Name	Nagaoka
Japanesename	長岡
Official name	長岡市 · Nagaoka
Settlement type	Special city
Mapimage	Nagaoka_in_Niigata_Prefecture_Ja.svg
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Niigata
Area km2	890.91
Popdate	November 1, 2010
Population	283,343
Density km2	318.38
Latitudedegrees	37
Latitudeminutes	26
Longtitudedegrees	138
Longtitudeminutes	50
Tree	Zelkova
Flower	Azalea
Symbolimage	Nagaoka_logo.png
Symboldescription	Municipal Emblem
Mayor	Tamio Mori (since November 1999)
Cityhallpostalcode	940-0084
Cityhalladdress	Saiwai 2-1-1, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture (新潟県長岡市幸町2丁目1番1号)
Cityhallphone	81-(0)258-35-1122
Cityhalllink	}}

is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata. Nagaoka is located at longitude 138°E and latitude 37°N.

The size of Nagaoka increased on April 1, 2005, when the town of Oguni, from Kariwa District, the village of Yamakoshi, from Koshi District, the town of Nakanoshima, from Minamikanbara District, and the towns of Koshiji and Mishima, both from Santō District, were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka. As of June 1, 2005, the city has an estimated population of 237,115 and a density of 450.88 persons per km². The total area is 525.89 km².

It once again increased on January 1, 2006, when the city of Tochio, the towns of Teradomari and Yoita, and the village of Washima, all from Santō District, were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka. As of November 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 283,343 and a density of 318.83 persons per km². The total area is 890.91 km².

Geography

Nagaoka is located in the center of Niigata prefecture and the surrounding Chūetsu region. It is 80 minutes from Tokyo by way of the Joetsu Shinkansen or 3 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. Nagaoka was an inland city until January 1, 2006 when the city merged with four municipalities-two were touching the Sea of Japan. The current Nagaoka now touches the Sea of Japan on the north and after the merger, it is still considered a strategic traffic point in the region. The Shinano River flows through it from south to north and industrial development occurs on both banks of the river. The Higashiyama mountain range lies to the east.

Adjoining communities

From the north, following Nagaoka's border counterclockwise:

Tsubame

Yahiko, Nishikanbara District

Niigata

Izumozaki, Santō District

Kashiwazaki

Kariwa

Tōkamachi

Ojiya

Uonuma

Sanjō

Mitsuke

However, Sado Island is connected by sea and air routes.

Data of the former city of Nagaoka

Nagaoka was an inland city, but after the double decker mergers held in 2005 and 2006, the city of Nagaoka is now connected to the Sea of Japan. The former Nagaoka City Hall is still used as their city hall after the 2006 mergers.

Former city of Nagaoka(旧・長岡市)
! Merger date	April 1, 2005 and January 1, 2006
! Reason
! Following Municipalities were involved (2005)	Nagaoka (-March 2005), Nakanoshima, Koshiji, Mishima, Yamakoshi, Oguni → Nagaoka (April–December 2005)
! Following municipalities were involved (2006)	Nagaoka (April–December 2005), Tochio, Teradomari, Yoita, Washima→Nagaoka(2006–Present)
! Current municipality	Nagaoka (2006–Present)
Data during the mergers
! Total Area	262.45km²
!Total Population	192,292 (February 1, 2005)

History

The Tokugawa shogunate appointed Naoyori Hori lord of Nagaoka-han in 1616. Hori established the castle town of Nagaoka and built a castle in the Zaôdô area on the Shinano River. However, this area was prone to flooding and a new castle was built at the site of present-day Nagaoka Station by 1617.

Nagaoka flourished as a castle town under the reign of the 13 generations of the Makino clan of the Edo period. In the Boshin War of 1868 during the Meiji Restoration, clan military general Tsuginosuke Kawai lead the forces of Nagaoka against the Meiji Government. Nagaoka was defeated and the city was reduced to rubble. A gift of one hundred sacks of rice from a neighboring province was sold to finance a new school during the reconstruction of Nagaoka, from which the anecdote of Kome Hyappyo was born.

The town of Nagaoka and surrounding clan holdings became part of Kashiwazaki Prefecture (now Niigata Prefecture) at the beginning of the Meiji period. The modern municipality of Nagaoka was established on April 1, 1906.

Municipal timeline

1906

* April 1 - The municipality of Nagaoka is established.

1945

* August 1 - Nagaoka is reduced to rubble by 125 B-29 bombers in a late-evening air raid. 1,470 lives are lost.

1963

* January - A record-breaking heavy snowfall hits Nagaoka.

1982

* November 15 - Joetsu Shinkansen service arrives at Nagaoka Station.

2004

* July 12 & July 13 - A heavy downpour causes extensive flooding in Nagaoka.

