| Kure is a city in [[Hiroshima prefecture]], known chiefly for its historical role as the site of a major early 20th century naval base. It was at this base that the battleship ''Yamato'', one of the largest and most powerful battleships ever built, was constructed. | | Kure is a city in [[Hiroshima prefecture]], known chiefly for its historical role as the site of a major early 20th century naval base. It was at this base that the battleship ''Yamato'', one of the largest and most powerful battleships ever built, was constructed. |
− | The region suffered [[Geiyo earthquake|a major earthquake]] in [[1905]]. The following year, there was a major labor strike at the [[Kure Naval Arsenal]]. The naval base was rebuilt in [[1907]] following the earthquake. | + | Settlements existed in the area since at least the beginning of the 8th century. A no-longer extant local shrine known as Kameyama Shrine is believed to have dated to [[703]]; requisitioned by the military in [[1886]], it was replaced by [[Irifuneyama kinenkan|military structures]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Ondo Tourist Culture Center Uzushio おんど観光文化会館うずしお, Kure, Hiroshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/36861955332/in/dateposted/]</ref> |
| + | The region suffered [[Geiyo earthquake|a major earthquake]] in [[1905]]. The following year, there was a major labor strike at the [[Kure Naval Arsenal]]. The naval base was rebuilt in [[1907]] following the earthquake. Though significantly damaged by air raids in 1945, a number of red-brick and other prewar buildings survive today. |
| The administrative boundaries of the city, however, also extend a short ways inland, and include several islands in the [[Inland Sea]] as well. These include Kurahashi Island, Shimo- and Kami-kamagari Islands, Teshima, and Ôzaki Shimojima, along with a number of smaller islands. In the [[Edo period]], the ports of [[Kamagari]] (on Shimokamagari Island) and [[Mitarai]] (on Ôzaki Shimojima) were significant ''shiomachi'' ports along Inland Sea travel routes, and regularly saw ''daimyô'' and other elite travelers, as well as [[Korean embassies to Edo|Korean]] and [[Ryukyuan embassies to Edo]]. | | The administrative boundaries of the city, however, also extend a short ways inland, and include several islands in the [[Inland Sea]] as well. These include Kurahashi Island, Shimo- and Kami-kamagari Islands, Teshima, and Ôzaki Shimojima, along with a number of smaller islands. In the [[Edo period]], the ports of [[Kamagari]] (on Shimokamagari Island) and [[Mitarai]] (on Ôzaki Shimojima) were significant ''shiomachi'' ports along Inland Sea travel routes, and regularly saw ''daimyô'' and other elite travelers, as well as [[Korean embassies to Edo|Korean]] and [[Ryukyuan embassies to Edo]]. |