Located approximately halfway between Tokyo and Osaka, Aichi Prefecture is a particularly interesting combination of the traditional (many aspects of Japan’s Samurai history) and the modern (the cornerstone of Japan’s leading technologies in industries such as automobiles and aerospace).
“Fireworks in toyota oiden festival”
The prefectural capital Nagoya is Japan’s fourth largest city. History buffs will find much to explore in the prefecture where all three major feudal lords who eventually unified Japan (Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu) were born. Aichi Prefecture is also the birthplace of Toyota Motor, one of Japan’s best-known global brands.
Before Toyota City was renamed in 1959 in recognition of its leading corporate citizen, it was known as Koromo and it was best known for silk production until the 1930’s. In addition to the automobile company, however, Toyota is very well recognised in rugby for the accomplishments of the club team affiliated with the automaker. The winner of a number of national championships and one of the most popular teams in the domestic Top League, the club enjoys a strong home fan base eager to see the best of world-class rugby.
“Sanshu Asuke Yashiki”
In addition to the historical Nagoya Castle, industrial tourism is popular for learning about both advanced manufacturing, from automobiles to aerospace, to more traditional manufacturing such as ceramics and textile. The popular Sanshu Asuke Yashiki features traditional woodland home technologies. Looking to the future, the Toyota Ecoful Town brings next-generation environmental technologies to life to demonstrate a new kind of living.
“Kisogawa Ukai（observing cormorant fishing）”
There are many historical events such the Konomiya Naked Festival, where men in traditional loincloths take part in a tremendous scuffle, and the 1300-year-old Kisogawa Ukai, or observing cormorant fishing. A major event is the Toyota Oiden Festival, which features 13,000 rounds of fireworks lighting up the skies of Toyota City.
“Tebasaki (chicken wingtips)”
There are many famed Nagoya-meshi (Nagoya-style dishes) such as tebasaki (chicken wingtips), miso katsu (deep-fried pork cutlets with miso sauce), tenmusu (rice balls with tempura inside), miso nikomi udon (udon noodles boiled in miso broth). Toyota City has its local specialties such as gohei rice cakes and sweetfish dishes.
Venue – Toyota Stadium
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/venues/toyota-stadium
For more information on Aichi Prefecture and Toyota City and their attractions, please see the following links:
Aichi Prefecture:
http://www.aichi-now.jp
Toyota City:
http://www2.city.toyota.aichi.jp/guide/