* October 23 - The Chūetsu Earthquake strikes, causing extensive damage in Nagaoka and surrounding areas.

2005

* February - Nagaoka experiences the heaviest snowfall in 19 years.

* April 1 - Oguni, Yamakoshi, Nakanoshima, Koshiji, and Mishima are absorbed into Nagaoka. Prior to the merger, the size of Nagaoka was 262.45 km² and the population was 192,292.

2006

* January 1 - Washima, Yoita, Teradomari, and Tochio are officially absorbed into Nagaoka.

2010

March 31 -- Kawaguchi is absorbed into Nagaoka

Economy

Industry

The manufacturing industry prospered in Nagaoka following the war, due in part to favorable location and good transportation infrastructure. Current industrial production includes precision instruments and the machine tools.

Nippon Seiki, a manufacturer of automotive instruments, is headquartered in Nagaoka.

TDK-Lambda, a manufacturer of switched-mode power supplies, has a plant in Nagaoka.

Schlumberger, a leading oilfield services company has location in Nagaoka. They serve all of Japan and Korea from this location.

Sister cities

Fort Worth, Texas, United States (November 9, 1987) Trier, Germany (April 1, 2006) Romainmôtier-Envy, Switzerland (April 1, 2006)

Transportation

Privately-owned cars are the primary means of civic transportation. The city has a wide network of bus routes, with Nagaoka Station as the hub. Most of the roadways are improved and the pavement is top class in the nation. Nagaoka's location in the center of the prefecture makes it an important transportation junction, with rail lines and roadways from the east splitting in Nagaoka to go to Niigata and Joetsu.

Railroad

East Japan Railway Company serves the city of Nagaoka with the Joetsu Shinkansen as well as two traditional rail lines, the Joetsu Line and the Shinetsu Main Line. Nagaoka Station is the primary railroad station in Nagaoka, and there are also several smaller stations.

A private railway managed by Echigo Kotsu once served Nagaoka with two rail lines, but they have since been abandoned.

A monorail system was proposed for Nagaoka, but it was not implemented.

Bus

Local bus service in Nagaoka is managed by Echigo Kotsu. The bus terminal located at the east entrance of Nagaoka Station serves as the hub for the route network. Service extends to all parts of the city as well as many outlying suburban areas and villages.

A high-speed bus service connecting Nagaoka Station to Niigata, Niigata Station runs at intervals of approximately 30 minutes. Additionally, highway bus service is available to all major cities in the prefecture as well as Tokyo.

Roadways

The Hokuriku National Expressway and the Kanetsu National Expressway pass through Nagaoka, as well as several smaller national highways.

A new regional highway called the Nagaoka East-and-West Road is currently being constructed. It will eventually include the longest bridge over the Shinano River.

Places of interest

Kome Hyappyo Monument

Tsuginosuke Kawai Monument in Yukyuzan Park

Haibu Nagaoka Stadium

The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art

The Niigata Prefectural Museum of History

Yukyuzan Park

National Government Echigo Hillside Park

Nagaoka Lyric Hall

Nagaoka City Local Museum

Higher Education Institutions

Nagaoka University of Technology

Nagaoka National College of Technology

Nagaoka University

Nagaoka Institute of Design

Festivals

Nagaoka Festival and Grand Fireworks Festival (August)

Nagaoka Aki Matsuri (Autumn Festival) and Kome Hyappyo Festival (October)

Famous people from Nagaoka

Inoue Enryō (Buddhist philosopher and founder of Toyo University)

Isoroku Yamamoto (Commander of the Japanese Navy during the first four years of World War II)

Tomoko Hoshino (Actress)

Jūshirō Konoe (Actor)

Haruo Minami (Enka singer)

Nobuhiro Watsuki (Manga artist)

Ryō Hirohashi (Voice actor)

Koharu Kusumi (Morning Musume)

Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto (writer)

References

External links

Nagaoka City Official Homepage in Japanese

Nagaoka City Official Homepage in English

Category:Cities in Niigata Prefecture

de:Nagaoka fa:ناگائوکا، نیگاتا fr:Nagaoka gl:Nagaoka ko:나가오카 시 it:Nagaoka nl:Nagaoka ja:長岡市 pl:Nagaoka pt:Nagaoka (Niigata) ro:Nagaoka, Niigata ru:Нагаока tl:Nagaoka, Niigata th:นะงะโอะกะ tg:Нагаока uk:Наґаока (Ніїґата) vi:Nagaoka war:Nagaoka, Niigata zh:長岡市

Name	Uesugi Kenshin上杉謙信
Birth date	February 18, 1530
Death date	April 19, 1578
Birth place	Echigo Province, Japan
Death place	Echigo Province, Japan
Nickname	Dragon of Echigo, God of War
Allegiance	Uesugi family
Rank	Lord (''Daimyō'')
Battles	Battles of Kawanakajima, Siege of Odawara (1561), Battle of Tedorigawa, many others
Laterwork	}}

was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.

