japan's busiest port and one of Asia's top ports until the Great Hanshin earthquake.<ref name="maruhon">[http://www.maruhon.com/business/port.htm Maruhon Business News] - Port Conditions in Japan. Retrieved January 23, 2007.</ref> Kobe has since dropped to fourth in Japan and 49th-[[List of world's busiest container ports|busiest container port worldwide]] ({{As of|2012|lc=y}}). == Geography == Wedged between the coast and the mountains, the city of Kobe is long and narrow. To the east is the city of [[Ashiya, Hyōgo|Ashiya]], while the city of [[Akashi, Hyōgo|Akashi]] lies to its west. Other adjacent cities include [[Takarazuka, Hyōgo|Takarazuka]] and [[Nishinomiya]] to the east and [[Sanda, Hyōgo|Sanda]] and [[Miki, Hyōgo|Miki]] to the north. The landmark of the port area is the red steel [[Kobe Port Tower|Port Tower]]. A [[Ferris wheel]] sits in nearby [[Harborland]], a notable tourist [[Esplanade|promenade]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} Two artificial islands, [[Port Island]] and [[Rokkō Island]], have been constructed to give the city room to expand. Away from the seaside at the heart of Kobe lie the [[Motomachi, Kobe|Motomachi]] and [[Sannomiya]] districts, as well as Kobe's [[Chinatown]], [[Kobe Chinatown|Nankinmachi]], all well-known retail areas. A multitude of train lines cross the city from east to west. The main transport hub is [[Sannomiya Station]], with the eponymous [[Kobe Station (Hyōgo)|Kobe Station]] located to the west and the [[Shinkansen]] [[Shin-Kobe Station]] to the north. [[Mount Rokkō]] overlooks Kobe at an elevation of 931 meters. During the autumn season, it is famous for the rich change in colors of its forests. ===Image gallery=== <gallery> File:Kobe port tower11s3200.jpg|[[Kobe Port Tower]] File:Mosaic04s3200.jpg|[[Harborland]] File:Kobe_Nankinmachi_at_night.jpg|[[Kobe Chinatown]], [[Motomachi, Kobe|Motomachi]] File:Giant panda01 960.jpg|The [[giant panda]], Koukou, at [[Oji Zoo]] </gallery> === Wards === [[File:Kobe kus-.PNG|thumb|right|Wards of Kobe]] Kobe has nine [[Wards of Japan|wards]] (''ku''): # [[Nishi-ku, Kobe|Nishi-ku]]: The westernmost area of Kobe, Nishi-ku overlooks the city of [[Akashi, Hyōgo|Akashi]] and is the site of [[Kobe Gakuin University]]. This ward has the largest population with 247,000 residents.<ref>[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/06/013/toukei/contents/kubetusihyo.html City of Kobe], "Population by Ward" (Japanese). Retrieved July 25, 2007.</ref> # [[Kita-ku, Kobe|Kita-ku]]: Kita-ku is the largest ward by area and contains the Rokko Mountain Range, including [[Mount Rokkō]] and [[Mount Maya]]. The area is well known for its rugged landscape and hiking trails. The [[onsen]] resort town of [[Arima Onsen|Arima]] also lies within Kita-ku. # [[Tarumi-ku, Kobe|Tarumi-ku]]: Tarumi-ku is a mostly residential area. The longest suspension bridge in the world, the [[Akashi Kaikyō Bridge]], extends from Maiko in Tarumi-ku to [[Awaji Island]] to the south. A relatively new addition to Kobe, Tarumi-ku was not a part of the city until 1946. # [[Suma-ku, Kobe|Suma-ku]]: Suma-ku is the site of Suma beach, attracting visitors during the summer months. # [[Nagata-ku, Kobe|Nagata-ku]]: Nagata-ku is the site of [[Nagata jinja|Nagata Shrine]], one of the three "Great Shrines" in Kobe. # [[Hyōgo-ku, Kobe|Hyōgo-ku]]: At various times known as Ōwada Anchorage or Hyōgo Port, this area is the historical heart of the city. [[Shinkaichi]] in Hyogo-ku was once the commercial center of Kobe, but was heavily damaged during [[World War II]], and since Hyogo-ku has lost much of its former prominence. # [[Chūō-ku, Kobe|Chūō-ku]]: {{nihongo|''Chūō''|中央}} literally means "center" and, as such, Chūō-ku is the commercial and entertainment center of Kobe. [[Sannomiya]] along with [[Motomachi, Kobe|Motomachi]] and [[Harborland]] make up the main entertainment areas in Kobe. Chūō-ku includes Kobe City Hall and [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo prefectural]] government offices. [[Port Island]] as well as [[Kobe Airport]] lie in the southern part of this ward. # [[Nada-ku, Kobe|Nada-ku]]: Nada-ku is the site of Kobe's Oji Zoo and kobe likes to suck a lot of tities [[Kobe University]]. Nada is well known for [[Nada-Gogō|its sake]]. Along with [[Fushimi-ku, Kyoto|Fushimi]] in [[Kyoto]], it accounts for 45% of Japan's sake production.