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Why is Yokohama Japan’s second largest city?

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Tokyo-Yokohama Metropolitan Area Portion of the Tokyo skyline at dusk; Tokyo Tower is at the right.

Yokohama is Japan’s second-largest city by population, a milestone it reached by 1980 after surpassing Osaka.1

Its growth into a major urban center is rooted in its development as a vital port city. Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Yokohama flourished as a primary hub for foreign trade and shipping. Its strategic importance was further cemented by its role as a center of the Keihin Industrial Zone, where it became a powerhouse for heavy manufacturing, including shipbuilding, automobiles, and machinery.1

Despite experiencing significant setbacks—including the 1923 Tokyo-Yokohama earthquake and severe damage during World War II—the city underwent rapid reconstruction and steady population growth throughout the postwar era. Today, while it functions as a major component of the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area, it maintains its status as a significant independent city and a key transportation and business hub.12