He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade; his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Echigo. Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen, his numerous campaigns to restore order in the Kanto region as the Kanto Kanrei, and his belief in the Buddhist god of war — Bishamonten. In fact, many of his followers and others believed him to be the Avatar of Bishamonten, and called Kenshin god of war.

Name

His original name was Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎). He changed his name to Uesugi Masatora (上杉政虎) when he inherited the Uesugi family name in order to accept the official title of Kantō Kanrei (関東管領). Later he changed his name again to Uesugi Terutora (上杉輝虎) to honor the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru (足利義輝), and finally to Kenshin (上杉謙信) after he became a Buddhist monk; in particular, he would become renowned for being a devotee of Bishamonten. For the majority of this description, the name of ''Kenshin'' will be used.

Kenshin is sometimes referred to as "The Dragon of Echigo" because of his fearsome skills in the martial arts displayed on the battlefield. His rival Takeda Shingen was called "The Tiger of Kai". In some versions of Chinese mythology (Shingen and Kenshin had always been interested in Chinese culture, especially the works of Sun Tzu), the Dragon and Tiger have always been bitter rivals who try to defeat one another, but neither is ever able to gain the upper hand.

Life

Born the fourth son of the noted warrior Nagao Tamekage (長尾為景), Kenshin's early life presents a unique story. His father had gained some renown as a warlord through his military victories over Uesugi Sadanori and Uesugi Funayoshi. However, in later years, Tamekage found himself at odds with the neighboring Ikkō-ikki of Hokuriku, and as the political power in the region started to shift in favor of the Ikkō (due largely to the sudden rise of the Honganji), the situation for Echigo quickly deteriorated. It came to a peak in 1536, when Kenshin's father gathered up an army and marched westward, his aim uncertain. However, upon arriving at Sendanno in Etchu, his forces were suddenly attacked by Enami Kazuyori, and in the resulting battle Tamekage himself was slain, and his army put to flight.

The impact back at Echigo was immediate. Nagao Harukage, Tamekage's eldest son, immediately made his bid for control of the Nagao, and succeeded in this claim after a power struggle which resulted in the death of one of his brothers, Kageyasu. Kagetora (Kenshin) was removed from the conflict and relocated to Rizen temple, where he spent his life from 7 to 14 dedicated to study.

Claim for power

At the age of fourteen, Kenshin was suddenly contacted by Usami Sadamitsu and a number of other acquaintances of his late father. They urged the young Nagao son to go to Echigo and contest his older brother's rule. It would seem that Harukage hadn't proven the most effective or inspiring leader, and his failure to exert control over the powerful ''kokujin'' families had resulted in a situation which was nearly to the point of tearing the province apart.

As the story is told, at first Kenshin was reluctant to take the field against his own brother, but was eventually convinced that it was necessary to the survival of Echigo. In a series of engagements led by himself and Usami Sadamitsu, Kenshin succeeded in wresting control of the clan from Harukage in 1547. Harukage's own fate is uncertain, as some sources claim he was allowed to live, but others record his forced suicide.

Early rule

Though his rule over the Nagao clan was now unquestioned, much of Echigo was still independent of this young warlord's grasp. Kenshin immediately set out to cement his power in the region, but these efforts were still in their infant stages when far more pressing concerns appeared. Ogasawara Nagatoki and Murakami Yoshikiyo, two Shinano lords, both appeared before Kenshin requesting his help in halting the advances of the powerful warlord Takeda Shingen. Around the time Kenshin became the new lord of Echigo, Shingen had won major victories in Shinano Province. With the Takeda's conquests taking them remarkably close to the borders of Echigo, Kenshin agreed to take the field.

Uesugi and Takeda

What followed was the beginning of a rivalry which became legendary. In the first conflict between the two, both Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen were very cautious, only committing themselves to indecisive skirmishes. Over the years, there would eventually be a total number of five such engagements at the famous site of Kawanakajima, though only the fourth would prove to be a serious, all-out battle between the two.

In 1561, Kenshin and Shingen fought the biggest battle they would fight, the fourth battle of Kawanakajima. Kenshin used an ingenious tactic: a special formation where the soldiers in the front would switch with their comrades in the rear, as those in the frontline became tired or wounded. This allowed the tired soldiers to take a break, while the soldiers who had not seen action would fight on the frontlines. This was extremely effective and because of this Kenshin nearly defeated Shingen. In this battle is the tale of Kenshin riding up to Shingen and slashing at him with his sword. Shingen fended off the blows with his iron war fan or ''tessen''. However, Kenshin failed to finish Shingen off. A Takeda retainer drove him away, and Shingen made a counter-attack. The Uesugi army retreated and many drowned in a nearby river while others were cut down by the Takeda.