<ref>[http://www.kippo.or.jp/culture_e/syoku/sakejijo/sakejijo1.html Kansai Window], "Japan's number one sake production". Retrieved February 6, 2007.</ref> # [[Higashinada-ku, Kobe|Higashinada-ku]]: The easternmost area of Kobe, Higashinada-ku borders the city of [[Ashiya, Hyōgo|Ashiya]]. The man-made island of [[Rokko Island|Rokko]] makes up the southern part of this ward. == Climate == Kobe has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'') with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is significantly higher in summer than in winter, though on the whole lower than most parts of Honshū, and there is no significant snowfall. {{Weather box |location = Kobe, Hyōgo |single line = Y |metric first = Y |Jan high C = 8.4 |Feb high C = 8.8 |Mar high C = 12.3 |Apr high C = 18.5 |May high C = 22.9 |Jun high C = 26.0 |Jul high C = 29.8 |Aug high C = 31.6 |Sep high C = 27.6 |Oct high C = 22.0 |Nov high C = 16.6 |Dec high C = 11.3 |Jan mean C = 4.7 |Feb mean C = 5.0 |Mar mean C = 8.0 |Apr mean C = 14.0 |May mean C = 18.4 |Jun mean C = 22.0 |Jul mean C = 25.9 |Aug mean C = 27.3 |Sep mean C = 23.6 |Oct mean C = 17.7 |Nov mean C = 12.5 |Dec mean C = 7.5 |Jan low C = 1.4 |Feb low C = 1.5 |Mar low C = 4.0 |Apr low C = 9.8 |May low C = 14.4 |Jun low C = 18.8 |Jul low C = 23.1 |Aug low C = 24.3 |Sep low C = 20.4 |Oct low C = 14.1 |Nov low C = 8.8 |Dec low C = 4.1 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 43.4 |Feb rain mm = 54.4 |Mar rain mm = 92.6 |Apr rain mm = 136.4 |May rain mm = 144.2 |Jun rain mm = 218.0 |Jul rain mm = 156.8 |Aug rain mm = 91.7 |Sep rain mm = 170.8 |Oct rain mm = 103.1 |Nov rain mm = 66.2 |Dec rain mm = 38.0 |Jan snow cm = 1 |Feb snow cm = 1 |Mar snow cm = 1 |Apr snow cm = 0 |May snow cm = 0 |Jun snow cm = 0 |Jul snow cm = 0 |Aug snow cm = 0 |Sep snow cm = 0 |Oct snow cm = 0 |Nov snow cm = 0 |Dec snow cm = 0 |Jan humidity = 61 |Feb humidity = 63 |Mar humidity = 62 |Apr humidity = 64 |May humidity = 67 |Jun humidity = 74 |Jul humidity = 77 |Aug humidity = 73 |Sep humidity = 71 |Oct humidity = 67 |Nov humidity = 66 |Dec humidity = 63 |Jan sun = 144.7 |Feb sun = 127.9 |Mar sun = 161.1 |Apr sun = 170.1 |May sun = 195.9 |Jun sun = 146.7 |Jul sun = 174.5 |Aug sun = 201.6 |Sep sun = 145.8 |Oct sun = 159.3 |Nov sun = 143.1 |Dec sun = 146.9 |source 1 = NOAA (1961-1990) <ref name= NOAA>{{cite web |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/JP/47770.TXT |title = Kobe Climate Normals 1961-1990 |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |accessdate = January 6, 2013}}</ref> |date=January 2013}} == Demographics == As of September 2007, Kobe has an estimated [[population]] of 1,530,295 making up 658,876 [[household]]s. This is an increase of 1,347 persons or approximately 0.1 percent over the previous year. The [[population density]] is approximately 2,768 persons per square kilometre, while there are about 90.2 males to every 100 females.<ref name="population statistics">[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/06/013/toukei/contents/suikeijinkou.html City of Kobe] - "Estimated Population of Kobe". Retrieved October 2, 2007.</ref> About thirteen percent of the population are between the ages of 0 and 14, sixty-seven percent are between 15 and 64, and twenty percent are over the age of 65.<ref name="pocket statistics">[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/06/013/toukei/contents/pocket.html City of Kobe] - "Statistical Summary of Kobe". Retrieved July 25, 2007.</ref> Approximately 44,000 registered foreign nationals live in Kobe. The four most common nationalities are Korean (22,237), Chinese (12,516), Vietnamese (1,301), and American (1,280).<ref name="pocket statistics" /> == Economy == [[File:Kobe Mosaic06s4s3200.jpg|thumb|Kobe is the busiest port in the [[Kansai region]]]] [[File:Kobe Metropolitan Employment Area.svg|thumb|A map showing Kobe [[Urban Employment Area|Metropolitan Employment Area]].]] The [[Port of Kobe]] is both an important port and manufacturing center within the [[Hanshin Industrial Region]]. Kobe is the [[List of world's busiest container ports|busiest container port]] in the region, surpassing even [[Osaka]], and the fourth busiest in Japan.