Osaka （6do encyclopedia）

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Osaka is one of the largest cities in Japan and is known for its lively atmosphere, delicious food, and vibrant entertainment scene. Situated on the island of Honshu, Osaka is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and is located in the Kansai region of Japan. With a population of over 19 million people, Osaka is the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan and the third-largest in the world by continental land area.

History

The history of Osaka dates back to the 5th century, when the area known as Naniwa was established as a center for trade and commerce. During the early part of the 7th century, the Emperor of Japan established his capital in Naniwa, which became the political and economic center of the country. In the 16th century, Osaka became a major hub for trade with other countries, including China, Korea, and the Netherlands. It was during this period that the Osaka Castle was built, which still stands today as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

In the late 19th century, Osaka became an important industrial center, with factories and mills springing up throughout the city. During World War II, Osaka was heavily bombed and suffered significant damage. However, the city quickly recovered after the war and continued to grow as a center for manufacturing, trade, and finance.

Culture

Osaka is known for its vibrant cultural scene, which includes everything from traditional Japanese art and music to modern pop culture. One of the most popular cultural events in the city is the Tenjin Matsuri, a festival held every July that features parades, music, and fireworks. Another popular event is the Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival, which takes place each August and attracts over one million visitors.

Osaka is also famous for its food, which includes dishes like okonomiyaki (a savory pancake made with cabbage and various meats and vegetables), takoyaki (small dumplings filled with diced octopus), and kushikatsu (deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables). The city is home to over 90,000 restaurants, and many of them specialize in local cuisine. One of the best places to sample Osaka’s food is at the Dotonbori Arcade, an entertainment district filled with restaurants, bars, and shops.

Attractions

Osaka has many attractions for visitors to enjoy, including historic landmarks, museums, and amusement parks. One of the most popular attractions is the Osaka Castle, a 16th-century fortress that has been restored to its former glory. The castle grounds include a beautiful park filled with cherry trees, making it a popular spot for picnics and hanami (cherry blossom viewing).

Another popular attraction is the Universal Studios Japan theme park, which features rides and attractions based on popular movies like Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Minions. The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is also a must-visit attraction, with over 30,000 sea creatures on display in a massive tank that recreates the Pacific Ocean.

The city is also home to many museums, including the Osaka Museum of History, which explores the city’s past, and the National Museum of Art, which houses a vast collection of Japanese and international art.

Transportation

Getting around Osaka is easy thanks to its extensive transportation network, which includes trains, buses, and subways. The city is served by two major airports, Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport (also known as Itami Airport). Both airports offer multiple flights to domestic and international destinations.

Osaka also has a well-developed public transportation system, including the Osaka Metro subway system, which has eight lines that cover much of the city. The JR West rail network also connects Osaka to other major cities in the Kansai region, including Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. In addition, there are numerous bus and taxi companies that provide transportation around the city.

Conclusion

Osaka is a vibrant and dynamic city that offers something for everyone, from historic landmarks to modern theme parks and entertainment districts. With its delicious food, rich culture, and convenient transportation system, it’s no wonder why Osaka is one of the most popular destinations in Japan. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, there’s always something new to discover in this fascinating city.

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[brief (簡報編譯)]

Why the best way to see Japan is on foot

Telegraph

23-05-13 12:00

Travellers to Japan can explore the country’s cities and countryside by walking along many of the walking trails and routes that run throughout the country. The Golden Route is one tourist trail that follows the old Tokaido Road, a popular way for first-time visitors to experience some of the country's greatest sights. Three fine stops that can easily be done on foot include Miyazu Bay, an absurdly quaint fishing village named Ine and the Izu peninsula, while mountaineers are drawn to Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano. Those seeking to experience Japan's history should try the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage trail, a religious walking route that has been popular for 1,000 years. Others may prefer the six-night Shin-Etsu Trail, which passes through small villages, vast farmlands, soaring cedar woods and breezy beech forests. The itinerary concludes in Yamashita Park, Yokohama, a tranquil oasis in southern Yokohama with snaking trails lined by charming cherry blossoms and beds of lotus flowers.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/japan/why-the-best-way-to-see-japan-is-on-foot/

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Chinese cash keeps Japan’s struggling hot spring resorts bubbling

