Nagasaki history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Nagasaki as a city begins in the 16th century. Before the arrival of Europeans, this location was merely a small fishing village. Everything changed with the arrival of Portuguese merchants in Japan. In the 1570s, the local feudal lord Omura Sumitada, who had converted to Christianity, permitted the Portuguese to establish a trading port here. This decision transformed the quiet settlement into a bustling international hub.

Key Development Factors

Geographical location played a decisive role in the city's destiny: its deep-water natural harbour was ideally suited for docking large merchant vessels. However, the true flourishing of Nagasaki began in the 17th century, when the shogunate government introduced the policy of national isolation (Sakoku). For over 200 years, from 1641 to 1853, Nagasaki remained the sole "window to Europe". Trade was strictly limited: Dutch merchants were permitted to reside only on the artificial island of Dejima in Nagasaki harbour, and trade relations were also maintained with China.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Thanks to its unique status, Nagasaki turned into a melting pot of cultures. Here, Japanese traditions were closely intertwined with European and Chinese influences, which was reflected in the architecture, cuisine, and lifestyle of the citizens. The city became the centre of "Rangaku" — "Dutch learning", through which Western knowledge in the fields of medicine, astronomy, and other sciences entered Japan. The exclusive right to foreign trade made Nagasaki one of the most prosperous and dynamically developing cities of its time.

Key Milestones in the History of Nagasaki

The history of Nagasaki is a vivid kaleidoscope of events, reflecting the city's unique journey from a humble fishing village to a world-renowned centre of culture and industry. Below are the main moments that formed its unique character.

• 1571: Portuguese navigators, with the permission of the local Daimyo (feudal lord), establish a trading port, marking the beginning of Nagasaki's rapid growth and development.
• 1597: 26 Japanese and European Christians were executed in the city, marking one of the first acts of persecution against Christianity in Japan.
• 1636: Construction of the artificial island of Dejima is completed, where the Portuguese were relocated to limit their contact with the local population.
• 1641: After the expulsion of the Portuguese, Dejima becomes the trading post of the Dutch East India Company, turning Nagasaki into the sole "window to Europe" for the more than 200-year period of national isolation (Sakoku).
• 1859: Under treaties ending the Sakoku policy, the port of Nagasaki officially opens to international trade, attracting new foreign residents to the city.
• 1865: Construction of Oura Church is completed; it is the oldest existing Christian church in Japan, symbolising the revival of the community.
• 1884: The government leases the Nagasaki shipyard to the Mitsubishi company, laying the foundation for the city's transformation into a major centre of shipbuilding and heavy industry.
• 9 August 1945: The city was subjected to atomic bombing, resulting in the destruction of a significant part of it and the loss of tens of thousands of lives.
• 1955: The Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum open in the city, immortalising the memory of the tragedy and becoming symbols of the call for a world without nuclear weapons.
• 1996: A large-scale project begins to restore historical buildings on the island of Dejima, returning a part of its unique cultural heritage to the city.

Key Stages of Nagasaki's Development

The history of Nagasaki is a unique weaving of cultural, economic, and tragic events that have formed its modern appearance. From an exclusive trading port to a symbol of peace — here are the main milestones in the development of this city.

• Foundation of the International Port (1579): The transformation of a humble fishing village into a bustling port founded by the Portuguese became the starting point of the city's development. This step laid the foundation for future economic power and cultural exchange.
• "Window to Europe" during the Sakoku Period (1641–1853): In the era of Japan's self-isolation, Nagasaki remained the only place where trade was conducted with the Dutch via the artificial island of Dejima. This ensured the city monopoly access to Western technologies, medicine, and culture, making it a centre of advanced knowledge (Rangaku).
• Centre of Industrialisation in the Meiji Era (from 1868): After Japan opened to the world, Nagasaki became one of the engines of the country's modernisation. Major industrial enterprises were founded here, including the famous Mitsubishi shipyards, turning the city into a leading centre of shipbuilding and heavy industry.
• Atomic Bombing and Destruction (1945): On 9 August 1945, the city was subjected to atomic bombing, which led to immense human casualties and destroyed a significant part of its industrial and residential fund. This tragedy became a turning point in the history of Nagasaki.
• Post-war Rebirth as a "City of Peace": Despite total destruction, Nagasaki was restored in the shortest possible time. The new urban planning was imbued with the idea of peace. The creation of iconic places such as the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum turned the city into an international symbol of the struggle for a nuclear-free world.
• Modern Development: Tourism and Culture: Today, Nagasaki successfully combines its rich historical heritage with modernity. The city attracts tourists from all over the world thanks to its unique history, picturesque views, the harmonious fusion of Japanese and European cultures, as well as its important role as a spiritual centre of the movement to ban nuclear weapons.

