Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi

Nankin-machi, a neighborhood in Kobe, was established in 1868 when the port of Kobe opened to foreign settlers including Chinese immigrants from Guangdong and Fujian. The new arrivals settled in the western part of Kobe's foreign district and quickly became a hub for subsequent Chinese migrants. The neighborhood was named "Nankinmachi" (Nanking Town) after the influx of immigrants from Nanking. By the early 1920s, Nankinmachi was a thriving community with businesses, restaurants, and homes. However, during World War II, the neighborhood was destroyed in the Allied bombing of Kobe. The Chinese community that remained in post-war Japan rebuilt Nankinmachi, which once again flourished as a center of Chinese culture and activity in the Kansai region. In 1995, Nankinmachi was damaged by the Great Hanshin earthquake but was quickly rebuilt and currently has a population of 10,000 people.