Osaka

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Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value). is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture[1] which faces Osaka Bay and the Seto Inland Sea.[2]

大阪
大阪市 · Osaka City
Osaka Castle Park 20071230.jpg
Miotsukushi
Official seal of Osaka
Location of Osaka in Osaka Prefecture
Location of Osaka in Osaka Prefecture
Coordinates: 34°41′37″N 135°30′7″E / 34.69361°N 135.50194°E / 34.69361; 135.50194Coordinates: 34°41′37″N 135°30′7″E / 34.69361°N 135.50194°E / 34.69361; 135.50194
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureOsaka
Government
 • Mayor[[{{#Property:P6}}]]
 • Prefectural governorIchiro Matsui in office since November 27, 2011
Area
 • Total223.00 km2 (86.10 sq mi)
Population
 (January 1, 2012)
 • Total2,871,680
 • Density12,877.49/km2 (33,352.5/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeSakura
- FlowerPansy
Phone number06-6208-8181
Address1-3-20 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu
530-8201
Websitewww.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english

Osaka is in the Kansai region. It is the economic and cultural center of the Kansai region.

Since 1980 it had been the second largest city in Japan.

It is a city designated by government ordinance in Japan and is separated to 24 wards.[3]

Osaka is surrounded by Hyōgo Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture.

History of Ōsaka

Sometimes it is called by its historical name Naniwa.

Because it is by the sea, it is good for transportation. That is why an ancient emperor made Osaka the capital city. In the early part of the 8th century Naniwa was one of capitals of Japan. In the middle of the 16th century Toyotomi Hideyoshi founded Osaka castle and governed Japan in Osaka. The basis of development of Osaka was prepared in those times. Osaka castle was destroyed once by Tokugawa Ieyasu but Ieyasu choose Osaka as one of the political centers in the Western Japan. He made Osaka a direct dominion of the shogun. During the Edo period Osaka was a center of commerce, finance, pharmacy and other products. It was a center for literature and theater. Kabuki in Osaka is as famous as Kabuki in Edo and Kyoto. It is also known for bunraku (a traditional puppet theater) and manzai (a kind of stand-up comedy).

Traditional Osaka food dishes include okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake) and takoyaki (octopus dumplings).

In this region, many people speak a dialect called Osaka-Ben (e.g. "ookini"="thank you").

After the Meiji restoration Osaka was modernized and industrialized. It was a center of Japanese industry. After the World War II its economical importance was relatively less because Tokyo grew as an international city and many companies moved their headquarters to Tokyo. But Osaka is still a large, important city.

Sightseeing spots

Seasonal spots

Sports

Football clubs in Osaka

Baseball teams in Osaka

Mind sports in Osaka

Osaka Media

References

  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ōsaka" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 759.
  2. Nussbaum, "Ōsaka-fu" at p. 759.
  3. Buhnik, Sophie. "From Shrinking Cities to Toshi no Shukushō: Identifying Patterns of Urban Shrinkage in the Osaka Metropolitan Area," Berkeley Planning Journal, Vol. 23, No. 1 (2001), p. 135 [PDF 4 of 24]. Retrieved 2012-12-2.

Related pages

Other websites