View source for Nakano, Tokyo

{{about|the special ward of Tokyo|the city in [[Nagano Prefecture]]|Nakano, Nagano}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Nakano-ku
| official_name = Nakano City
| native_name = {{nobold|中野}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Special wards of Tokyo|Special ward]]
| other_name = 
| image_skyline = Nakano Oka1.jpg
| image_caption = Skyline around Nakano station
| image_flag = Flag of Nakano, Tokyo.svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Nakano, Tokyo.svg
| image_map = Nakano-ku in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_caption = Location of Nakano in Tokyo Metropolis
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|35|42|26.63|N|139|39|49.81|E|region:JPN-13|display=it}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Tokyo Metropolis]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = 
| established_title = First official recorded  
| established_date  = early 15th century 
| established_title2 = As Tokyo City
| established_date2  = October 1, 1932
| established_title3 = As Special ward of Tokyo
| established_date3  = July 1, 1943 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Naoto Sakai
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 15.59
| population_total = 344,880
| population_as_of = October 1, 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.toukei.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/tnenkan/2020/tn20q3e002.htm|publisher=Tokyo Statistical Yearbook|language=en|accessdate=2022-07-15|title=Population by District}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 =22,121
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 4-8-1 Nakano, Nakano, Tokyo<br />164-8501
| website = {{URL|www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/}}
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Castanopsis]]
 | flower = [[Azalea]]
 | bird = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
}}
}}
[[File:Nakano Sunset 2006.jpg|thumb|right|Sunset over Nakano, with [[Nakano Broadway]] in the distance]]
[[File:Tahōzan Jōganji Temple, Nakano City, Tokyo.jpg|thumb|right|One of the oldest temples in Nakano: Jougan-ji]]

'''Nakano''' ({{langx|ja|中野}}, {{lang-Latn|ja|Nakano}}) is a [[Special wards of Tokyo|special ward]] in the [[Tokyo|Tokyo Metropolis]] in Japan. The English translation of its Japanese self-designation is '''Nakano City''' ({{lang|ja|中野区}}, {{lang-Latn|ja|Nakano-ku}}).<ref name="About Nakano City">"[http://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/dept/102500/d010001.html About Nakano City] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113111707/http://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/dept/102500/d010001.html |date=November 13, 2013 }}." Retrieved March 10, 2013.</ref>

{{As of|2024|01|01|df=US}}, the ward has an estimated population of 337,377, and a population density of 21,640 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/kusei/gaiyo/aramashi/data.html | title=3分でわかる中野のデータ }}</ref> The total area is 15.59&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="About Nakano City"/> Nakano is the most densely populated city in Japan.

==History==
The ward was founded on October 1, 1932, when the towns of Nogata and Nakano were absorbed into the former [[Tokyo City]] as Nakano Ward. The present administration dates from March 15, 1947, when the Allied occupation reformed the administration of Tokyo-to.
* 1447: [[Ōta Dōkan]] defeated Toshima Yasutsune in a battle here.
* 1606: The Naruki Kaidō, predecessor of today's [[Ōme Kaidō]] (a road to [[Ōme, Tokyo|Ōme]]) was established.
* 1695: In connection with the ''Shorui Awaremi no Rei'' (a law for the protection of animals), a facility for keeping wild dogs opened.
* 1871: The twelve villages that comprise present-day Nakano became part of Tokyo Prefecture.
* 1889: The [[Kofu, Yamanashi|Kofu]] Railway opens. The forerunner of today's [[Chūō Main Line]] included a [[Nakano Station (Tokyo)|station at Nakano]] en route from [[Shinjuku Station|Shinjuku]] to [[Hachioji Station|Hachioji]].
* 1897: Nakano becomes a village.
* 1932: [[Tokyo City]] expands to encompass the district that included Nakano.
* 1943: With the abolition of Tokyo City, Nakano becomes part of Tokyo-to.
* 1947: Nakano becomes one of the special wards under the new system.
* 1961: The Tokyo subway system extends to Nakano.
* 1973: Construction of Nakano Sun Plaza near [[Nakano Station (Tokyo)|Nakano Station]] reaches completion.
* 2016: [[Murder of Jiang Ge]]

