Overview of the City of Kobe
Kobe was opened to the world as an international port in 1868, following the lifting of Japan's nearly 230-year-long policy of seclusion. Though the city's population at that time was a mere 20,000, and by 1899, a municipal government was established, the population grew to over 135,000.
Today, with a population of approximately 1,540,000 and an area of 552.8 square kilometers, Kobe is Japan's sixth largest city. Compared with other urban giants like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, Kobe is still growing into its status as a metropolis. Kobe has displayed the most rapid growth of all major cities since Japan initiated its period of modernization known as the Meiji Restoration.
Kobe actually became the nation's capital for a brief period of about six months, in 1180, when the seat of power was moved from Kyoto. This came to pass because Kobe was a natural harbor, and the government had been focusing on promoting trade with China. The capital was moved back to Kyoto due to objections made by aristocrats and others that Kobe was too far from Kyoto, where those in power had traditionally lived.
Industrial development in Kobe began with industries closely linked to the city's port, such as shipping, port operations, shipbuilding, and steel. These industries led to the development of related industries, such as railway rolling stock, machinery and manufacturing plants, electrical equipment, the rubber industry, and sake (Japanese rice wine) brewing. Moreover, as one of the country's foremost strategic points for sea and land traffic, Kobe has contributed greatly to Japan's economic development.
By the same token, it was also Kobe's port that allowed it to become the first city in Japan to assimilate Western culture. This manifested itself in the form of culture and lifestyle related industries, such as Western baked goods, clothing, pearls, and women's footwear. These industries developed under the influence of residents and visitors from overseas. Already famous across the land for its women's fashion, the city of Kobe also led the way as the first city to recognize the aforementioned culture and lifestyle related industries as inclusive to the fashion industry. The Kobe Fashion Organization was established to promote various activities related to these industries. Moreover, in addition to port-related heavy industries, fashion was focused on as the driving industry of the next stage in Kobe's economic development. The chairman of the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the main advocate for Kobe's formal declaration of "fashionable urbanization" in 1973.
Surrounded by the splendor of the ocean and the mountains, Kobe is not only a city of scenic beauty, but also offers eminently easy access to both modern conveniences and luxuriant natural surroundings where one can enjoy swimming in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, downtown shopping, and fine dining - all in the same day and all within about 15 minutes by car.
Complemented by a mild climate, Kobe is one of Japan's most coveted places to live. This is why a number of North American and European companies that place an emphasis on living environments have set up their Japanese headquarters in Kobe. Kobe's large population of overseas residents makes it a city representative of the cosmopolitan face of Japan. Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, and Muslim mosques are all found in Kobe, as well as two highly regarded international schools.
On January 17, 1995, disaster struck Kobe when an earthquake took the lives of 6,434 people. The earthquake also badly damaged the majority of the city's businesses in sectors spanning from manufacturing to the trade and service industries. Although the cost of the damage directly sustained to corporate and industrial stock alone is estimated to be about 6,800 billion yen, this amount can be said to be even larger if the cost of indirectly sustained damage, such as interruption of operations at commercial facilities such as factories and offices, is included.
However, thanks to the heart-felt support received from across Japan and around the world, essential utilities such as gas, water, and electricity, and crucial elements of infrastructure, such road, port, railway, and residential facilities, were completely restored within two years of the disaster. Looking at the city of Kobe today, it is now difficult to find a trace of the terrible destruction wreaked by the earthquake.
On the other hand, the effects of the earthquake and of Japan's ongoing economic slump have rapidly intensified Kobe's preexisting systemic problems, such as the outflow of manufacturing plants to other outlying areas and the downslide of inner-city industry. The economic recovery has come to a temporary standstill, with only 80% of pre-disaster levels having been reached. Since restoration of earthquake-ravaged infrastructure alone is thus unlikely to bring about real economic recovery, the local government and the citizenry are presently working together to promote numerous measures, create new businesses, and make Kobe's industrial base stronger and better than before.
Among those measures is the development of the Kobe Airport, as well as plans to make robotics technology and the medical and pharmaceutical industry into Kobe's economic base. The Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also promoting these activities together with officials from Kobe municipal government offices. Moreover, in addition to companies native to Japan, special efforts are also being made to entice foreign-capital-affiliated companies with sights set on the Japanese and Asian markets.
