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Do you know if Kobe City and Kobe Bryant have anything to do with each other?

Do you know if Kobe City and Kobe Bryant have anything to do with each other?

Kobe city in Japan

Kobe city of Japan

What do you know about Kobe City?

It is located in the Kansai region of Japan, near Kyoto and Osaka. I have lived in this city for 20 years.

It is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan, facing the tranquil Seto Inland Sea, with Mount Rokko right behind it and many hiking trails.

Kobe city from Mt.Rokko

I’m Nobu, the certificate English guide in Japan for 7 years.I show you hidden Japan which you have never seen and heard!

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant 41years old. RIP.

Have you ever heard of Kobe Bryant? Kobe Bryant was a legendary American NBA player, a living history with many great accomplishments.

However, he sadly passed away in a helicopter accident in January 2020 at the age of 41.

Does he have any connection to Kobe City?

History of Kobe city

Kobe City is located in the south of Hyogo Prefecture and is the capital of the prefecture.

It has a population of over 1.5 million. This place has been inhabited since B.C.

In the 3rd century, Ikuta Shrine, which is still in the center of Kobe City, was built.

Okura shrine of Kobe city

In the 8th century, a port was opened for trading with foreign countries.

When Japan opened its doors to the outside world in 1868, Kobe was positioned as a major port.

In 1868, when Japan broke its isolation and opened its doors to the outside world, it was designated as a major port, and many foreigners came to live here to do business.

These places still attract many tourists with their exotic atmosphere in Japan.

Foreigners house in Kobe city

Christian missionary work, jazz, golf, yachting, sukiyaki, etc.

Beef was first eaten in Kobe, which led to the Kobe Beef of today.

Many Western confectioneries also originated in Kobe, and the city is said to be the window to Western culture in Japan.

The pronunciation of Kobe

Kobe Bryant’s name, Kobe, is spelled Kobe and pronounced Kho-bee. Kobe city in Japan is spelled Kobe, pronounced Kho-be(t).

The origin of Kobe’s name

The origin of the name of Kobe city is from ‘ Kanbe’ which is a supporters of Ikuta shrine in center Kobe city from 3td century.

Since Kobe Bryant’s name “Kobe” is derived from his father Joe’s favorite teppanyaki restaurant in the United States, Kobe Steak House.

Kobe beef

When he and his wife went to the restaurant, they asked the owner about the origin of the name “Kobe”.

His parents impressed the taste of Kobe beef so much. They also liked the name of Kobe that they gave it to him.

Kobe and Kobe city

When Kobe came to Japan for the first time in 1998, he visited Kobe city, that gave him his name, for the first time in his life.

On that occasion, he donated money raised at the Adidas ABC Basketball Camp in Tokyo to the city of Kobe for the welfare of its citizens.

He was also commissioned as Kobe Ambassador on December 13, 2001, a position he held until 2011. He worked with Kobe city to inform the charm of Kobe city to the world.

Kobe Bryant as a Kobe city ambassador

Timed to coincide with the memorial service for Kobe Bryant (41 years old), the city of Kobe has shown its appreciation and condolences to him.

This was expressed in the form of lighting up the “BE KOBE” monument in Meriken Park and Flower Road (in front of Kobe City Hall) in purple.

It’s the team color of the NBA Los Angeles Lakers, to which Kobe Bryant belonged.

Illumination of purple color for Kobe Bryant

Let’s go to Kobe!


If you are a Kobe Bryant fan, why not visit Kobe, the city where has his name?
You can taste the delicious Kobe beef too!

Kobe beef

I’m Nobu, one heart enjoy together!!!

Kobe city

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>Enjoy Tokyo and Japan as locals do!

Enjoy Tokyo and Japan as locals do!

TOKYO travel TIPS is the site which offers local updated information of Tokyo and Japan. There are many traditional, modern culture , festivals and beautiful nature in Tokyo and Japan. We want to share with travel beginners and repeaters to Tokyo and Japan! Let’s enjoy as locals do!

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