==Districts and neighborhoods==
{{col-begin|width=30%}}
{{col-break}}
;Nakano Area
* [[Chūō, Nakano, Tokyo|Chūō]]
* Higashinakano
* [[Honchō, Tokyo|Honchō]]
* [[Minamidai]]
* [[Nakano, Nakano, Tokyo|Nakano]]
* Yayoimachi
{{col-break}}
;Nogata Area
* [[Arai, Tokyo|Arai]]
* Eharachō
* Ekoda
* Kamisaginomiya
* Kamitakada
* Maruyama
* Matsugaoka
* [[Nogata, Tokyo|Nogata]]
* Numabukuro
* Saginomiya
* Shirasagi
* Wakamiya
* Yamatochō
{{col-end}}

==Geography==
Five special wards surround Nakano: [[Shinjuku, Tokyo|Shinjuku]], [[Suginami, Tokyo|Suginami]], [[Nerima, Tokyo|Nerima]], [[Shibuya, Tokyo|Shibuya]], and [[Toshima, Tokyo|Toshima]]. It lies just west of the bustling [[Shinjuku]] area.

Rivers include the [[Kanda River|Kanda]], Myosho-ji and Zenpuku-ji Rivers, and the Aratama Waterway.

==Places==
*[[Nakano Sun Plaza]]: concert hall, hotel facilities
* Arai [[Bhaisajyaguru|Yakushi]] [[Shingon Buddhism|Shingon Buddhist]] temple
* [[Nakano Broadway]]: [[otaku]] building (several floors of [[Video arcade|arcades]], [[manga]], [[anime]], [[Japanese idol|idol]], music, toy and [[subculture]] specialty shops, as well as a well-regarded [[Namco]] arcade)
* GRIPS International House, apartment for foreign students studying at the [[National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies]]

==Education==

===Public schools===
Metropolitan senior high and combined junior-senior high schools are operated by the [[Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education]].
* {{ill|Fuji High School and Junior High School|ja|東京都立富士高等学校・附属中学校}}
* {{ill|Minorigaoka High School|ja|東京都立稔ヶ丘高等学校}}
* {{ill|Musashigaoka High School|ja|東京都立武蔵丘高等学校}}
* {{ill|Nakano Technical High School|ja|東京都立中野工業高等学校}}
* {{ill|Saginomiya High School|ja|東京都立鷺宮高等学校}}
* Yotsuya Commercial High School

Municipal kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools are operated by the Nakano City Board of Education.

Municipal junior high schools:<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist>{{cite web|url=https://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/dept/651500/d005747.html|title=区立小・中学校、幼稚園一覧|publisher=Nakano|accessdate=2022-11-25}}</ref>
* No. 2 Junior High School (第二中学校)
* No. 5 Junior High School (第五中学校)
* No. 7 Junior High School ([[:ja:中野区立第七中学校|第七中学校]])
* Kita Nakano Junior High School ([[:ja:中野区立北中野中学校|北中野中学校]])
* Meiwa Junior High School (明和中学校)
** Merger of No. 4 Junior High School (第四中学校) and No. 8 Junior High School ([[:ja:中野区立第八中学校|第八中学校]]).<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>
* Midorino Junior High School (緑野中学校)
* Minami Nakano Junior High School ([[:ja:中野区立南中野中学校|南中野中学校]])
* Nakano Junior High School ([[:ja:中野区立中野中学校|中野中学校]])
* Nakano Higashi Junior High School ([[:ja:中野区立中野東中学校|中野東中学校]])
** Merger of No. 3 Junior High School ([[:ja:中野区立第三中学校|第三中学校]]) and No. 10 Junior High School (第十中学校).<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>