<ref name="busyport2005">[http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%202005.xls American Association of Port Authorities] - "World Port Rankings 2005". Retrieved July 3, 2007.</ref> {{As of|2004}}, the city's total real [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] was ¥6.3 trillion, which amounts to thirty-four percent of the GDP for [[Hyōgo Prefecture]] and approximately eight percent for the whole [[Kansai region]].<ref name="Kobe economy">[http://web.hyogo-iic.ne.jp/hyogoip/4-2-1.pdf Hyogo Industrial Advancement Center] - "Industry Tendencies in Various Areas of Hyogo Prefecture" (Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/kenmin/h16/main.html Cabinet Office, Government of Japan] - "2004 Prefectural Economy Survey" (Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2007.</ref> [[Per capita income]] for the year was approximately ¥2.7 million.<ref name="Kobe economy"/> Broken down by [[Three-sector hypothesis|sector]], about one percent of those employed work in the [[Primary sector of economic activity|primary sector]] (agriculture, fishing and mining), twenty-one percent work in the [[Secondary sector of economic activity|secondary sector]] (manufacturing and industry), and seventy-eight percent work in the [[Tertiary sector of economic activity|service sector]].<ref name="pocket statistics" /> The value of [[manufactured goods]] produced and exported from Kobe for 2004 was ¥2.5 trillion. The four largest sectors in terms of value of goods produced are small appliances, food products, transportation equipment, and communication equipment making up over fifty percent of Kobe's manufactured goods. In terms of numbers of employees, food products, small appliances, and transportation equipment make up the three largest sectors.<ref>[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/06/013/toukei/pdf/kougyou/16kiji.pdf Kobe City Report on Census of Manufacturers, 2004] (Japanese). Retrieved March 30, 2007.</ref> The [[GDP]] in Kobe [[Urban Employment Area|Metropolitan Employment Area]] (2.4 million people) is US$ 96.0 billion in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.csis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/UEA/uea_data_e.htm|title = Metropolitan Employment Area (MEA) Data|author = Yoshitsugu Kanemoto|publisher = Center for Spatial Information Science, The [[University of Tokyo]]}}</ref><ref>[https://data.oecd.org/conversion/exchange-rates.htm Conversion rates - Exchange rates] - OECD Data</ref> === Major companies and institutes === Japanese companies which have their headquarters in Kobe include [[ASICS]], a shoe manufacturer; [[Daiei]], a department store chain; [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]], [[Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation|Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co.]], [[Mitsubishi Motors]], [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]] (ship manufacturer), [[Mitsubishi Electric]], [[Kobe Steel]], [[Sumitomo Rubber Industries]],<ref>"[http://www.srigroup.co.jp/english/corporate/outline.html Company Outline]." [[Sumitomo Rubber Industries]]. Retrieved on January 24, 2015.</ref> [[Sysmex Corporation]] (medical devices manufacturer)<ref>"[http://www.sysmex.co.jp/en/sysmex/profile/index.html Corporate Profile]." [[Sysmex Corporation]]. Retrieved on January 21, 2015.</ref> and [[TOA Corporation]]. Other companies include the [[confectionery]] manufacturers [[Konigs-Krone]] and [[Morozoff Ltd.]], [[Sun Television (Japan)|Sun Television Japan]] and [[UCC Ueshima Coffee Co.]] There are over 100 international corporations with East-Asia or Japan headquarters in Kobe. Of these, twenty-four are from China, eighteen from the United States, and nine from Switzerland.<ref name="foreign_hq" /> Some prominent corporations include [[Eli Lilly and Company]], [[Nestlé]], [[Procter & Gamble]],<ref>"[http://www.pg.com/company/who_we_are/worldwide_operations.shtml P&G Locations]." ''[[Procter & Gamble]]''. Retrieved November 14, 2008.