What kind of place is "Nagoya", which was selected as "the most wonderful place in the world" by American "The Times" magazine?

Located between Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya has developed independently in various aspects such as economy, culture, and tourism. In 2023, "Nagoya" was selected as one of the "Most Wonderful Places in the World" by the American "Time" magazine!

Therefore, we would like to introduce Nagoya's unique culture.

History of Nagoya

Nagoya is said to have its origins in Nagoya Castle, which was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1610. Nagoya Castle was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa, a vassal of Nobunaga Oda, a hero of the Sengoku period, under orders from Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

After Ieyasu Tokugawa built Nagoya Castle, Nagoya prospered as the center of the Owari domain. As a feudal lord serving the Edo shogunate, the Owari domain developed Nagoya as its political and economic base.

As the land of the three heroes of the Sengoku period -  Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Ieyasu Tokugawa, there are still many places related to them.

Since the Meiji period, Nagoya has experienced remarkable industrial development, especially the textile and automobile industries. Nagoya is still one of the centers of the automobile industry, with Toyota Motor Corporation having its headquarters in Nagoya.

During World War II, Nagoya suffered air raids from the U.S. military, and many townscapes and historical buildings were damaged. Due to the post-war reconstruction, Nagoya has developed again and is building its appearance as a modern metropolis.

Language and Culture of Nagoya

There are three dialects in Nagoya: Uwamachi Kotoba, Shimono Kotoba, and Buke Kotoba. "Uwamachi" (uptown) refers to the boarded-up area north of Hirokoji-dori, while "Shimono" (downtown) refers to the area south of Hirokoji-dori, around Osu and Tachibana.

Uwamachi Kotoba 

Uwamachi language is the language used in and around Nagoya Castle. This name comes from the prosperity of Uwamachi, the castle town of Nagoya Castle, during the Edo period. Uwamachi language uses a lot of polite language and is characterized by expressions that show respect for the other person. Also, since it was used by the samurai class in the past, it is recognized as a formal word.

Shimono Kotoba

Shimono Kotoba were more widely used among the common people than those in Uwamachi, even within the castle town of Nagoya. It is more casual than Uwamachi Kotoba and may contain somewhat rough expressions. Some of the words and intonations commonly known as the Nagoya dialect are also derived from these words.

Buke Kotoba

Buke Kotoba is a language used by the samurai class of Nagoya Castle, similar to Uwamachi Kotoba, but with more formal and rigid expressions. It was characterized by the use of words to indicate samurai family lineage and social status.

Manufacturing in Nagoya

Aichi Prefecture is known as a manufacturing kingdom, with Toyota Motor Corporation  leading the way. The history of craftsmanship goes back over 400 years, and traditional manufacturing industries such as pottery and textiles are very thriving.

Arimatsu and Narumi Shibori

​Arimatsu and Narumi Shibori has a long history of about 400 years. This tie-dyeing technique originated in the Arimatsu/Narumi district of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. Today, a variety of products such as kimonos, obis, accessories, and interior goods are produced while preserving the traditional production method. It is highly regarded for its unique technique and beautiful patterns, and is recognized as a traditional Japanese craft.

Life Designs

2018.11.27

【Nagoya】Stroll around Arimatsu and Find Out its History and Culture!

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/arimatsu

有松鳴海絞りで知られるレトロな街「有松」。旧東海道の古い町並みが残り、名古屋市町並み保存地区にも指定されています。江戸時代にタイムスリップしたかのような風情溢れる町並みは、ぶらり散歩におすすめ。今回は有松の歴史や文化を楽しめるおすすめコースをご紹介します。歴史と絞りの里「有松」とは民家から郵便局まで、軒先には有松絞りの「のれん」がかかっていました。有松は、1608（慶長13）年に江戸と京都をむすんだ「東海道」の鳴海宿と池鯉鮒宿(ちりゅうのしゅく)　の間に尾張藩によって開かれました。東海道を行き来する...

Nagoya Yuzen

Nagoya Yuzen is one of the traditional Yuzen dyeing techniques that are created using unique techniques from around Nagoya. The practical design that can be worn casually as everyday wear and the use of feminine colors such as pink and purple are supported by many people as one of the traditional cultures even today.

Owari Shippou-yaki  (cloisonne ware)

During the Tenpo era (1830-1844) of the Edo period, a man named Tsunekichi Kaji learned the technique from Dutch cloisonné and perfected it. It is decorated with gorgeous patterns such as landscapes and flowers, birds and moons, and is named "Shippou" (seven treasures) because it is beautiful as if the seven treasures described in Buddhist scriptures are scattered.

Life Designs

2019.07.03

伝統的工芸品「七宝焼」がまるごと学べる！楽しめる！「あま市七宝焼アートヴィレ...

