From the Middle Ages until the XIX century,
Omura City was the center of
the territory
ruled by the Family Omura.
In the 2nd half of the XVI century, in the
era of Sumitada Omura, the territory controlled
by this feudal lord was as large as all the
land around Omura Bay. Incidentally, Omura
Bay can almost be mistaken for a lake because
it shares only a very narrow link with the
sea. During this epoch, the first township
around Sanjo Castle (nowadays Omura's downtown)
sprang up.
 During that time, Sumitada Omura began to
use Nagasaki then, a small village - as an
ocean port to trade with strange newcomers(1543):
the Portuguese- first westerners to arrive
in Japan.
With the arrival of the Portuguese, Kyushu
and the land under the control of the Omura
Family in particular, flourished and saw
tremendous development. Sumitada Omura was
converted to Christianity and becomes the
first Christian Daimyo (japanese feudal lord).
He is refered, in several European documents
as Bartolomeo - the first Christian King
of Japan.
With the banishment of Christianity until
1868 (as well as the closure of Japan to
foreigners), it was the Shogun (name gave
to the generals that ruled Japan on that
time) to control of Nagasaki. The contact
with foreigners became permitted only in
Dejima - a small island built in Nagasaki.
After the Portuguese are expelled by law
(1539), only the Dutch went on using Dejima.
 In 1599, Yoshiaki Omura - the son of Sumitada
- ordered the construction of
Kushima Castle
and obliged the Samurai (warriors)
to come
and live around the new castle.
This influx
of people meant construction
of new streets
and laid the foundation for the
urbanization
process. This area would form
the basis of
present day Omura Town.
With Meiji restoration, devolving the power
to the Emperor (the power has been in the
hands of the Shogun since the XII century),
Japan began the process of modernization
and development. During the Meiji restoration,
37 Omura warriors performed very important
tasks. This political change carried out
the destruction of Omura Castle and the end
of the Family Omura influence. With the Omura
Family removed from power, a new era, paved
by emerging famous persons born in Omura,
began to unfold. Sensai Nagayo, the pioneer
of Japanese Modern Medicine, was born in
Omura during this time.
 Presently, Omura plays a very important role
in the Nagasaki Prefecture. Nagasaki Airport
is located on an island in Omura Bay. The
hight-way that crosses the Omura Interchange
connects Nagasaki with the rest of Kyushu.
In effect, Omura becomes the gate to the
Nagasaki Prefecture. Accordingly, Omura has
both implemented a progressive policy to
attract new businesses and constructed The
Omura Hight Tech Park and Office Park Omura.
Such amenities might prove why the number
of people living in Omura is slightly growing,
despite the declining population in Nagasaki
Prefecture. Equal to the challenge presented
by the 21st century internationalization,
Omura aims to become the Japanese City with
the highest percentage of competent English
speakers.
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