</ref> [[Tempur-Pedic]], [[Boehringer-Ingelheim]], and [[Toys "R" Us]]. Kobe is the site of a number of research institutes, such as the [[RIKEN]] Kobe Institute Center for [[developmental biology]] and medical imaging techniques,<ref>[http://www.cdb.riken.go.jp/en/index.html RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology RIKEN Kobe Institute]. Retrieved June 26, 2007.</ref> the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology Kobe Advanced ICT Research Center,<ref>[http://www2.nict.go.jp/enwiki/w/w103/en/index.html National Institute of Information and Communications Technology Kobe Advanced ICT Research Center]. Retrieved June 26, 2007.</ref> the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention,<ref>[http://www.bosai.go.jp/e/index.html National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention]. Retrieved June 12, 2007.</ref> and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center.<ref>[http://www.adrc.or.jp Asian Disaster Reduction Center]. Retrieved June 12, 2007.</ref> International organizations include the [[WHO Centre for Health Development]], an [[intergovernmental organization|intergovernmental]] agency forming part of the [[World Health Organization]]. The [[Diplomatic missions of Panama|Consulate-General of Panama in Kobe]] is located on the eighth floor of the Moriyama Building in [[Chūō-ku, Kobe]].<ref>"[http://www.m-osaka.com/en/consulate/index.html List of Consulates in Kansai Area]." ''Creation Core Higashi Osaka''. Retrieved on January 15, 2009.</ref> <gallery> File:Kobe crystal tower01 2048.jpg|[[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]] headquarters on [[Harborland]]. File:Kobe Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co02ds3200.jpg|[[Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation|Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co.]] headquarters on [[Kobe Harbor]]. File:P and g02 1024.jpg|[[Procter & Gamble]] Asia headquarters on [[Rokko Island]]. File:Kobe Nestle Japan HQ01ss3200.jpg|[[Nestlé|Nestlé Japan Ltd.]] headquarters on [[Sannomiya]]. File:UCC Ueshima Coffee Company02s3872.jpg|[[UCC Ueshima Coffee Co.]] headquarters on [[Port Island]]. </gallery> == Transportation == {{See also|Transport in Greater Osaka}} ===Air=== [[Osaka International Airport]] in nearby [[Itami, Hyōgo|Itami]] and [[Kobe Airport]], built on a reclaimed island south of [[Port Island]], offer mainly domestic flights, while [[Kansai International Airport]] in [[Osaka]] is the main international hub in the area. === Rail === [[File:Twilight view of Kobe, from a point near Shin-Kobe station.jpg|right|thumb|Near [[Shin-Kobe Station]].]] [[Sannomiya Station]] is the main commuter hub in Kobe, serving as the transfer point for the three major intercity rail lines ([http://mukiryoku.com/railmap_e.html see external map]). The [[JR Kobe Line]] connects Kobe to [[Osaka]] and [[Himeji, Hyōgo|Himeji]] while both the [[Hankyū Kōbe Main Line|Hankyū Kobe Line]] and the [[Hanshin Main Line]] run from Kobe to [[Umeda Station]] in Osaka. In addition, [[Kobe Municipal Subway]] provides access to the [[Sanyō Shinkansen]] at [[Shin-Kobe Station]]. [[Sanyō Electric Railway]] trains from Himeji reach Sannomiya via the [[Kobe Rapid Railway]]. Other rail lines in Kobe include [[Kōbe Electric Railway]] which runs north to [[Sanda, Hyogo|Sanda]] and [[Arima Onsen]]. [[Hokushin Kyūkō Electric Railway|Hokushin Kyūkō Railway]] connects Shin-Kobe Station to [[Tanigami Station]] on the Kobe Electric Railway. [[Kobe New Transit]] runs two lines, the [[Port Island Line]] from Sannomiya to [[Kobe Airport]] and the [[Rokko Island Line]] from [[Sumiyoshi Station (JR West)|JR Sumiyoshi Station]] to [[Rokko Island]]. Over [[Mount Rokkō]], the city has two [[funicular]] lines and three [[aerial lift]]s as well, namely [[Maya Cablecar]], [[Rokkō Cable Line]], [[Rokkō Arima Ropeway]], [[Maya Ropeway]], and [[Shin-Kobe Ropeway]]. === Road === [[File:Akashi Bridge.JPG|thumb|The [[Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge]] extends from Kobe to [[Awaji Island]].]] Kobe is a hub in a number of [[Expressways of Japan|expressways]], including the [[Meishin Expressway]] ([[Nagoya]] - Kobe) and the [[Hanshin Expressway]] (Osaka - Kobe).