The result of the fourth battle of Kawanakajima is still uncertain. Many scholars are divided on who the actual victor was, if the battle was actually decisive enough to even declare one. Kenshin lost 3000 of his army while Shingen lost around 4000, but Shingen also lost two of his most important generals during the battle, namely his advisor Yamamoto Kansuke and younger brother Takeda Nobushige.

Although Shingen and Kenshin were rivals for more than fourteen years, they are known to have exchanged gifts a number of times, most famously when Shingen gave away a precious sword, which he valued greatly, to Kenshin. When Shingen died in 1573, Kenshin was said to have wept aloud at the loss of so worthy an adversary, and dismissed advices from his retainers to use the opportunity to attack as childish. Shingen, on his deathbed, commended Kenshin as an honourable warrior, and instructed his son to rely upon Kenshin. The two sides would become allies in 3 years. In addition, there was an incident when a number of other daimyo (including the Hōjō clan) boycotted salt supplies to Kai province. Kenshin heard of Shingen's problem with a daimyo of the Hōjō clan who refused to send rice to him. Kenshin secretly sent salt to the Takeda (salt was a precious commodity as it was used in preserving food) and wrote to his enemy, Shingen, that in his opinion, the Hōjō lord had committed a hostile act. Although he could have cut off Shingen's supplies and "lifeline", Kenshin decided not to do so because it would be dishonorable. In reflection, Kenshin made a statement "Wars are to be won with swords and spears, not with rice and salt." In this, Kenshin set a noble example for all time in his treatment of his rival Shingen. The statement is a common modern reference by peace advocates who in recognition of Kenshin state that "peace is to be achieved with rice and salt, not with swords and spears".

Outside events

Though his rivalry with Takeda Shingen was legendary, Uesugi Kenshin actually had a number of other ventures occurring around the times of these famous battles (1553, 1555, 1557, 1561, 1564). In the year 1551, Kenshin was called upon to provide refuge for his nominal lord, Uesugi Norimasa, who had been forced to flee there due to the expansion into the Kantō by the Hōjō clan. Kenshin agreed to give the warlord shelter, but was not in a position at the time to move against the Hōjō. In the year 1559, he made a trip to pay homage to the shogun in Kyoto, and visited many religious and historical sites in the area. This served to heighten his reputation considerably, and added to his image as a cultured leader as well as a warlord. This same year he was pushed once again by Uesugi Norimasa to take control of the Kantō back from the Hōjō, and in 1560 he was able to comply. Heading a campaign against the Hōjō, Kenshin was successful in taking a number of castles from the clan, which ended in his striking against the Odawara Castle in Sagami Province. He managed to break the defenses and burn the town, but the castle itself remained unconquered, and lack of supplies forced his retreat soon after. However, it was during this time that he visited the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū and took the name ''Uesugi''.

The other main area which interested Uesugi Kenshin was Etchu Province, and Kenshin would spend nearly half his life involved in the politics of that province. The land was inhabited by two feuding clans, the Jinbo and the Shiina. Kenshin first entered the dispute as a mediator in the early 1550s between rivals Shiina Yasutane and Jinbo Nagamoto, but he later sided with the Shiina and took over the Jinbo clan. Decades later, Kenshin turned against the Shiina clan, taking their main castle in 1575 and having Shiina Yasutane assassinated in 1576 by Kojima Motoshige. At this point, Etchu Province was effectively under his control.

Final years

Starting in the year 1576, Kenshin began to consider the issue of Oda Nobunaga, who had since grown to be Japan's most powerful warlord of the time. With both Takeda Shingen and Hōjō Ujiyasu dead, Kenshin was no longer blocked off from this realm of expansion. So, when the death of a Noto lord in the area sparked up confusion and conflict, Kenshin was quick to use the opportunity, taking land from the weakened clan which put him in a position to threaten Nobunaga and his allies. In response, Nobunaga pulled together his own forces and those of his two best generals; Shibata Katsuie (柴田勝家) and Maeda Toshiie (前田利家) to meet Kenshin at Tedorigawa. The experienced Shibata Katsuie who served Nobunaga since the beginning, was sent forth to test Kenshin's famed battle reputation. According to some accounts, Shibata led 18,000 men into battle first, and Nobunaga himself followed up with 20,000 reinforcements. If this information is accurate, it would make the battle between the two one of the largest fought in the Sengoku period.

