Osaka
The Morinomiya kaizuka mound in central Chuo-ku district holds 2,000-year-old debris from the Jomon and Yayoi periods. Archaeologists found arrow heads, stone tools, fishing hooks, and crockery with remains of rice processing inside these shell mounds. During the Jomon period starting around 7,000 BCE, present-day Osaka was mostly submerged water. A peninsula formed that stretched 12 kilometers long and 2.5 kilometers wide to separate Kawachi Bay from the Seto Inland Sea. This geographical position offered defensible terrain against military attack while providing fresh water and lush vegetation for early inhabitants. Permanent habitation on the plains grew during the Yayoi period between 300 BCE and 250 CE as rice farming became popular across the region. The grand shrine of Sumiyoshi-taisha opened near the harbor in the third century CE under commission by Empress Jingū. This Shinto structure survived historical events and inaugurated a new construction style called Sumiyoshi-zukuri. Maritime traffic connected to the port of Naniwa-tsú increased significantly during the Kofun period when large keyhole-shaped tombs appeared in the plains. Four of these mounds can be seen today in southern districts dating back to the fifth century. The mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku discovered nearby in Sakai testifies to the status of imperial city that Osaka had reached.
Osaka merchants organized storehouses where they stored daimyōs rice in exchange for fees trading it for coin or receipts essentially creating paper money precursors. Many rice brokers made loans and became quite wealthy and powerful within the Edo period spanning 1603 to 1867. The Rice Exchange established itself at Dōjima in 1697 becoming the world's first futures market selling rice not yet harvested. By 1780, Osaka cultivated vibrant arts culture typified by famous Kabuki and Bunraku theaters. In 1837, low-ranking samurai named Oshio Heihachiro led a peasant insurrection responding to the city's unwillingness to support poor families. Approximately one-quarter of the city was razed before shogunal officials put down the rebellion after which Oshio killed himself. Jippensha Ikku depicted Osakans as stingy almost beyond belief in his 1802 literature work. The derogatory term Kamigata zeeroku appeared in 1809 used by Edo residents to characterize inhabitants of the Osaka region regarding calculation shrewdness lack of civic spirit and vulgarity of dialect. Edo writers saw themselves as poor but generous chaste and public spirited while contrasting this with obsequious apprentices described as stingy greedy gluttonous and lewd.
The modern municipality was established in 1889 by government ordinance covering an initial area overlapping today's Chuo and Nishi wards. Osaka became known as the Manchester and Melbourne of the Orient during rapid industrialization following the Meiji Restoration. General Motors operated a factory called Osaka Assembly from 1925 until 1941 manufacturing Chevrolet Cadillac Pontiac Oldsmobile and Buick vehicles. Japanese workers and managers ran the facility producing automobiles for domestic markets. In 1927, the city became the largest and most populous in Japan ranking sixth largest globally. Rapid industrialization attracted many Asian immigrants including Indians Chinese and Koreans who set up life apart for themselves. Municipal government first introduced comprehensive poverty relief systems copied partly from British models to address slums unemployment and poverty. Osaka policymakers stressed family formation and mutual assistance as best ways to combat poverty minimizing welfare program costs. The Great Kanto earthquake caused mass migration to Osaka between 1920 and 1930 making it Japan's largest city with 2,453,573 people outnumbering Tokyo which had 2,070,913 residents at that time.
On the 13th of March 1945, 329 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers participated in air raids against Osaka by United States Army Air Forces. An American prisoner of war held in the city stated the raid took almost the entire night destroying portions of the city. The U.S. bombed the city again twice in June 1945 and once more on August 14 a day before Japan surrendered. Population surpassed three million in the 1960s initiating large-scale suburbanization within the prefecture eventually doubling to six million by the 1990s. Factories rebuilt and trade revived rapidly developing into major multicultural and financial center from 1950s through 1980s. Osaka Prefecture chosen as venue for prestigious Expo '70 first world fair ever held in Asian country. Numerous international events followed including 1995 APEC Summit. In fiscal year 2004 gross city product reached ¥21.3 trillion representing about 55% total output in Osaka Prefecture and 26.5% in Kinki region. Commerce services and manufacturing accounted for 30%, 26%, and 11% respectively of total economic activity that year.