Architectural Eclecticism and Urban Planning

The urban appearance of Nagasaki is unique for Japan and is dictated by the complex terrain. The city developed like an amphitheatre, descending from steep green slopes to a deep-water bay. This created a picturesque, multi-level development with a labyrinth of winding stairs and narrow streets. The main feature has been the historical role of the port: here, Japanese traditions, Chinese aesthetics, and European engineering solutions have layered over centuries, forming a unique architectural landscape.

Eras and Architectural Styles

In Nagasaki, history can be read on the facades of buildings, where each period has left its stylistic imprint.

• Edo Era (17th–19th centuries): Chinese Style and Traditional Architecture
  During the period of isolation, thanks to trade with China, temple architecture in the Ming Dynasty style flourished in the city. It is characterised by bright red gates, intricate carving, and curved roofs, distinguishing local shrines from strict Japanese temples.
  Iconic sites: Sofuku-ji Temple, Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge).
• Meiji Period (late 19th – early 20th century): Colonial Style and Neo-Gothic
  With the opening of the port to foreigners, a European settlement emerged on the Yamate hill. Here, the Western colonial style dominates: wooden bungalows with wide verandas, louvered windows, and tiled roofs. In religious structures, Neo-Gothic appeared, adapted to local materials.
  Iconic sites: Glover Garden (former residences of Western merchants), Oura Church.
• Post-war Period (from 1945): Modernism and Memorial Architecture
  The restoration of the city after the atomic bombing proceeded under the sign of functionalism and the symbolism of peace. Buildings and monuments of this time are executed in Modernism and Brutalism styles, using concrete and strict geometric forms to create a solemn atmosphere.
  Iconic sites: Peace Park, Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims.
• Modernity (21st century): High-tech and Eco-architecture
  New public spaces in the city follow the principles of Postmodernism and contemporary Japanese architecture, accentuating glass, natural light, and the integration of buildings into the natural landscape of the bay.
  Iconic sites: Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum, the waterfront area.

Notable Figures in the History of Nagasaki

The history of Nagasaki is inextricably linked with the names of many outstanding figures — both Japanese and foreign — who left a deep mark on culture, politics, and science. The city, serving as a bridge between Japan and the outside world, became an arena for their achievements.

• Thomas Blake Glover (1838–1911)

  A Scottish entrepreneur who settled in Nagasaki in 1859. Glover played a key role in the industrialisation of Japan, supplying weapons and ships, as well as facilitating the founding of future industrial giants such as the Mitsubishi shipyards. His home, preserved to this day, is one of the city's main tourist attractions.

• Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796–1866)

  A German physician and naturalist who arrived in Japan in 1823. Working at the Dutch trading post of Dejima, Siebold taught Japanese students Western medicine and actively studied the country's flora and fauna. His works and collections made an invaluable contribution to introducing Europe to Japanese culture and nature.

• Sakamoto Ryoma (1836–1867)

  One of the most revered samurai and political figures of the Bakumatsu period. Although Ryoma was not a native of Nagasaki, he used the city as his main base. Here he founded "Kameyama Shachu" — Japan's first modern trading corporation, which played an important role in the modernisation of the country and the overthrow of the shogunate.

• Takashi Nagai (1908–1951)

  A radiologist who survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Despite severe injury and subsequent leukaemia, he dedicated the rest of his life to helping victims and contemplating the tragedy. His book "The Bells of Nagasaki" and his selfless activity turned him into a symbol of peace and forgiveness, and he received the nickname "The Saint of Urakami".

• Kazuo Ishiguro (born 1954)

  A British writer of Japanese descent, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was born in Nagasaki, and although he left the city in early childhood, the theme of memory, loss, and the tragic past associated with his hometown became one of the central themes in his early novels, such as "A Pale View of Hills".