Despite Nobunaga's overwhelming numbers, Kenshin managed to score a solid victory on the field. At first, Kenshin refused to engage the Nobunaga army until a heavy rainfall which neutralized Nobunaga's infantry units. Forced to make a hasty retreat, Shibata regrouped with Nobunaga's main force. Next Kenshin used a strategy of his old rival Takeda Shingen; he pretended to send forth a small unit to attack Nobunaga's main force from behind and gave his enemy a great opportunity to crush his remaining force. Nobunaga took the bait. Nobunaga's force attacked at night expecting a weakened opponent; instead Kenshin's full military might was waiting. After losing almost a quarter of his force, Nobunaga pulled back to Ōmi Province while Kenshin contented himself with building a few forts in Kaga Province before returning to Echigo province. In the winter of 1577-1578, Uesugi Kenshin arranged to put forth a grand army to continue his assaults into Nobunaga's land. However, he was reported to be in horrid health during this time, and on April 9 he suffered a type of seizure. He died four days later.

His death poem was 「四十九年一睡の夢 一期の栄華一盃の酒」。"Forty Nine Years; One night's dream. A lifetime of glory; a cup of sake." (My 49 years have passed like one night's dream. The glories of my life are no more than a cup of sake.)

Uesugi Kenshin's death

The cause of Kenshin's death has been questioned throughout the years. The theory accepted by most Japanese scholars is that a lifetime of heavy drinking and perhaps stomach cancer spelled the end for the great warlord.

Other sources hold that he was assassinated by a ninja who had been waiting in the cess pool beneath the latrine at Kenshin's camp with a short spear. (Note that the theories are not mutually exclusive — the assassin, if he existed, might simply have fatally wounded an already-dying man.) It is said that upon hearing of Kenshin's death, Oda Nobunaga remarked, "Now the empire is mine."

After death

At the time of his death, Kenshin was regarded as the most formidable warrior of the era. His death marked the collapse of the Second Anti-Oda Coalition, and henceforth there would be no more serious challenges to Oda Nobunaga's bid for supremacy.

Domestically, Kenshin left behind a succession crisis. While he never had any children of his own, Kenshin adopted four boys during his lifetime. His nephew, Uesugi Kagekatsu, was gradually being set up to be his heir, however the process had not yet been completed when Kenshin's abrupt death at a relatively young age threw the clan into turmoil. Another adopted son, Uesugi Kagetora, who was originally of the Hojo family, contested Kagekatsu's claim. Kagekatsu was supported by the bulk of Echigo's families from within and by the Takeda clan from abroad, and was eventually able to secure his succession. However, in the aftermath of the costly internal struggle, the Oda clan exploited rebellions against Kagekatsu to advance right up to the border of Echigo, having captured Noto and Kaga while the Uesugi brothers were busy with the infighting. This combined with the destruction of the Takeda clan, Uesugi ally and long time Oda enemy, would come close to destroying the Uesugi clan before Oda Nobunaga's own death once again shattered the balance of power in Japan.

Speculation that Kenshin was a woman posing as a man (due to the fact he did not marry) is a modern concept not considered relevant by serious scholars.

In popular culture

The 2009 NHK Taiga Drama "Tenchijin" tells the story of Uesugi Kenshin, although its main focus is on Naoe Kanetsugu, the page and later advisor to Uesugi Kenshin's adopted son and heir Uesugi Kagekatsu. In the 2007 NHK Taiga Drama, Fuurin Kazan, Uesugi Kenshin is portrayed by Japanese pop star Gackt. See also People of the Sengoku period in popular culture.

References

Yoshikawa, Eiji. (1989) ''Yoshikawa Eiji Rekishi Jidai Bunko'' (''Eiji Yoshikawa's Historical Fiction''), Vol. 43: ''Uesugi Kenshin'' (上杉謙信). Tokyo: Kodansha. 10-ISBN 4-0619-6577-8; 13-ISBN 978-4-0619-6577-5

Ninjutsu: The Art of Invisibility (Tuttle Martial Arts) by Donn F. Draeger (Paperback - May 15, 2008) ISBN 0804839379; ISBN 978-0804839372

See also

Naoe Kanetsugu

Uesugi Kenshin in popular culture

Yoshikawa Eiji

External links

Samurai Archives- Uesugi Kenshin

"TEN-CHI-JIN" General of UESUGI Clan NAOE KANETSUGU - (Japanese)-Kabuto(Samurai Helmet) Papercraft

Category:1530 births Category:1578 deaths Category:Daimyo Category:Uesugi clan

ar:أوئي-سوغي كن-شين ca:Uesugi Kenshin cs:Kenšin Uesugi de:Uesugi Kenshin es:Uesugi Kenshin eo:Uesugi Kenshin fr:Kenshin Uesugi ko:우에스기 겐신 id:Uesugi Kenshin it:Uesugi Kenshin jv:Uesugi Kenshin nl:Uesugi Kenshin ja:上杉謙信 no:Uesugi Kenshin pl:Kenshin Uesugi ru:Уэсуги Кэнсин sk:Kenšin Uesugi fi:Uesugi Kenshin th:อุเอะสึงิ เคนชิน uk:Уесуґі Кенсін vi:Uesugi Kenshin zh:上杉謙信

