"The History of Nagano"
This approximately 56-minute video traces the history of Nagano, from ancient times to the present day, exploring its castles, temples, rice fields, and townscapes. We'll examine the unfolding of battles, the ingenuity of water supply, and the changes in towns and industries, all accompanied by images and maps.

If this video is well-received, we plan to produce a sequel.

If you'd like to see more, we'd appreciate your support through likes, channel subscriptions, comments, and hype!

Chapter
00:00 From Mountains and Rivers to the History of Nagano
00:41 Digging Obsidian, Building Villages
02:53 Horses and Cloth Connect Shinano to the Capital
05:10 Prayers, Merchants
09:16 From Kawanakajima to Ueda and Matsumoto
28:28 Crossing Domain Borders, Transporting Livelihoods
31:26 Using Kiso Wood, Stopping Logging
34:17 Goods from the South, Salt from the North
38:15 From Iijima Administration to Two Prefectures and Schools
39:48 Silk Reeling Gets Going, Prefectures and Schools Take Shape
44:02 Rest in Karuizawa, Crossing Passes, Sliding on the Snow
47:09 Silk Depression, Immigration to Manchuria, Underground Bunkers
49:51 From a Silk Reeling Town to a Precision Industry Town
52:56 Preserved townscape, winter games, people walking along the old highway

Some parts of the video use historical scenes and dioramas generated by AI for explanatory purposes. These do not represent actual historical footage or precise reconstruction drawings. Maps include location guidance based on current topography. Photographs of buildings and venues taken in later years are not photographs taken on the day of the event. Narration is AI voice.

Main Sources
Nagano Prefectural Museum of History (Prehistoric, Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern Periods)
https://www.npmh.net/permanent/genshi...
https://www.npmh.net/permanent/kodai.php
https://www.npmh.net/permanent/tyusei...
https://www.npmh.net/permanent/kinsei...
Nagano City History - Reconstruction of Zenkoji Temple Main Hall
https://adeac.jp/nagano-city/texthtml... 0/ct00000011/ht001240
Ueda City "History of Ueda Castle" / "Ueda Gunki"
https://www.city.ueda.nagano.jp/site/...
https://museum.umic.jp/uedagunki/view...
Forestry Agency "Kiso Five Trees"
https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/chubu/ki...
The narrative of the war chronicle is presented separately from contemporary historical materials.

Maps and Geographical Materials
Processed from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's "GSI Tiles" and "GSI Vector Maps." Marine area data is from the Japan Coast Guard Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department.

https://maps.gsi.go.jp/development/ic...
https://maps.gsi.go.jp/vector/
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "National Land Numerical Information (Administrative Boundary Data)" as of January 1, 2026, CC BY 4.0. Projection transformation, display of prefectural perimeter, etc.

https://nlftp.mlit.go.jp/ksj/gml/data...
Location of Iiyama Castle Ruins: CODH "Comprehensive Dictionary of Japanese Historical Place Names" Facility/Location Item Dataset, CC BY 4.0. Coordinate transformation and location label added.

https://doi.org/10.20676/00000456

BGM
"Ever Mindful" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty...
Modifications: Excerpt, volume adjustment, frequency adjustment, fade, mix with narration.

"Eastern Thought" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty...
Modifications: Excerpt, volume adjustment, frequency adjustment, fade, mix with narration.

"Stoneworld Battle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty...
Modifications: Excerpt, volume adjustment, frequency adjustment, fade, mix with narration.

Photo Credits (Wikimedia Commons)
Narai-juku: 663highland/CC BY-SA 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Lake Nojiri: 663highland/CC BY-SA 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Lake Nojiri Naumann Elephant Museum: Mti/CC BY-SA 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Togariishi Ruins: Takuma-sa/CC BY-SA 3.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Chikuma River in Ueda: Bmazerolles/CC BY 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Zenkoji Plain: Meitetu1380/CC BY-SA 3.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Zenkoji Nakamise Street: C...