A city with 1,400 years of history
Since ancient times, Osaka has been a place where people from all over the world have gathered. Osaka is located at the confluence of the busy Seto Inland Sea and the rivers that flow inland toward Osaka Bay. Long ago, before trains and cars were in operation, Osaka developed as an economic center and was the gateway to Japan, welcoming traders and travelers from all over Asia.
Osaka's origins date back to the 5th century
Osaka flourished as the economic and political center of Japan in the 5th century. Naniwazu, which is believed to have existed in what is now Osaka's Chuo Ward, was a newly opened port at the time and was used as a gateway for Korea, China, and other Asian countries. It is said that visitors from Asia brought with them avant-garde crafts, cutting-edge techniques for making ceramics, blacksmithing techniques, and various other cutting-edge technologies and information. Buddhism, which had not yet been spread in Japan at the time, also began to spread to Japan around this time. This information and technology spread to other parts of Japan with astonishing speed.
As Buddhism spread throughout Japan, Prince Shotoku built Shitennoji Temple in 593. At the same time, Osaka developed into an international city with exchanges with other Asian countries. In 645, Emperor Kokutoku moved the capital from Nara to Osaka. Naniwa Palace, built by Emperor Kokutoku, still remains in Osaka as Naniwa Palace Ruins Park and can be visited. It is considered to be the oldest imperial palace in Japan. However, the capital subsequently changed to Nagaoka-kyo (Kyoto), Heijo-kyo (Nara), Heian-kyo (Kyoto), Kamakura, and Edo (Tokyo). Even as the capital moved to other regions, Osaka continued to develop as the second largest city, and played an important role in trade and cultural exchange, especially as a gateway for diplomacy with Asian countries.
Hideyoshi's castle town
The year is 794, and the capital of Japan was established in Heian-kyo. This is the year that the era is known as the Heian period, and many Buddhist temples were built in Kyoto and Osaka. Arts and crafts, as well as women's literature, such as Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, also flourished. However, in the late 1100s, there was an active movement to overthrow the powerful Taira clan, and the Genji clan succeeded in defeating them. Minamoto no Yoritomo took power and established the Kamakura Shogunate. This marked the start of the Sengoku period, a time of frequent wars.
In the 14th century, Osaka was devastated by wars over a wide area. In 1496, Rennyo, a high priest, began construction of Ishiyama Gobo on the Kamimachi Plateau. Ishiyama Gobo was a temple and a residence for monks, and would later be called Ishiyama Honganji. Ishiyama Honganji would later serve as a fortress to stop the wars.
In the latter half of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), Oda Nobunaga, who had a very strong military force, tried to attack the Uemachi Plateau in Osaka. The Uemachi Plateau is a gentle plateau as its name suggests, and is in a good location from which you can see the whole of Osaka. In addition, Osaka Bay was close to the Uemachi Plateau at the time, so even if an enemy force attacked, it would not be easy to take it. Another key point was that it was sandwiched between the Yamato River and the Yodo River. At the time, logistics mainly used waterways. Many merchant ships came from the Seto Inland Sea, so it could dominate the economy as a trading area. And the terrain was difficult to invade. Oda Nobunaga was confident that if he could take this place, he would be able to control Osaka, and even Japan and the surrounding countries other than Japan.
Oda Nobunaga continued to attack Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple for over 10 years. Eventually, most of Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple was burned down, and Osaka came under the control of Oda Nobunaga. Then, Nobunaga's successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, based in Osaka, began to rule Japan. Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle in 1583 during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1574-1600). Large-scale construction work created a moat surrounding Osaka Castle, widening the river in Osaka and allowing the city to develop as a transportation hub connected to the sea. However, Osaka Castle and the castle town were burned down in the Winter Siege of Osaka in 1614 and the Summer Siege of Osaka in 1615, and the Toyotomi clan was destroyed.
Economic and cultural hub
The Tokugawa clan took control and the political center moved to Edo (present-day Tokyo). Japan then entered a period of national isolation. Osaka, a city reduced to ashes, quickly recovered thanks to the character of the Osaka people. It grew once again as an economic city. At that time, Osaka, far from Edo, was called "the kitchen of the world." This was because important goods, including food and rice, were frequently bought and sold in Osaka. Rice was sent from Osaka to all parts of Japan, supporting the Japanese diet. Osaka also began to export many products overseas.
This economic growth led to the development of Osaka's own unique culture. Popular arts culture that could be enjoyed by the common people also emerged, derived from traditional culture. The puppet theater called Joruri (said to be the precursor of Bunraku), Noh theater, and Osaka's unique Kabuki were also born. Osaka is also a city that contributed to education. Schools founded in Osaka produced many scholars who had a strong influence on Japan at the time. Tekijuku was founded as a school to study Western science and medicine. In the mid-19th century, Japan lifted its isolation and entered the modern era. Some of the students from Tekijuku contributed to opening up the country and reformed the Japanese government. It later became Osaka University.
Manchester of the East
The Meiji Restoration (1868) was the biggest reform in Japanese history. The capital was moved to Tokyo, which grew significantly as an economic city, while the commercial city of Osaka stagnated. Osaka then tried to transition to an industrial city. Smoke billowed out of the industrial areas, and by the end of the 19th century Osaka was mockingly called the "City of Smoke." It was then given the name "Manchester of the East."
In 1889, Osaka City was incorporated. Soon after being officially recognized as a Japanese city, the Fifth National Industrial Exposition was held in the Tennoji area in 1903. High-quality industrial technologies and products were gathered here, attracting industry and cutting-edge technology elites from all over the country. In the same year, Japan's first public streetcar was launched in Osaka. Until 1925, Osaka was the most populous city in Japan and the sixth largest in the world.
Devastation during the war and reconstruction
One-third of Osaka was destroyed by American air raids during World War II. Many commercial and industrial districts were also targeted in the bombing raids. However, postwar reconstruction plans and the positive attitude of Osaka people brought the city back to its prewar vibrancy. Today, various companies and businessmen are still active here in Osaka. Many of these companies and businessmen have nurtured Osaka's robust economy, making it the central city of western Japan.
In 1970, Osaka was chosen as the site of Asia's first World Expo. Since then, Osaka has continued to host all kinds of international expositions, international conferences, exhibitions and international meetings, including the APEC Summit in 1995. Osaka has everything you need to welcome guests from around the world, including conference facilities such as the Osaka International Convention Center, top-class hotels, delicious cuisine, unique culture and history, and a wide variety of entertainment and leisure options. Osaka is an important city in modern Asia and a world-class metropolis.