<ref>[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/27/kigyo-yuchi/invest-kobe/e/access/domestic/index.html Hyogo-Kobe Investment Guide] - "Domestic Access". Retrieved February 15, 2007.</ref> Other expressways include the [[Sanyō Expressway]] (Kobe - [[Yamaguchi Prefecture|Yamaguchi]]) and the [[Chūgoku Expressway]] (Osaka - Yamaguchi). The [[Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Project#Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway|Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway]] runs from Kobe to [[Naruto, Tokushima|Naruto]] via [[Awaji Island]] and includes the [[Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge]], the longest suspension bridge in the world. == Education == {{main|Education in Kobe}} [[File:Kobe-Univ-Rokkodai-Honkan.jpg|thumb|[[Kobe University]] main building]] The city of Kobe directly administers 169 elementary and 81 middle schools, with enrollments of approximately 80,200 and 36,000 students, respectively.<ref name="Kobe schools">[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/57/kyouikutyousa/index.html City of Kobe] - "Number of municipal schools and students" (Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2007.</ref> If the city's four private elementary schools and fourteen private middle schools are included, these figures jump to a total 82,000 elementary school students and 42,300 junior high students enrolled for the 2006 school year.<ref name="pocket statistics" /><ref>[http://web.pref.hyogo.jp/pa15/pa15_000000005.html Hyogo Prefectural Government] - "Private elementary schools" (Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://web.pref.hyogo.jp/pa15/pa15_000000004.html Hyogo Prefectural Government] - "Private middle schools" (Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2007.</ref> Kobe also directly controls six of the city's twenty-five full-time public high schools including [[Kobe Municipal Fukiai High School|Fukiai High School]] and Rokkō Island High School. The remainder are administered by the Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education.<ref name="Kobe schools"/><ref>[http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/child/college/highschool/ City of Kobe] - "Municipal high school" (Japanese). Retrieved March 2, 2016.</ref> In addition, twenty-five high schools are run privately within the city.<ref>[http://web.pref.hyogo.jp/pa15/pa15_000000003.html Hyogo Prefectural Government] - "Private high schools" (Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2007.</ref> The total enrollment for high schools in 2006 was 43,400.<ref name="pocket statistics" /> Kobe is home to eighteen public and private universities, including [[Kobe University]], [[Kobe Institute of Computing]] and [[Konan University]], and eight [[junior colleges]]. Students enrolled for 2006 reached 67,000 and 4,100, respectively.<ref name="pocket statistics" /> Kobe is also home to 17 Japanese language schools for international students, including the international training group Lexis Japan. == Culture == [[File:Kobe kitano thomas house07 2816.jpg|thumb|Weathercock House, one of the many foreign residences of the [[Kitano-cho|Kitano area]] of Kobe]] Kobe is most famous for its [[Kobe beef]] and [[Arima Onsen]] (hot springs). Notable buildings include the [[Ikuta Shrine]] as well as the [[Kobe Port Tower]]. It is well known for the night view of the city, from mountains such as [[Mount Rokkō]], and [[Mount Maya]] as well as the [[coast]]. Kobe is also known for having a somewhat exotic atmosphere by Japanese standards, which is mainly as a result of its history as a [[port city]]. The city is widely associated with cosmopolitanism and fashion, encapsulated in the Japanese phrase, "If you can't go to Paris, go to Kobe."<ref name="nytimes">Hassan, Sally. (April 9, 1989). "Where Japan Opened a Door To the West". ''[[The New York Times]]'', retrieved from [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEED6173FF93AA35757C0A96F948260&sec=travel&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink New York Times website] on February 7, 2007.</ref> The biannual fashion event Kobe Fashion Week, centered around the [[Kobe Collection]] is held in Kobe.<ref>[http://kobe-collection.com/ Kobe Collection Official Website] (Japanese). Retrieved February 27, 2007.