Name	Jay Leno
Birth name	James Douglas Muir Leno
Birth date	April 28, 1950
Height
Birth place	New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Medium	Television, Film, Stand up
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Emerson College
Active	1973–present
Genre	Observational comedy, Political satire
Subject	American culture, Everyday life
Influences	Johnny Carson, Robert Klein, Alan King, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, Rodney Dangerfield
Influenced	Dennis Miller
Website	The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Spouse	Mavis Leno (1980–present)
Signature	Jay Leno Autograph.svg
Notable work	''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' (host, 1992–2009)''The Jay Leno Show''(host, 2009–2010)''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' (host, 2010–present )

}} James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born 1950) is an American stand-up comedian and television host.

From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled ''The Jay Leno Show'', which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. (Eastern Time, UTC-5), also on NBC. After ''The Jay Leno Show'' was canceled in January 2010 amid a host controversy, Leno returned to host ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' on March 1, 2010.

Early life

Jay Leno was born in New Rochelle, New York, on April 28, 1950. His mother, Catherine (née Muir; 1911–1993), a homemaker, was born in Greenock, Scotland, and came to the United States at age 11. Her schooling was limited and as a result she prized her children's successes. Leno's father, Angelo (1910–1994), who worked as an insurance salesman, was born in New York to immigrants from Flumeri, Italy. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, and although his high school guidance counselor recommended that he drop out of school, he later obtained a Bachelor's degree in speech therapy from Emerson College, where he started a comedy club in 1973. Leno's siblings include his late older brother, Patrick, who was a Vietnam veteran and a lawyer.

Career

''The Tonight Show''

Starting in 1987, Leno was a regular substitute host for Johnny Carson on ''The Tonight Show''. In 1992, he replaced Carson as host amid controversy with David Letterman, who had been hosting ''Late Night with David Letterman'' since 1982 (aired after The Tonight Show), who many had expected to be Carson's successor. The story of this turbulent transition was later turned into a book and a movie. Leno continued to perform as a stand-up comedian throughout his tenure on ''The Tonight Show''. In 1998, Leno competed in a tag team match at a WCW pay per view called Road Wild. In 2001, he voiced The Crimson Chin, a superhero in the Nickelodeon animated series The Fairly OddParents and continues to do so today.

In 2004, Leno signed a contract extension with NBC which would keep him as host of ''The Tonight Show'' until 2009. Later in 2004, Conan O'Brien signed a contract with NBC under which O'Brien would become the host of ''The Tonight Show'' in 2009, replacing Leno at that time.

During the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, Leno was accused of violating WGA guidelines by writing his own monologue for ''The Tonight Show''. While NBC and Leno claim there were private meetings with the WGA where there was a secret agreement allowing this, the WGA denied such a meeting. Leno answered questions in front of the Writers Guild of America, West trial committee in February 2009 and June 2009, and when the WGAW published its list of strike-breakers on 11 August 2009, Leno was not on the list.

Leno said in 2008 that he was saving all of his income from ''The Tonight Show'' and living solely off his income from stand-up comedy.

On April 23, 2009, Leno checked himself into a hospital with an undisclosed illness. He was released the following day and returned to work on Monday, April 27. The two subsequently cancelled ''Tonight Show'' episodes for April 23 and April 24 were Leno's first in 17 years as host. Initially, the illness that caused the absence was not disclosed, but later Leno told People magazine that the ailment was exhaustion.

Michael Jackson trial

In the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson over allegations of child molestation, Leno appeared as a defense witness (many celebrity defense witnesses had been expected, but Leno was one of the few whose testimony was actually needed). In his testimony regarding a call by the accuser, Leno testified that he never called the police, that no money was asked for, and there was no coaching — but that the calls seemed unusual and scripted.

As a result, Leno was initially not allowed to continue telling jokes about Jackson or the case, which had been a fixture of ''The Tonight Show'''s opening monologue in particular. But he and his show's writers used a legal loophole by having Leno briefly step aside while stand-in comedians took the stage and told jokes about the trial. Stand-ins included Roseanne Barr, Drew Carey, Brad Garrett, and Dennis Miller among others.

Succession by Conan O'Brien and ''The Jay Leno Show''

Because Leno's show continued to lead all late-night programming in the Nielsen ratings, the pending expiration of Leno's contract led to speculation about whether he would become a late-night host for another network after his commitment to NBC expired. Leno left ''The Tonight Show'' on Friday May 29, 2009, and Conan O'Brien took over on June 1, 2009.

