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Interesting Facts
- Although Osaka is known as the merchant city, prior to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 Osakan merchants were generally relegated to the lowest social strata, even though merchants were some of the wealthiest persons in the city. Because they were denied access to many of the usual aristocratic events, merchants spent time developing their interests in theater and dining, giving rise to such art forms as Bunraku and Kabuki Theater. In fact, it has been said that many Osakan merchants have gone bankrupt due to their dining indulgence.
- Osaka is home to the National Bunraku Theater, which originated during the Heian period (794-1192). In this dramatic form, puppeteers manipulate puppets that are two-thirds the size of human subjects. It takes three people to move each puppet, causing not only its arms and legs to move but also its eyes to roll and lips to move.
- Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Osaka emerged from the ashes of war to become known as the "Kitchen of Japan." Goods from all over Japan were housed and shipped at this essential city of trade. Osaka also began to develop as an international trading mainstay.
- Not just a city that works, Osaka knows how to play on the international scene. In 1970 it was host to the World Expo and in 2002 hosted the World Cup. Additionally, it gallantly made a bid for the 2008 Olympics, showing the world that it is truly a city of distinction.
- Upon first glance one might think that Osaka's waste incineration plant, Maishima, is a palace with its aesthetically pleasing design and colorful opulence. Created by world famous architect, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, it is modeled after a similar plant in Austria. The gold spheres on the roof ring in at a hefty $4000 each. Robotic arms are used to transfer trash from trucks entering the facility. Inside, touring visitors will find the place high-tech and spotlessly clean.
- Osaka has sister cities throughout the world including San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Milan, Shanghai, Hamburg and Melbourne. Animal, plant, sports and student exchanges mark the significance of these relationships. Koalas and Tasmanian devils have made their way from Australia, and cherry trees from Sao Paulo now adorn the city streets. Fashion flair from Milan designers has made its mark on Osaka. The diversity of these relationships strengthens Osaka's cultural awareness and its standing in the international community.
- One of the most touching reminders of the sanctity of human rights can be found in Osaka's Liberty Museum. Although relatively little known, this refuge of reflection pays homage to Japanese minorities, victims of disease, women and those with disabilities. Photographs and poignant displays serve as storyteller of the human experience within and outside of Osaka.
- At times a city of dubious distinction, Osaka has been called the smoky city due to the volumes of smoke arising from its smokestacks in the 19th century. The term Elephant Man has also been applied to the city for what some would consider its unsightly appearance. However, during recent decades the city has labored to improve its image by concentrating efforts to fashion parks and areas of green throughout the city. Architecturally, buildings like the inverted U-shaped Umeda Sky Building, Imperial Hotel and Osaka Dome sports stadium project a sleek, clean, modern image. Elephant Man no longer, Osaka is justifyably proud of its thriving cityscape.
- Originally created in Osaka, takoyaki, or octopus balls, are a tasty treat found in sidewalk stalls throughout the city. Endo Tomekichi who sold takoyaki from Aizu-ya, his shop in Osaka, invented takoyaki. The bits of octopus meat flanked in a savory batter soon caught on and spread to all of Japan. Visit the Sennichi-mae district to pick up your own takoyaki griddle for shaping the snack at home.
- Osaka Castle is a source of pride for city residents who have voluntarily contributed to its restoration throughout the city's history. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the first unifier of the Japanese, commissioned the castle built on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple which had been destroyed by a fire in 1580. It took nearly 60,000 laborers to complete the grand structure during its inception in 1598. Demolished by war in the 17th century, it was rebuilt with "walls twice as tall" by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Damage by lightning and World War II have necessitated further restoration. Today it stands as an exquisite depiction of Osaka's past.