South China Morning Post

23-05-13 06:55

More Chinese investors are acquiring historic Japanese ryokan hotels with thermal springs as inbound tourism to Japan remains slow and traditional inns struggle to compete with modern hotels. Chinese buyers often pay twice what the Japanese would pay to acquire ryokan assets and many are motivated to hold their wealth outside China, particularly in Japan, which is close by. The Japanese Administration of Immigration reports numbers of Chinese seeking business management and highly skilled professional visas is rising as wealthy citizens explore investment opportunities to gain residency. China's previous crackdown on the tech sector has seen some of its elite citizens, including Alibaba founder Jack Ma, spending months in Japan waiting out the storm, increasing their interest in Japan, said Professor Tom Sawayanagi of Rikkyo University. However, traditional ryokan are finding it difficult to diversify to compete with modern hotels that offer multilingual services and online bookings.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3220442/chinese-cash-keeps-japans-struggling-hot-spring-resorts-popular-honeymooners-bubbling

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Terunofuji set for return to dominance at Summer Basho if knee holds up

Japan Times

23-05-12 09:15

Yokozuna Terunofuji is set to return to honbasho action after almost eight months absence due to chronic knee issues for the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. Despite Terunofuji not being at 100%, he remains a class apart and a huge threat to the rest of the field. The most likely challenger is ozeki Asanoyama who will be competing on his return to sumo’s top division. Asanoyama won the Emperor’s Cup in 2019, however, his losing streak of five against Terunofuji could be a potential stumbling block. There are a number of candidates for first-time glory, but Kiribayama is showing impressive form, remaining relaxed and beating Terunofuji in a recent open practice session. If Kiribayama reaches double digits this month, he is almost guaranteed ozeki promotion. Kinbozan, on his first taste of elite-level sumo, will be eager to build on his outstanding performance from March. Hokuseiho, on a career-high rank for the summer meet, hasn’t recorded a losing record in any tournament he finishes despite his young age and lack of experience. Sumo still faces a balancing act of respecting century-old tradition whilst holding up modern social norms.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/05/12/sumo/basho-reports/terunofuji-summer-sumo-basho/

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‘Zelda holiday’: Tears of the Kingdom is a blitz of merch and exploration

Japan Times

23-05-12 07:06

The latest entry to the nearly 40-year-old franchise boasts a reported 100-plus hours of gameplay and will surely occupy gamers across the world for many weeks to come. According to the article, employees in Japan took a "Zelda holiday" so they could play the new game, called Tears of the Kingdom, and many gamers have been seen clutching physical copies of the game in photos shared on social media. Nintendo’s official stores in Tokyo and Osaka have also started selling Tears of the Kingdom-branded wares, including T-shirts, neckties, art booklets, and more.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/05/12/digital/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-release-holiday/

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Hong Kong’s Gaw eyes more property deals in Japan on TSMC push

Japan Times

23-05-12 03:08

Hong Kong-based private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners is eyeing real estate deals in Japan's Kyushu island, where it said TSMC's planned semiconductor plant could drive investment. Gaw said it has begun a search in Kyushu, with interest in developing a logistics property and buying residential real estate. The Taiwanese semiconductor maker is building a $8bn fabrication plant in Kumamoto Prefecture, in partnership with a subsidiary of Sony Group which is set to go online in late 2024. A second factory is also due in Kumamoto in the late 2020s.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/12/business/gaw-kyushu-property/

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Struggling hot spring resorts get boost from Chinese investors

Japan Times

23-05-16 02:52

Chinese investment in Japan's traditional ryokan (inns with hot springs) is rising, as cash-strapped owners sell up to foreigners. Hong Kong-based Glory Champion Enterprises, for example, spent ¥25bn ($186m) to transform a dilapidated ryokan in Atami into a luxury inn. China's strong buyer demand for upscale lodgings is fuelling the trend and is expected to continue, with industry insiders predicting that more hot spring hotels will also benefit from China's exodus of money abroad. MSCI Real Assets found that overseas buyers made up almost half of Japanese hotel deals that closed in the year to March.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/16/business/economy-business/china-money-ryokan-atami/

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Delays won’t hurt Japan’s first casino, Osaka governor says

