city, Aichi ken (prefecture), Honshu, Japan. It lies along the middle reaches of the Yahagi River. It originated as a castle town, with its commercial quarter serving as a collection and distribution centre for silk cocoons. The head office of the Toyota Motor Company (Toyota Motor Corporation) was moved to the city from Kariya in 1938, and Toyota subsequently developed rapidly. Particularly after 1955, Toyota built large factories for the production of passenger vehicles and auto parts, using steel from Tokai. Pop. (2005) 412,141.