The plan to reorganize Osaka and its province into metropolis like Tokyo met stiff opposition particularly from highly populated Sakai municipality. Former mayor Toru Hashimoto leader of reform party Osaka Restoration Association introduced project suppressing 24 wards dividing city into five new special districts similar status to 23 Special Wards of Tokyo. May 2015 referendum approval saw narrow victory of no leading Hashimoto announcement withdrawal from politics. Second referendum merging 24 wards into four semi-autonomous wards narrowly voted down by 692,996 votes representing 50.6%. There were 675,829 supporting the measure with 49.4% backing it. Osaka mayor Ichiro Matsui said he would resign when term ended in 2023 following vote results. The city officially ended sister relationship with San Francisco October 2018 after permitting monument memorializing comfort women remain on city-owned property circulating process 10-page 3,800-word letter addressed to San Francisco mayor London Breed. In fiscal year 2004 gross city product reached ¥21.3 trillion accounting about 55% total output in Osaka Prefecture and 26.5% Kinki region.
Osaka houses headquarters of multinational electronics corporations including Panasonic Sharp and Sanyo alongside Osaka Exchange. Nomura Securities first brokerage firm founded in city in 1925 remains influential today. Many major companies moved main offices to Tokyo but several still headquartered here. In 2017 Global Financial Centres Index ranked Osaka having fifteenth most competitive financial center globally fifth most competitive Asia after Singapore Hong Kong Tokyo Shanghai. Osaka Securities Exchange specializing derivatives such as Nikkei 225 futures based city. Merger with JASDAQ helps exchange become largest Japan for startup companies. According global consulting firm Mercer second most expensive city expatriate employees world 2009 jumping nine places from eleventh place 2008 eighth most expensive 2007 not ranked top ten list 2013. Economist Intelligence Unit ranked second most expensive city world its 2013 Cost Living study Keihanshin region includes prefectures Osaka Kyoto Hyogo Nara Shiga Wakayama Sakai population 19,303,000 covering area GDP approximately $953.9 billion 2012 sixteenth largest world. Osaka-Kobe GDP $681 billion 2015 bit more Paris Greater London.
Commonly spoken dialect area called Osaka-ben typical sub-dialect Kansai-ben using copula ya instead da suffix -hen instead -nai negative verb forms. Old saying states Kyotites financially ruined overspending clothing Osakans ruined spending food regional cuisine includes takoyaki okonomiyaki and traditional dishes particularly those made fresh water mountains prefecture. Author Michael Booth food critic Francois Simon suggested Osaka food capital world culinary prevalence result regional access high-quality ingredients high merchant population proximity ocean waterway trade. Dotonbori canal entertainment area considered heart city hosting Glico Man signboards among numerous others. Tenjinbashi-suji arcade stretches from road approaching Tenmangū shrine continuing north south longest one country stores commodities clothing catering outlets. National Bunraku Theater performs traditional puppet plays while Osaka Shochiku-za hosts kabuki manzai shows Yoshimoto Kogyo operates hall Namba Grand Kagetsu comedy shows Hanjo-tei opened 2006 dedicated rakugo theater Otsaka Tenman-gū area Umeda Arts Theater stages musicals music concerts dramas rakugo Symphony Hall built 1982 first Japan designed specially classical music concerts. One famous festival held the 24th of July 25 Tenjin Matsuri at Osaka Tenmangu other festivals include Aizen Matsuri June 30-July 2 Sumiyoshi Matsuri July 30-August 1 Shoryo-e April 22 Tōka-Ebisu January 9-10.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was the Morinomiya kaizuka mound in Osaka built?
The Morinomiya kaizuka mound contains 2,000-year-old debris from the Jomon and Yayoi periods. Archaeologists found arrow heads, stone tools, fishing hooks, and crockery with remains of rice processing inside these shell mounds.
What happened to Osaka during the Edo period between 1603 and 1867?
Osaka merchants organized storehouses where they stored daimyōs rice in exchange for fees trading it for coin or receipts essentially creating paper money precursors. The Rice Exchange established itself at Dōjima in 1697 becoming the world's first futures market selling rice not yet harvested.
How many people lived in Osaka after the Great Kanto earthquake between 1920 and 1930?
Population surpassed three million in the 1960s initiating large-scale suburbanization within the prefecture eventually doubling to six million by the 1990s. The Great Kanto earthquake caused mass migration to Osaka making it Japan's largest city with 2,453,573 people outnumbering Tokyo which had 2,070,913 residents at that time.
When did United States Army Air Forces bomb Osaka during World War II?
On the 13th of March 1945, 329 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers participated in air raids against Osaka by United States Army Air Forces. The U.S. bombed the city again twice in June 1945 and once more on August 14 a day before Japan surrendered.
What was the result of the May 2015 referendum regarding Osaka ward reorganization?
May 2015 referendum approval saw narrow victory of no leading Hashimoto announcement withdrawal from politics. Second referendum merging 24 wards into four semi-autonomous wards narrowly voted down by 692,996 votes representing 50.6%.