</ref> The jazz festival "Kobe Jazz Street" has been held every October at jazz clubs and hotels since 1981.<ref>[http://www.kobejazzstreet.gr.jp/history/english.html Kobe Jazz Street]. Retrieved March 12, 2007.</ref> Kobe is the site of Japan's first golf course, [[Kobe Golf Club]], established by [[Arthur Hesketh Groom]] in 1903,<ref name="golfclubatlas">[http://www.golfclubatlas.com/alison1.html Golf Club Atlas] - "Gliding Past Fuji - C.H. Alison in Japan". Retrieved February 7, 2007.</ref> and Japan's first [[mosque]], [[Kobe Mosque]], built in 1935.<ref>Penn, M. "Islam in Japan," [http://www.asiaquarterly.com/content/view/168/ Harvard Asia Quarterly] Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2007.</ref> The city hosts the [[Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club]], founded in 1870 by [[Alexander Cameron Sim]],<ref name="krac">[http://www.krac.org/history.shtml Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club] - "a distinguished history". Retrieved February 7, 2007.</ref> a prominent [[Foreign cemeteries in Japan|foreign cemetery]], and a number of Western-style residences from the 19th century, in the [[Kitano-chō|Kitano area]]. Museums include [[Kobe City Museum]] and [[Kobe City Museum of Literature]]. Most of the 1957 romantic drama ''[[Sayonara]]'' takes place in Kobe. The city is the setting of much of the [[Studio Ghibli]] film ''[[Grave of the Fireflies]]''. The dialect spoken in Kobe is called ''Kobe-ben'', a sub-dialect of [[Kansai dialect]]. It is famous for a perfect tense -''too'' and a progressive tense -''yoo'' instead of Osakan form -''toru'' and Standard form -''teiru''. == Sports == {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col"| Club ! scope="col"| Sport ! scope="col"| League ! scope="col"| Venue ! scope="col"| Established |- | [[Orix Buffaloes]] | [[Baseball]] | [[Pacific League]] | [[Kobe Sports Park Baseball Stadium]]<br/>[[Osaka Dome]] | 1938 |- | [[Vissel Kobe]] | [[Association football|Football]] | [[J. League]] | [[Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium|Noevir Stadium Kobe]]<br/>[[Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium]] | 1995 |- | [[INAC Kobe Leonessa]] | [[Association football|Football]] | [[L. League]] | [[Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium|Noevir Stadium Kobe]]<br/>[[Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium]] | 2001 |- | [[Deução Kobe]] | [[Futsal]] | [[F. League]] | [[World Memorial Hall|World Hall]] | 1993 |- | [[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]] | [[rugby football|Rugby]] | [[Top League]] | [[Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium|Noevir Stadium Kobe]]<br/>[[Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium]] | 1928 |- | [[Hisamitsu Springs]] | [[Volleyball]] | [[V.League (Japan)|V.Premier League]] | | 1948 |- | [[Dragon Gate]] | [[Professional wrestling]] | | [[World Memorial Hall|Kobe World Memorial Hall]] | 1997 |} Kobe played host to the [[1991 ABC Championship|1991 Men's Asian Basketball Championship]], which was the qualifier for the [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Summer Olympics Basketball Tournament]]. Kobe was one of the host cities of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], hosting matches at [[Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium|Noevir Stadium Kobe]] (then known as Wing Stadium Kobe), which was renovated to increase its capacity to 40,000 for the event. == International relations == {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}} === Twin towns and sister cities === Kobe has a total of ten sister cities, friendship cities, and friendship and cooperation cities.