Kōbe

Kōbe, city and major commercial port in Japan, the capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, southwestern Honshū Island, on Ōsaka Bay, near the city of Ōsaka. Since the 1890s several adjoining cities, including Hyōgo, have been absorbed by Kōbe. Agricultural produce of the locality includes rice and other grains, fruits and vegetables, and tea. Shipbuilding and production of rubber goods are economically important to the city, as is the manufacture of chemicals, machinery, railway cars, electrical equipment, textiles, refined sugar, flour, and sake.

Behind the narrow coastal site of the city are the Rokkō Mountains, which feature hot springs; suburban residences and hotels have been built here. Kōbe features many Christian churches, Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines, two famous statues of Buddha, a fine arts museum, and a municipal museum that traces the history of Western cultural contact with the area. Kōbe University (1949) is located here. Originally founded in 1902 as Kōbe Higher Commerce School, it became Kōbe University of Economics in 1944, then incorporated four other colleges in 1949 under its present name.

The city was not significant until the 1860s, when Japan opened up to foreign trade. Before that time, Hyōgo, which is now part of Kōbe, had for centuries been a major Japanese port. The city was bombed during World War II (1939-1945) but rebuilt after the war. On January 17, 1995, a strong earthquake struck below Awaji Island across the bay from Kōbe. The quake caused buildings and bridges to collapse, and fires ignited throughout the city. In all, about 6,400 people died and more than 30,000 people were injured. More than 30,000 buildings were damaged by the quake and resulting fires.

Despite the crisis, in April 1998 construction was completed on the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which links Kōbe to Awaji Island over the Akashi Strait. With a center span of 1,990.8 m (6,531.5 ft), it is one of the world's longest suspension bridges. Population (2007) 1,502,772.