nara

noun

1. a city on S Honshu, in central Japan: chief Buddhist center of ancient Japan; first capital of Japan a.d. 710–84.
2. a period of Japanese history, a.d. 710–784, characterized by the adoption of Chinese culture and forms of government.

noun

1. a city in central Japan, on S Honshu: the first permanent capital of Japan (710–784). Pop: 364 411 (2002 est)