<ref name="Kobe sisters">{{cite web|url= http://www.cityofkobe.org/sister_cities.html|title=Kobe's Sister Cities|accessdate=2013-08-11|work=Kobe Trade Information Office |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421095804/http://www.cityofkobe.org/sister_cities.html|archivedate=2013-04-21}}</ref> They are: === Sister cities === *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Seattle]], United States (1957)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Marseille]], France (1961)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> *{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil (1969)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> *{{flagicon|LVA}} [[Riga]], Latvia (1974)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/Riga_Municipality/Twin_cities_of_Riga/default.htm |title=Twin cities of Riga |publisher=[[Riga City Council]] |accessdate=2009-07-27}}</ref> *{{flagicon|AUS}} [[City of Brisbane|Brisbane]], Australia (1985)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> *{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Barcelona]], Spain (1993)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/><ref name="Barcelona">{{cite web|url=http://w3.bcn.es/XMLServeis/XMLHomeLinkPl/0,4022,229724149_257215678_1,00.html|title=Barcelona internacional - Ciutats agermanades|publisher=© 2006-2009 [http://www.bcn.es/catala/copyright/welcome2.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona]|language=Spanish|accessdate=2009-07-13}}</ref> *{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Incheon]], South Korea (2010)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> === Sister ports === Kobe's sister ports are: *{{flagicon|NED}} [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands (1967)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Seattle]], United States (1967)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> === Partnerships === Other city affiliations: *{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Tianjin]], China (friendship city) (1973)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Philadelphia]], United States (friendship and cooperation city) (1986)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> *{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Daegu]], South Korea (friendship and cooperation city) (2010)<ref name="Kobe sisters"/> == Gallery == <gallery> File:Taisanji31s3872.jpg|[[Taisan-ji (Kobe)|Taisan-ji]]. The main hall is a [[National Treasures of Japan|National Treasure of Japan]]. File:Anyoin03 1024.jpg|[[An'yō-in (Kobe)|An'yō-in]]. Its [[Japanese rock garden|karesansui]] is one of Japan's [[Places of Scenic Beauty]]. File:Sesshu Kobe coast prosperity view.jpg|This [[nishiki-e]] (colored woodcut) shows a foreign steamboat entering Hyōgo Port shortly after its opening to the West in the late 19th century. File:151229 Kobe Port Japan01bs.jpg|Kobe from an airplane File:Akashi-kaikyo_bridge_night_shot_small.jpg|[[Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge]] File:Kobe City view from Po-ai Shiosai Park01s3.jpg|Downtown Kobe from Po-ai Shiosai Park File:KobeDowntownStreet.JPG|[[Sannomiya]] (downtown) File:View of Kikuseidai from Mount Maya Kobe.jpg|Night view from [[Kikuseidai]] File:Kobe_Chuo_and_Suma_at_night.jpeg|Downtown at night File:Kobe Night View from Nunobiki Herb Garden.jpg|Kobe night view from Nunobiki Herb Garden File:Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park2.jpg|[[Great Hanshin earthquake|Kobe Earthquake]] Memorial Park File:Kobe municipal foreign cemetery02n4592.jpg|Foreigner's Cemetery (外国人墓地) on the slopes of Futatabiyama </gallery> == References == {{reflist|30em}} == External links == {{Wiktionary|神戸|Kōbe}} {{commons category|Kobe, Hyogo}} {{Americana Poster|Kobé|year=1920}} * [http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp Kobe City official website] {{ja icon}} * [http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/foreign/english/index.html Kobe City official website] {{en icon}} * [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?word=Kobe%2Dshi%20%28Japan%29&s=3&notword=&f=2 New York Public Library Digital Gallery] - late 19th-century photographs of Kobe *{{Wikivoyage-inline}} *{{osmrelation-inline|900329|Kobe}} *{{YouTube|u=kobecitychannel|Kobe City}} {{Ja icon}} *{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Kōbé|year=1905 |short=x}} *{{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Kobe |short=x}} {{Hyogo}} {{Metropolitan cities of Japan}} {{World's most populated urban areas}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Kobe| ]] [[Category:Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]] [[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]'