Municipal elementary schools:<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>
* Egota Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立江古田小学校|江古田小学校]])
* Ehara Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立江原小学校|江原小学校]])
* Hakuo Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立白桜小学校|白桜小学校]])
* Heiwa no Mori Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立平和の森小学校|平和の森小学校]])
* Kami Saginomiya Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立上鷺宮小学校|上鷺宮小学校]])
* Keimei Elementary School (啓明小学校)
* Kitahara Elementary School (北原小学校)
* Midorino Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立緑野小学校|緑野小学校]])
* Mihato Elementary School (美鳩小学校)
** Formed by the merger of Wakamiya Elementary ([[:ja:中野区立若宮小学校|若宮小学校]]) and Yamato Elementary (大和小学校)<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>
* Minamidai Elementary School (南台小学校)
** Formed by the merger of Niiyama Elementary (新山小学校) and Tada Elementary (多田小学校)<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>
* Minamino Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立みなみの小学校|みなみの小学校]])
** Formed by the merger of Nakano Shinmei Elementary (中野神明小学校) and Niiyama Elementary (新山小学校)<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>
* Momozono No. 2 Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立桃園第二小学校|桃園第二小学校]])
* Musashidai Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立武蔵台小学校|武蔵台小学校]])
* Nakano No. 1 Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立中野第一小学校|中野第一小学校]])
** Merger of Monozono Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立桃園小学校|桃園小学校]]) and Mukodai Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立向台小学校|向台小学校]])<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>
* Nakano Hongo Elementary School (中野本郷小学校)
* Nishi Nakano Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立西中野小学校|西中野小学校]])
* Reiwa Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立令和小学校|令和小学校]])
** Merger of Arai Elementary School (新井小学校) and Kamitakada Elementary School (上高田小学校)
* Saginomiya Elementary School (鷺宮小学校)
* Toka Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立桃花小学校|桃花小学校]])
* Tonoyama Elementary School (塔山小学校)
* Yato Elementary School ([[:ja:中野区立谷戸小学校|谷戸小学校]])

Kindergartens:<ref name=Nakanomunischoollist/>
* Higashi Nakano Kindergarten (ひがしなかの幼稚園)
* Kamisagi Kindergarten (かみさぎ幼稚園)

===Private schools===
* [[Horikoshi Gakuen]] High School
* {{ill|Hosen Gakuen Junior and Senior High School|ja|宝仙学園中学校・高等学校}} - Has coeducational and girls' only sections
* {{ill|Jissen Gakuen Junior and Senior High School|ja|実践学園中学・高等学校}}
* {{ill|Meiji Nakano Junior and Senior High School|ja|明治大学付属中野中学校・高等学校}}
* {{ill|Meisei High School|ja|明聖高等学校}}
* {{ill|Nippon Wellness High School|ja|日本ウェルネス高等学校}}
* {{ill|Nitobe Bunka Gakuen Junior and Senior High School|ja|新渡戸文化中学校・高等学校}}
* {{ill|Otsuma Nakano Junior and Senior High School|ja|大妻中野中学校・高等学校}} - Girls' school
* {{ill|Toa Gakuen High School|ja|東亜学園高等学校}}

===Colleges and universities===
* [[Teikyo Heisei University]] Nakano Campus
* [[Tokyo Polytechnic University]]
* [[Meiji University]] Nakano Campus
* [[University of Tokyo]] Nakano campus
* [[Kokusai Junior College]]

