Prefecture and the 43rd city in Japan).
� October 16, 1966: The current and the second city of Nagano was founded by merging with 8 municipalities, including the original city itself.
� January 1, 2005: The city absorbed the municipalities from Kamiminochi District (Toyono, Togakushi, and Kinasa) and Sarashina District (Ooka).
� January 1, 2010: The city absorbed the town of Shinsh?shinmachi and the village of Nakaj? from Kamiminochi District.
1998 Winter Olympics
Nagano hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the second Winter Olympics to be held in Japan after the 1972 Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo, Hokkaid? (the first Winter Games ever held in Asia). As of 2010, Nagano is the southernmost host of the Winter Olympic Games. The Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon has been held every year since in remembrance of the event.
Nagano also hosted the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games, marking the first time the Special Olympics World Games had been held in Asia