On December 8, 2008, it was reported that Leno would remain on NBC and move to a new hour-long show at 10 p.m. Eastern Time (9 p.m. Central Time) five nights a week. This show follows a similar format to ''The Tonight Show'', tapes at the same lot, and retains many of Leno's most popular segments. ''Late Night'' host Conan O'Brien was his successor on ''The Tonight Show''.

Jay Leno's new show, titled ''The Jay Leno Show'', debuted on September 14, 2009. It was announced at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that it would feature one or two celebrities, the occasional musical guest, and keep the popular "Headlines" segments, which would air near the end of the show. First guests included Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey (via satellite), and a short sit-down with Kanye West discussing his controversy at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Timeslot conflict and return to ''The Tonight Show''

In their new roles, neither O'Brien nor Leno succeeded in delivering the viewing audiences the network anticipated. On January 7, 2010, multiple media outlets reported that beginning March 1, 2010, Jay Leno would move from his 10pm weeknight time slot to 11:35pm, due to a combination of pressure from local affiliates whose newscasts were suffering, and both Leno's and O'Brien's poor ratings. Leno's show would be shortened from an hour to 30 minutes. All NBC late night programming would be preempted by the 2010 Winter Olympics between February 15 and February 26. This would move ''The Tonight Show'' to 12:05am, a post-midnight timeslot for the first time in its history. O'Brien's contract stipulated that NBC could move the show back to 12:05 a.m. without penalty (a clause put in primarily to accommodate sports preemptions).

On January 10, NBC confirmed that they would move Jay Leno out of primetime as of February 12 and intended to move him to late night as soon as possible. TMZ reported that O'Brien was given no advance notice of this change, and that NBC offered him two choices: an hour-long 12:05am time slot, or the option to leave the network. On January 12, O'Brien issued a press release that stated he would not continue with ''Tonight'' if it moved to a 12:05am time slot, saying, "I believe that delaying ''The Tonight Show'' into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. ''The Tonight Show'' at 12:05 simply isn’t ''The Tonight Show.''"

On January 21, it was announced that NBC had struck a deal with O'Brien. It was decided that O'Brien would leave ''The Tonight Show''. The deal was made that O'Brien would receive a $33 million payout and that his staff of almost 200 would receive $12 million in the departure. O'Brien's final episode aired on Friday, January 22. Leno returned as host of ''The Tonight Show'' following the 2010 Winter Olympics on March 1, 2010.

On July 1, 2010, ''Variety'' reported that total viewership for Jay Leno's ''Tonight Show'' had dropped from 5 million to 4 million for the second quarter of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009. Although this represented the lowest second-quarter ratings for the show since 1992, ''Tonight'' was still the most-watched late night program, ahead of ABC's ''Nightline'' (3.7 million) and David Letterman's ''Late Show'' (3.3 million). Ratings over the following summer, when compared to the same period in 2009 with O'Brien hosting ''The Tonight Show'' (including O'Brien's highly rated debut), showed that while total viewership was 12% higher for Leno, viewership in the important "adults aged 18-49" demographic was 23% lower. NBC ratings specialist Tom Bierbaum commented that due to the host being out of late night television for a period of time and the subsequent 2010 Tonight Show conflict, Leno's ratings fall was "not a surprise at all".

Public image

Criticism of Leno

Leno has faced heated criticism and some negative publicity for his perceived role in the 2010 ''Tonight Show'' timeslot conflict. Critics have pointed to a 2004 ''Tonight Show'' clip, wherein Leno claimed he would allow O'Brien to take over without incident. At the time, Leno stated he didn't want O'Brien to leave for a competing network, adding, "I'll be 59 when [the switch occurs], that's five years from now. There's really only one person who could have done this into his 60s, and that was Johnny Carson; I think it's fair to say I'm no Johnny Carson." Leno also described ''The Tonight Show'' as a dynasty, saying "you hold it and hand it off to the next person. And I don't want to see all the fighting..." At the end of the segment, he said, "Conan, it's yours! See you in five years, buddy!"

Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt was among the first celebrities to openly voice disappointment with Leno, saying, "Comedians who don't like Jay Leno now, and I'm one of them, we're not like, 'Jay Leno sucks;' it's that we're so hurt and disappointed that one of the best comedians of our generation... willfully has shut the switch off." Rosie O'Donnell has been among O'Brien's most vocal and vehement supporters, calling Leno a "bully" and his recent actions "classless and kind of career-defining." Howard Stern, who has been openly critical of Leno for years, has become even more so in the wake of the controversy.

Bill Zehme, the co-author of Leno's autobiography ''Leading with My Chin'', told the ''LA Times'': "The thing Leno should do is walk, period. He's got everything to lose in terms of public popularity by going back. People will look at him differently. He'll be viewed as the bad guy."

