500 Yen of Japan 2010 UNC - Aomori Prefecture

The history of Aomori is punctuated by significant events: its establishment as a city in 1889, followed by the devastating fire of 1910 and the bombing during World War II. Post-war, the city experienced rapid development, marked by the founding of Radio Aomori, the establishment of medical facilities, and the railway connection to the peninsula. The incorporation of neighboring towns made Aomori the largest in the prefecture. Major achievements include the construction of the Seikan Tunnel in 1985, linking Honshū and Hokkaidō, and the opening of the airport to international flights in 1995. Cultural exchanges with Kecskemét in Hungary and Pyongtaek in South Korea enriched the city, while the arrival of North Korean refugees in 2007 also left an indelible mark on its history.