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/shippoyaki

愛知県あま市を代表する伝統工芸品「七宝焼」。七宝焼とは、金属の表面に色とりどりのガラス質の釉薬をのせて焼き上げたもの。今回ご紹介する「あま市七宝焼アートヴィレッジ」は、七宝焼について、見て・触れて・学んで、七宝焼をまるごと楽しめる施設なんです。施設内の「七宝焼体験教室」では、オリジナルの七宝焼をつくることもできます。今回は実際に七宝焼づくりにもチャレンジしてみました！ 名古屋駅より車で約20分ほど 「ふれあい広場」訪れた平日の夕方の時間帯には、地域の子どもたちが遊んでいました。あま市七宝焼アート...

Nagoya Sensu 

Nagoya is one of the two major production areas of sensu (fans) along with Kyoto. Kyoto sensu are mainly for high-class women, but Nagoya sensu have a masculine functional beauty and have a strong presence in celebrations and ceremonies.

Noritake tableware

Noritake is one of Japan's leading tableware manufacturers and a world-famous brand. Founded in Nagoya in 1884, it provides high quality and beautiful tableware.

Noritake tableware is known for its sophisticated design and reliable quality, and is loved by many people not only in Japan but around the world.

Vermicular

"Vermicular" is the pride of Japanese casting technology. All Vermicular production is done at their own factory in Nagoya City, and is handled by the long-established casting manufacturer "Aichi Dobby".

Nagoya's Food Culture "Nagoya Meshi"

"Nagoya Meshi" (Nagoya food) is a unique regional menu that is loved in Nagoya City and the surrounding areas, such as Miso-katsu, Tebasaki, and Hitsumabushi. It has a unique flavor and is popular not only with locals but also with tourists.

Hitsumabushi

One of Nagoya's local delicacies, Hitsumabushi is a local dish consisting of finely chopped broiled eel mixed with rice. To eat Hitsumabushi, you divide the rice from the rice bowl and eat the first bowl as it is, the second bowl with condiments such as spring onions and wasabi, and the third bowl with tea or dashi broth.

Miso-kats

Pork cutlet topped with sweet miso sauce is a typical local delicacy from Nagoya. The juicy pork cutlet and Nagoya's unique miso sauce are a perfect match.

Ankake Spa

One of Nagoya's specialties, spaghetti is topped with a thick starchy sauce. There are also variations topped with meat sauce or omelette rice, and it is characterized by its rich, thick flavor.

Kishimen

Unlike normal udon, it has a flat shape. It has been loved by locals for a long time because of its smooth texture.

Taiwan ramen

Taiwan ramen is a spicy noodle dish made by stir-frying minced meat, garlic, chives, chili peppers, etc., and adding it to soy sauce ramen. The moment you put it in your mouth, the intense spiciness hits you.

Life Designs

2023.03.29

【味仙完全ガイド】名古屋めしの定番「味仙」の台湾ラーメンを食べ比べ！店舗限定...

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/misen

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || ).push({});5人の兄弟によるそれぞれの「味仙」知られざる、味仙の歴史名古屋市千種区に本店を構える「味仙」は、直営店・系列店を含めて愛知県内に10店舗以上も展開している大人気の台湾料理店。その人気は愛知だけに留まらず、東京・大阪へも進出しています。そんな全国的にも有名な味仙、実は各店舗ごとで味が違うことをご存知ですか？同じ「味仙」でも、味やお店の雰囲気、価格などさまざまな点で違いがあり、個々の魅力を持っています。では、なぜ店舗によって違いがあるのか……。それ...

Life Designs

2021.11.29

6 Recommended "Taiwan ramen" restaurants, Nagoya's local gourmet

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/taiwan-ramen_nagoya

愛知・名古屋のご当地グルメ「台湾ラーメン」。台湾ラーメンとは、豚挽肉・ニラ・もやしなど唐辛子で辛く味付けして炒め、醤油ベースのスープでいただく麺料理のこと。ニンニクがたっぷり入っているのも特徴です。「台湾ラーメン」という名前ですが、「台湾」発祥ではなく、「名古屋」発祥のラーメン。名古屋市千種区に本店を置く、中国台湾料理店「味仙（みせん）」のまかない料理が元祖と言われています。今回は名古屋市内で台湾ラーメンがいただける、おすすめのお店をピックアップしてご紹介します。 (adsbygoogle = window....

Ogura Toast

After toasting thickly sliced bread, it is spread with margarine or butter and topped with red bean paste. You can get it at many coffee shops in Nagoya city.

Tebasaki fried chicken wings

Deep-fried chicken wings are coated with a sweet and spicy sauce and seasoned with sesame and pepper for a spicy flavor. The origin of this dish is ``Ganso Tebasaki Fried Chicken Wings Furaibo'', which was founded in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya City in 1963, and since then, chicken wings have been offered at various restaurants.

Koro Udon

Koro is cold udon noodles and kishimen noodles eaten in Aichi and Gifu prefectures. The difference from 'bukkake' is that the udon is not cold and is as close to room temperature as possible. Because it is not too cold, the noodles are both chewy and springy.

