is a
city located in the south-central portion of
Gifu Prefecture,
Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the
Sengoku period, various warlords, including
Oda Nobunaga, used the area as a base in an attempt to unify and control Japan. Gifu continued to flourish even after Japan's unification as both an important
shukuba along the
Edo period Nakasendo and, later, as one of Japan's fashion centers. Before becoming a modern city, it was part of the former Atsumi District, but it has since been designated a
core city by the national government.