Today, with a population of approximately 1,540,000 and an area of 552.8 square kilometers, Kobe is Japan's sixth largest city. Compared with other urban giants like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, Kobe is still growing into its status as a metropolis. Kobe has displayed the most rapid growth of all major cities since Japan initiated its period of modernization known as the Meiji Restoration.
Kobe actually became the nation's capital for a brief period of about six months, in 1180, when the seat of power was moved from Kyoto. This came to pass because Kobe was a natural harbor, and the government had been focusing on promoting trade with China. The capital was moved back to Kyoto due to objections made by aristocrats and others that Kobe was too far from Kyoto, where those in power had traditionally lived.
Industrial development in Kobe began with industries closely linked to the city's port, such as shipping, port operations, shipbuilding, and steel. These industries led to the development of related industries, such as railway rolling stock, machinery and manufacturing plants, electrical equipment, the rubber industry, and sake (Japanese rice wine) brewing. Moreover, as one of the country's foremost strategic points for sea and land traffic, Kobe has contributed greatly to Japan's economic development.
By the same token, it was also Kobe's port that allowed it to become the first city in Japan to assimilate Western culture. This manifested itself in the form of culture and lifestyle related industries, such as Western baked goods, clothing, pearls, and women's footwear. These industries developed under the influence of residents and visitors from overseas. Already famous across the land for its women's fashion, the city of Kobe also led the way as the first city to recognize the aforementioned culture and lifestyle related industries as inclusive to the fashion industry. The Kobe Fashion Organization was established to promote various activities related to these industries. Moreover, in addition to port-related heavy industries, fashion was focused on as the driving industry of the next stage in Kobe's economic development. The chairman of the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the main advocate for Kobe's formal declaration of "fashionable urbanization" in 1973.
Surrounded by the splendor of the ocean and the mountains, Kobe is not only a city of scenic beauty, but also offers eminently easy access to both modern conveniences and luxuriant natural surroundings where one can enjoy swimming in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, downtown shopping, and fine dining - all in the same day and all within about 15 minutes by car.
Complemented by a mild climate, Kobe is one of Japan's most coveted places to live. This is why a number of North American and European companies that place an emphasis on living environments have set up their Japanese headquarters in Kobe. Kobe's large population of overseas residents makes it a city representative of the cosmopolitan face of Japan. Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, and Muslim mosques are all found in Kobe, as well as two highly regarded international schools.
On January 17, 1995, disaster struck Kobe when an earthquake took the lives of 6,434 people. The earthquake also badly damaged the majority of the city's businesses in sectors spanning from manufacturing to the trade and service industries. Although the cost of the damage directly sustained to corporate and industrial stock alone is estimated to be about 6,800 billion yen, this amount can be said to be even larger if the cost of indirectly sustained damage, such as interruption of operations at commercial facilities such as factories and offices, is included.
However, thanks to the heart-felt support received from across Japan and around the world, essential utilities such as gas, water, and electricity, and crucial elements of infrastructure, such road, port, railway, and residential facilities, were completely restored within two years of the disaster. Looking at the city of Kobe today, it is now difficult to find a trace of the terrible destruction wreaked by the earthquake.
On the other hand, the effects of the earthquake and of Japan's ongoing economic slump have rapidly intensified Kobe's preexisting systemic problems, such as the outflow of manufacturing plants to other outlying areas and the downslide of inner-city industry. The economic recovery has come to a temporary standstill, with only 80% of pre-disaster levels having been reached. Since restoration of earthquake-ravaged infrastructure alone is thus unlikely to bring about real economic recovery, the local government and the citizenry are presently working together to promote numerous measures, create new businesses, and make Kobe's industrial base stronger and better than before.
Among those measures is the development of the Kobe Airport, as well as plans to make robotics technology and the medical and pharmaceutical industry into Kobe's economic base. The Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also promoting these activities together with officials from Kobe municipal government offices. Moreover, in addition to companies native to Japan, special efforts are also being made to entice foreign-capital-affiliated companies with sights set on the Japanese and Asian markets.
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Copyright©2010 The Kobe Chamber of Commerce & Industry. All rights reserved.
Copyright©2010 The Kobe Chamber of Commerce & Industry. All rights reserved.