==Transportation==

=== Rail ===
Nakano Ward is served by the [[JR East]] [[Chūō Main Line|Chūō]] and [[Sobu Main Line|Sobu]] lines, the [[Seibu Shinjuku Line]], the [[Tokyo Metro Tozai Line]] and [[Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line]], and the [[Toei Oedo Line]].
* JR East
**[[Chūō Line (Rapid)]], [[Chūō-Sōbu Line]]: [[Higashi-Nakano Station|Higashi-Nakano]] and [[Nakano Station (Tokyo)|Nakano]] Stations
* [[Seibu Railway]]
**Seibu Shinjuku Line: [[Araiyakushimae Station|Arai Yakushi-mae]], [[Numabukuro Station|Numabukuro]], [[Nogata Station|Nogata]], [[Toritsukasei Station|Toritsu-Kasei]], [[Saginomiya Station (Tokyo)|Saginomiya]] Stations
* [[Tokyo Metro]]
** Marunouchi Line: [[Shin-Nakano Station|Shin-Nakano]], [[Nakano-Sakaue Station|Nakano-Sakaue]] Stations
*** Honancho Branch Line: [[Nakano-Fujimicho Station|Nakano-Fujimicho]], [[Nakano-Shimbashi Station|Nakano-Shimbashi]], Nakano-Sakaue Stations
** Tozai Line: Nakano, [[Ochiai Station (Tokyo)|Ochiai]] (although the station is in Shinjuku, some entrances are in Nakano) Stations
* [[Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation]]:
**Toei Oedo Line: Nakano-Sakaue, Higashi-Nakano, [[Shin-egota Station|Shin-egota]] Stations

=== Bus ===
A complicated bus network is constructed throughout Nakano Ward because most train lines only run east and west.
* Kanto bus
* Toei bus
* Kokusai Kogyo bus
* Keio bus

===Roads===
[[Shuto Expressway]]:
*C2 [[Central Circular Route (Shuto Expressway)|Central Circular Route]] (Nakano-chōjabashi exit)
[[Prefectural road]]:
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 8 (Mejiro-dōri Ave., Shin-Mejiro-dōri Ave.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 439 (Senkawa-dōri Ave.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 440 (Shin-Ōme-kaidō Ave.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 25 (Waseda-dōri Ave.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 433 (Ōkubo-dōri Ave.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 4 (Ōme-kaidō Ave.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 14 (Hōnan-dōri Ave.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 317 (Yamate-dōri St.; 6th Beltway)
* [[Tokyo Metropolitan Road Route 420|Tokyo Metropolitan Route 420]] (Nakano-dōri St.)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 318 (Kannana-dōri St.; 7th Beltway)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 427 (Nakasugi-dōri St.)

==Business and entertainment==
*Nakano-minamiguchi ekimae shōtengai – an outdoor arcade
*[[Soft On Demand]] – a Japanese [[Pornography|adult]] [[video]] group of companies has its headquarters in Nakano<ref name="sodcorp">{{cite web |title=SOD Company Data |url=http://softondemand.jp/corporate/company/data.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217045257/http://softondemand.jp/corporate/company/data.html |archive-date=2008-12-17 |access-date=2008-12-09 |publisher=SOD |language=ja}}</ref>
*[[MAPPA]] - a Japanese animation studio has its head office in Nakano<ref>{{cite web | title = Relocation Of Tokyo Head Office | url = https://www.mappa.co.jp/news/corporate/2024/2687/ | website = MAPPA | date = 2024-10-01 | access-date = 2024-12-14 |language= Japanese}}</ref> 

=== ''Benza'' series ===
[[File:Benza English ポスター.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|Promotional art for Benza English, a television show that takes place in Higashi Nakano]]

