But Nagoya's new airport will be allowed to operate round the clock, and has modern transport facilities that businessmen across central Honshu are already scheming to exploit.

ECONOMIST: What will this year's world expo do for Nagoya?

Its most destructive on record was an 8.4 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 1, 1923 on the main, central, island of Honshu.

FORBES: China Sends Rescue Workers to Quake Ravaged Japan-Xinhua