This page is about the city Kyoto. For the convention see Kyoto Protocol.

(lit. “capital capital,” or “capital of capitals”) is a city in Japan, which has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.

History

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Though archaeological evidence places the first human settlement on the islands of Japan to approximately 10,000 BC, relatively little is known about human activity in the area before the 6th century. During the 8th century, when the powerful Buddhist clergy became meddlesome in the affairs of the Imperial government, the Emperor chose to relocate the capital to a region far from the Buddhist influence.

The new city, Heiankyō (平安京　"Heian capital") became the seat of Japan's imperial court in 794. Later, the city was renamed to Kyoto ("capital city"). Kyoto remained Japan's capital until the transfer of the government to Edo in 1868 at the time of the Imperial Restoration. (Some believe that it is still the legal capital: see Capital of Japan.) After Edo was renamed to Tokyo (meaning "Eastern Capital"), Kyoto was known for a short time as Saikyo (西京 Saikyō, meaning "Western Capital").

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The Japan Times: News & Business

'New politics' of Thai opposition
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:10:00 -0500
SINGAPORE — Somchai Wongsawat, Thailand's 26th prime minister, has assumed the top position amid an unresolved political crisis. Unfortunately, the appointment of Somchai guarantees the continuation of massive protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which accuses the new premier of being another agent of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown by a military coup in September 2006. Somchai, who happens to be Thaksin's brother-in-law, faces the uphill task of a reconciliation with antigovernment forces. Somchai must prove he is not a Thaksin surrogate and ensure that violent confrontations between PAD and progovernment supporters don't erupt again, a tall... Read the full story
A year after privatization
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:11:00 -0500
Oct. 1 marked the first anniversary of the privatization of the nation's postal service. In April 2003, the Postal Service Agency became Japan Post, a public corporation. Then, in January 2006, Japan Post created Japan Post Corp., a stock company. On Oct. 1, 2007, Japan Post Corp. became Japan Post Holdings Co., consisting of four units: Japan Post Bank Co., Japan Post Insurance Co., Japan Post Service Co. (mail delivery firm) and Japan Post Network Co. (over-the-counter services). These four firms are not yet very stable, as they struggle to find ways to survive and grow. Given this situation, opposition lawmakers are calling for a review of privatization. Read the full story
Pressures on health system
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:12:00 -0500
The introduction in April of the health insurance system for people age 75 or over is exerting so much financial pressure on health insurance societies that some of them have dissolved themselves. As the graying of the population progresses, the government must reconstruct and set the nation's medical services system on a sound financial base. Health insurance societies that mainly insure employees of large companies and their families, and those intended for employees of small companies, public servants and their families are now required to offer "support money" to fund the medical costs of people age 65 and over. Half of the cost of the new health insurance system is funded by tax... Read the full story
Rest-area dog runs unleashed
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:13:00 -0500
OSAKA — People who take their dogs on long expressway rides can now give them some respite by unleashing them in grassy areas exclusively established for their pleasure. These so-called dog runs have been flourishing since the government privatized the state-backed highway corporations in 2005. Since dogs face air- and train-travel restrictions, the new expressway companies are setting up canine rest areas at highway service and parking areas in an effort to increase profits. Read the full story
Mitsui Mining downgrades forecasts
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:14:00 -0500
Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., co-owner of Japan's biggest copper smelter, forecast a second year of profit declines on falling metal prices and higher energy costs. Net income will probably fall 36 percent to ¥5 billion for the 12 months ending next March 31, from ¥7.8 billion a year earlier, the Tokyo-based company said Monday. Mitsui Mining on April 28 expected to report a profit gain of ¥12 billion. Read the full story
Court OKs mover Matsumoto's bankruptcy
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:15:00 -0500
OSAKA (Kyodo) Matsumoto International Movers said Monday the Osaka District Court has given the company the nod on its bankruptcy application, which was filed after rehabilitation talks broke down with a major freight firm. The moving company has total liabilities of ¥5.095 billion, according to private credit research agency Teikoku Databank. Read the full story

Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

National › Japanese girl, 4, wearing Crocs loses toe on Singapore escalator
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:28:00 +0100
A 4-year-old Japanese girl who was wearing rubber clogs lost her toe in an escalator at a Singapore shopping mall last month, her father said…
Picture of the Day › Chicago
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:42:00 +0100
Actress Ryoko Yonekura, 33, center, performs at a media preview of the Broadway musical "Chicago" at Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo on Tuesday. Yonekura plays…
Crime › Naked Briton detained after swimming in Imperial Palace moat
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:38:00 +0100
A 40-year-old British tourist was taken into police custody Tuesday after swimming naked in a moat around the Imperial Palace, police officials said. The man,…
National › 2 Japanese and 1 American share Nobel Prize in physics
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:28:00 +0100
Two Japanese researchers and a Tokyo-born U.S. scientist have won the Nobel Prize in physics for discoveries in the world of subatomic physics, the Royal…
World › McCain pins hopes on high-stakes debate
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:12:00 +0100
In a campaign that has turned increasingly vitriolic, Republican John McCain readied for a high-stakes debate showdown Tuesday night with Barack Obama that offers one…
Business › Share prices in Japan drop to 5-year low
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:07:00 +0100
Japanese shares dropped to the lowest in almost five years on Tuesday as selling spread across the board amid growing fears over the widening financial…

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