''[[The Benza]]'' is a 2019 [[Amazon Prime Video]] series about two foreigners ([[Christopher McCombs]] and [[Kyle Card]]) who are trying to fix their broken {{nihongo|[[toilet seat]]|便座|benza}} and are suddenly tasked with saving the world. The series  takes place entirely in Higashi Nakano.   ''[[Benza English]]'' is a 2020 spin-off series  that also takes place in Higashi Nakano. ''[[The Benza RPG]]'' is a 2020 video game adaption  available on [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], and [[Steam (service)|Steam]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Benza Transformed Into A Free-to-Play Retro RPG |url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/10/the-benza-transformed-into-a-free-to-play-retro-rpg/|website=Tokyo Weekender |language=en |date=18 February 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], composer and musician
* [[Kanako Yanagihara]], comedian
* [[Mayumi Kojima]], singer and songwriter
* [[Marika Matsumoto]], voice actress, actress
* [[Shoko Sawada]], singer and songwriter
* [[Yuji Tanaka]], comedian
* [[El Lindaman]], [[Puroresu|Japanese professional wrestler]]
* [[Yuhi Sekiguchi]], Japanese [[racing driver]]
* [[Daigo (musician)|Daigo]], Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, talent, and [[Japanese voice actor|voice actor]]
* [[Akiyoshi Nakao]], Japanese actor
* [[Eiji Iijima]], Japanese [[professional shogi player]], ranked 7-[[Dan (rank)#Modern usage in shogi|dan]]
* [[Wataru Kamimura]], Japanese [[professional shogi player]], ranked 5-[[Dan (rank)#Modern usage in shogi|dan]]
* [[Tsunemi Kubodera]], Japanese [[zoologist]] ([[National Museum of Nature and Science]])
* [[Rieko Miura]], Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and former member of the [[J-pop]] [[girlgroup]] [[CoCo (band)|Coco]]
* [[Masaru Nashimoto]], Japanese show-business and gossips reporter
* [[Makoto Sasaki (shogi)|Makoto Sasaki]], Japanese [[professional shogi player]], ranked 7-[[Dan (rank)#Modern usage in shogi|dan]]
* [[Takahiro Sonoda]], Japanese [[classical pianist]]
* [[Michiko Yamamoto]], [[List of Japanese women writers|Japanese writer]] and poet (Real Name: Michiko Furuya, [[Nihongo]]: 古屋道子, ''Furuya Michiko'')
* [[Michiyo Yasuda]], [[Animation in Japan|Japanese animator]] and colour designer
* [[Yoko Yamamoto]], Japanese actress<ref>{{cite web|url=http://talent.yahoo.co.jp/pf/detail/pp1029|title=山本陽子|work=[[Nihon Tarento Meikan]]|language=ja|publisher=[[Yahoo! Japan]]|access-date=16 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323070004/http://talent.yahoo.co.jp/pf/detail/pp1029 |archive-date=23 March 2016}}</ref>
* [[Hideo Kachi]], Japanese musician (Real Name: Kachi Hidenori, [[Nihongo]]: カチヒデノリ, ''Hidenori Kachi'')
* [[Kazushi Hagiwara]], Japanese [[mangaka]] and the creator of ''[[Bastard!!]]''
* [[Kenji Ohtsuki]], [[Japanese rock]] musician and [[Seiun Award]]-winning writer
* [[Mayumi Kojima]], Japanese [[Shibuya-kei]] musician
* [[Shoko Nakagawa]], Japanese ''[[tarento]]'' (media personality), actress, [[Voice acting in Japan|voice actress]], illustrator, [[MC]] and singer
* [[Kanako Yanagihara]], Japanese actress, comedian, and ''[[tarento]]''
* [[Masao Kobayashi]], [[Japanese politician]], member of the [[Democratic Party of Japan]] and member of the [[House of Councillors]] in the [[Diet of Japan|Diet]] (national legislature)
* [[Kentaro Shigematsu]], Japanese [[association football|football player]] ([[Kamatamare Sanuki]], [[J3 League]])
* [[Mitsuya Kurokawa]], Japanese guitarist
* [[Mayumi Itsuwa]], Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist
* [[Masatō Ibu]], Japanese actor and voice actor
* [[Kiyoshiro Imawano]], [[Japanese rock]] musician, lyricist, composer, musical producer, and actor (Real Name: Kiyoshi Kurihara, [[Nihongo]]: 栗原 清志, ''Kurihara Kiyoshi'')
* [[Ray Fujita]], Japanese actor and musician
* [[Shoko Sawada]], Japanese singer-songwriter, reporter, and radio personality
* [[Tochisakae Atsushi]], former [[sumo wrestler]]
* [[Takahiro Yamaguchi]], Japanese former [[soccer player]]
* [[Christopher McCombs]], American actor and [[tarento]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Tokyo}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Tokyo/Nakano}}
*[http://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/ Nakano City Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Nakano, Tokyo}}
{{Tokyo}}
{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}
{{Most populous cities in Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Nakano, Tokyo| ]]
[[Category:Wards of Tokyo]]