hirado
city, Nagasaki ken (prefecture), Japan. It lies on Hirado Island, off the northwest coast of Kyushu. Although the city is composed of two islands, the town of Hirado on the northern shore of Hirado Island serves as its core. The town was the first Japanese port opened to Portuguese, Dutch, and British trade in 1550; Nagasaki took its place in 1636. It also served as a castle town of the Hirado clan during the Tokugawa era (1603-1867) and is rich in historical monuments such as the Konyo Temple and a Roman Catholic church. Part of Hirado Island's 64 square miles (165 square km) is included in the Saikai National Park. Pop. (2005) 38,389.
Learn more about Hirado with a free trial on Britannica.com.
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Dictionary.com presents 366 FAQs, incorporating some of the frequently asked questions from the past with newer queries.