Life Designs

2023.02.28

10 recommended places to eat "Nagoya food" when you come to Nagoya! 

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/nagoya-gourmet

名古屋観光のお楽しみと言えば、「なごやめし」！名古屋独自の食文化を表す「なごやめし」。ひつまぶし・味噌かつ・味噌煮込みうどん・手羽先・きしめん・台湾ラーメンなど、名古屋ならではのグルメが大集合！名古屋発祥のグルメだけでなく、名古屋及び近郊で愛されてきた地域独特のメニューも。今回は名古屋の名物やご当地グルメなど、「なごやめし」が食べられるおすすめ10選をピックアップしました。三河一色産　うなぎ料理専門店「うなぎの兼光」 本店・東岡崎店では備長炭を使用し、丁寧に焼き上げます。名古屋に来たら、一度は...

Nagoya's Soul Food "Red Miso"

Many different types of miso are made throughout Japan, but the essential ingredient in Nagoya, located in the Tokai region, is aka-miso (red miso). In addition to miso soup, dote-ni, miso katsu, Miso Nikomi Udon and other specialties, red miso (soybean miso) is used in oden, somen noodles, nabe dishes, and just about everything else.

Life Designs

2020.12.15

江戸時代から続く伝統の健康食「八丁味噌」。「まるや八丁味噌」の蔵見学で、歴史...

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/maruya_miso

健康はもとより、美容食としても人気の「八丁味噌」。江戸時代より伝統の製法で味と技を守りながら、現在も脈々と受け継がれています。その伝統の技法を受け継いでいる蔵は、愛知県岡崎市八帖町にあるわずか2社のみ。今回はそのうちの1社「まるや八丁味噌」の歴史から味噌造り、社長の想いなどを蔵見学とともにご紹介します。延元二年（1337年）創業 「まるや八丁味噌」「まるや八丁味噌」の創業は延元二年（1337年）と古く、創業者である大田弥治右エ門（おおた やじえもん）が当初は醸造業としてはじめ、江戸時代から本格的に味噌造...

Customs of Nagoya

Unique customs have been rooted in Nagoya for a long time. We will pick up 5 of the many customs and introduce them.

Morning breakfast culture rooted in Nagoya

In Nagoya, there is a morning breakfast culture of eating breakfast at a coffee shop. If you order a drink at a coffee shop, it comes with toast and eggs for free. There are also shops where you can have morning breakfast all day long.

Also, many coffee shops in Aichi Prefecture serve nuts and beans when you order coffee, not just in the morning breakfast.

Life Designs

2023.05.31

10 Coffee shops that boasts morning breakfast in Nagoya! 

https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/morning-nagoya

名古屋の老舗の喫茶店「コンパル大須本店」「コンパル大須」は、芸能人からの支持も熱い老舗喫茶店です。名物のエビフライサンドをはじめ、20種類以上のサンドイッチはボリューム満点の本格派。手土産としても人気があります。店舗は大須本店、サンロード店、栄西店、栄東店、金山店、御器所店、平和店、今池店の8店舗を展開しています。そんなコンパルのモーニングは、ドリンクを注文すると+130円でハムエッグトーストがついてきます。玉子とハムとキャベツが挟んであるサンドイッチは、キャベツにソースが絡まってとってもおいしい！...

Nagoya people who are good at saving money in Japan

Nagoya people are famous for being stingy and showy, but the average savings is 14 million yen. It is said that they hate debt, so they don't drink using credit card. Instead, they spend the most money in the country on coffee shop fees, and the amount is seven times that of Aomori Prefecture.

They value communication at the coffee shop over "nominication" (communication with alcohol drinks).

Nagoya-tobashi 

The term "Nagoya-bashi" (skip Nagoya)  is a slang term used to describe events held in Japan that are not held in Nagoya, and was popularized in the 1980s when singers Madonna and Michael Jackson visited Japan and other major events and concerts were not held in Nagoya until then. 

In fact, Nagoya is really often skipped over.

Nagoya people who indicate the place by "direction"

People in Nagoya have a habit of indicating places in terms of direction. When you ask people for directions or when meeting someone, they reply, "North side of the building," or "I'll be on the south side of the clock." This is especially true of older people.

If you don't have sense of direction, you'll have trouble understanding.

There are actually many No. 1s.!

Nagoya is often ridiculed as an unattractive city, but there are actually many No. 1s.

・Toyota has the world's largest sales volume
・National Treasure No. 1 "Nagoya Castle" (burnt down in 1945 air raids.)
・The world's largest planetarium "Nagoya City Science Museum"
・"Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens" has the largest number of exhibits in Japan
・Subway that runs the latest in Japan (arrives at Hoshigaoka Station, the last stop, operates until 1:15 the next day)
・ Tokugawa Art Museum has the largest number of swords in Japan
・Japan's largest shipment value of manufactured goods

This time, we introduce you to Nagoya.
Please use it as a reference.