Support for Leno

NBC Sports head executive and former ''Saturday Night Live'' producer Dick Ebersol spoke out against all who had recently mocked Leno, calling them "chicken-hearted and gutless."

Jeff Gaspin also defended Leno: "This has definitely crossed the line. Jay Leno is the consummate professional and one of the hardest-working people in television. It's a shame that he's being pulled into this."

Paul Reiser and Jerry Seinfeld are two of the number of celebrities to have voiced support for Leno.

Responding to the mounting criticism, Leno claimed that NBC had assured him that O'Brien was willing to accept the proposed arrangement and then would not let either host out of his contract. Leno also said that the situation was "all business." He appeared on the January 28 episode of ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' in an attempt to repair some of the damage done to his public image.

Personal life

Leno has been married since 1980 to Mavis Leno; they have no children.

He is known for his prominent jaw, which has been described as mandibular prognathism. In the book ''Leading with My Chin'' he stated that he is aware of surgery that could reset his mandible, but does not wish to endure a prolonged healing period with his jaws wired shut.

Leno is dyslexic. He claims to sleep only four to five hours each night. Leno does not drink or smoke, nor does he gamble. He spends most of his free time visiting car collections or working in his private garage.

Leno reportedly earns $32 million each year; his total net worth is unknown, but has been estimated to be at least $150 million.

Charity

In 2001, along with his wife, he donated $100,000 to the Feminist Majority's campaign to stop gender apartheid in Afghanistan, to educate the public regarding the plight of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Mavis Leno is on the board of the Feminist Majority.

In 2009, he donated $100,000 to a scholarship fund at Salem State College in honor of Lennie Sogoloff. Mr. Sogoloff gave Leno his start at his jazz club, Lennie's-on-the-Turnpike.

Vehicle collection

Leno owns approximately 100 vehicles, not including about 90 motorcycles. He also has a website called "Jay Leno's Garage," which contains video clips and photos of his automobiles in detail.

He has a regular column in ''Popular Mechanics'' which showcases his car collection and gives advice about various automotive topics, including restoration and unique models, such as his jet-powered motorcycle and solar-powered hybrid. Leno also writes occasional "Motormouth" articles for ''The Sunday Times'', reviewing high-end sports cars and giving his humorous take on automotive matters.

References

External links

Official ''Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' web site

Jay Leno's Car Collection

Jay Leno's Columns at Octane magazine

New York Times on Leno's affiliation with McPherson College

Live performance videos from the Tonight Show

Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American television talk show hosts Category:American voice actors Category:Emerson College alumni Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Car collectors Category:Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductees Category:People from Andover, Massachusetts Category:People from New Rochelle, New York Category:SEMA Members Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American people of Scottish descent

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name	Jun Nagao
birth date	1964
occupation	composer
nationality	Japanese }}

Jun Nagao (Japan: 長生 淳) (born 1964) is a Japanese composer.

Nagao began his career as an arranger for orchestras and wind ensembles. Today he is known for his many original compositions including several works for video games and films. He won the 2000 Toru Takemitsu Composition Award for his work entitled ''L'été-L'oubli rouge''.

Wind ensemble works

1997 ''Symphony''

1997 ''Reminiscence''

1998 ''Die Heldenzeit'' Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind ensemble

1998 ''The Other Garden'' Concerto for Euphonium and Wind ensemble

2000 ''Wavetops''

2001 ''Souten no shizuku''

2002 ''La saison lumineuse du vent vert''

2003 ''Fluttering Maple Leaves''

2005 ''Kompeki no Hatou''

2005 ''Saiwai no Ryu(Der Glücksdrache)''

2007 ''Auspicious Snow''

2007 ''The Everlasting Trunk''

2008 ''By Gathering Together''

2008 ''Un morceau du ciel''

2008 ''Sing with Sincerity''

2008 ''Triton''

''Four Seasons of Trouvère'' for saxophone and wind ensemble

Chamber music

2002 ''Quatuor de Saxophones''

2003 ''Your Kindness'' for alto saxophone and piano

2004 ''The Planets by Trouvere'' for saxophone quartet

''Dawn Passage'' for four clarinets

''Futarishizuka'' for solo flute

''Icare'' for trombone and piano

''Purity'' for solo flute

''Rhapsody on "Carmen" by Georges Bizet'' for saxophone quartet and piano

Film music

2001 ''Le Petit poucet''

Video game music

1995 ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV - Wall of Fire'' originally titled ''San goku shi IV''

External links

Bravo Music (Jun Nagao's Music Publisher)

Internet Movie Database

Category:Living people Category:1964 births Category:Japanese composers of classical music

nl:Jun Nagao ja:長生淳