HIMEJI

city, Hyogo ken (prefecture), western Honshu, Japan. It is situated west of Kobe, near the Inland Sea. It developed as a castle town around the white, five-storied Himeji, or Shirasagi ("Egret"), Castle, built in the 14th century and reconstructed in 1577 and 1964. A large part of the city was destroyed by bombing during World War II. The city recovered and grew rapidly after the war. It is now the third largest industrial centre in the prefecture (after Kobe and Amagasaki). Himeji's industries include iron, steel, textiles, and leather goods. Pop. (1987 est.) 453,974.