mechanical dolls called karakuri ningyo.
Part of the modernization efforts of the Meiji Restoration saw a restructuring of Japan's provinces into prefectures and the government changed from family rule to that by government officials. Nagoya was proclaimed a city on October 1, 1889, and designated a city on September 1, 1956 by government ordinance.
World War II and modern era
Nagoya was the target of U.S. air raids during World War II, beginning on December 13, 1944 with an attack on a Mitsubishi war industries plant. The bombing of Nagoya in World War II continued through the spring of 1945, and included large scale firebombing. Nagoya Castle, which was being used as a military command post, was hit and mostly destroyed on May 14, 1945. Reconstruction of the main building was completed in 1959.
In 1959, the city was flooded and severely damaged by the Ise-wan Typhoon.
Why Nagoya was a target in WWII
The population of Nagoya was estimated to be 1,500,000 ranking third among Japanese cities. It was one of the 3 largest industrial areas in Japan and was the center of the Japanese aircraft industry. It was estimated that 25% of all its workers are engaged in some phase of aircraft production. Important Japanese aircraft targets (numbers 193,194,198, 2010, and 1729) lie within the city itself, while others (notable 240 and 1833) lie to the north of Kagamigahara. It was estimated that the above-mentioned units produce between 40% and 50% of the total output of Japanese combat aircraft and combat aircraft engines. The Nagoya area also produced machine tools, bearings, railway equipment, metal alloys, tanks, motor vehicles, and processed foods during WWII. Nagoya, the heart of the enemy aircraft industry was the target for two of the Bomber Command�s attacks. Two incendiary attacks, one by day and one by night, left 5.9 square miles of the city devastated. The XXI Bomber Command established a new USAAF record with
