Nara

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Nara City on s Honshu island; capital of Nara prefecture, Japan. A centre of Japanese Buddhism, Nara was founded in 706. It was Japan's first imperial capital (710–784). Todaiji (East Great Temple) houses a 22m (72ft) tall bronze statue of Buddha. The 7th-century Horyuji temple is reputedly Japan's oldest building. Industries: textiles. Pop. (2000) 366,196.

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