Japan Times

23-05-16 02:38

The opening of Japan's first casino resort in Osaka is set to be delayed until 2030 due to years of setbacks and delays. Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said that the five-year time lag would not affect the project in the long term. The resort, featuring a casino, hotels, entertainment and conference centers, gained government approval in April, and will compete with gaming markets in Asian countries like Singapore, Macau and South Korea. To differentiate itself, Yoshimura said that the resort will showcase the history and culture of the region and Japan as a whole. MGM Resorts International, partnering with Japanese financial firm Orix, will form the first wave of Japanese casino resorts, with a ¥1.08tn ($7.9bn) plan for Yumeshima Island.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/16/national/yoshimura-casino-interview/

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Exploring Black identity in Japan isn’t easy, especially when it comes to hair

Japan Times

23-05-16 06:05

Mixed-race people living in Japan face different challenges around hair rules and appearance. One student in Hyogo Prefecture was banned from his high school graduation for wearing cornrows, a style with important cultural significance in African heritage. The incident sparked a social media frenzy highlighting the need for dialogue about discrimination, cultural expression and rules versus common sense. Despite the serious responses and media coverage, the challenges are not always negative: Karen Hill Anton, a Tokyo-based author and long-time columnist for The Japan Times, reveals that while raising four multiracial children in rural Shizuoka Prefecture from 1975, she wore dreadlocks and encountered minor level incidents of curiosity due to hair and ethnicity; she dismisses these as a fact of living in a region inhabited by people who don't look like her. Vivian Calloway, on a student exchange in Japan, has mostly worn straight hairstyles since moving to the country, explaining that she felt it made her look more Japanese, though her Instagram photos show her natural curly hair.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/16/national/black-identity-japan-hair-expression/

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Japan's G7 refugee balancing act: door open for Ukrainians, but not many others

Reuters

23-05-19 01:08

Despite Japan’s aversion towards overseas assistance and immigrants, the 2,300 Ukrainian refugees in Japan demonstrate the country’s support for Ukraine, according to an article in the Japan Times. However the situation highlights Japan’s poor track record regarding asylum seekers, with officials almost certain to pass a bill making it easier to deport them. The article points out that Ukrainians in Japan are not unlike refugees in other countries who are struggling against anti-immigrant sentiment. The refugee issue is not on the agenda at the G7 summit taking place in Japan.

https://www.reuters.com/world/japans-g7-refugee-balancing-act-door-open-ukrainians-not-many-others-2023-05-19/

[brief (簡報編譯)]

Japan’s G7 refugee balancing act: door open for Ukrainians, but not many others

Japan Times

23-05-19 04:11

Almost 2,300 Ukrainians have escaped to Japan following Russia's invasion and received generous support from the Japanese government and charity foundations, which is not usual for a country that has been notorious for its aversion to foreign entanglements and immigrants. Although Japan's support of Ukraine will be on full display during the G7 summit, to be held on 26 to 27 May, the country's poor track record for accepting refugees will also be highlighted. Despite welcoming Ukrainian evacuees under an established framework, in 2015 Japan only accepted 202 refugees and is set to pass a recent bill that will make it easier to deport asylum seekers.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/19/national/g7-japan-refugee-policy-contrast/

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Toyota unit Daihatsu mishandles crash tests for 78,000 hybrids in Japan

Nikkei Asia

23-05-19 19:59

Daihatsu Motor has discovered flawed data in collision safety tests for approximately 78,000 hybrid vehicles sold in Japan, including the Daihatsu Rocky and the Toyota Raize, which the parent company Toyota manufactures. Over 70% of the affected vehicles were sold under the Toyota brand. This is the second such incident for Daihatsu in less than a month.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Toyota-unit-Daihatsu-mishandles-crash-tests-for-78-000-hybrids-in-Japan

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Panasonic joins Marubeni to supply electric commercial vehicles

Nikkei Asia

23-05-20 00:51

Panasonic and Marubeni are partnering to create a joint venture to supply Japanese logistics companies with all-electric commercial vehicles and recharging equipment. The two firms are intending to create a 50-50 venture before June, and are already conducting talks with logistics companies. They hope to have 100s of EVs in service within 2 years, mainly short-to-medium haul vehicles.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Panasonic-joins-Marubeni-to-supply-electric-commercial-vehicles

[brief (簡報編譯)]

Japan’s head start on designer bicycle helmets

Japan Times

23-05-19 23:05

Ahead of World Bicycle Day on June 3, Japanese brands, OGK Kabuto and Nicco, have released new helmet designs that are less sporty and more casual. While children in Japan have been required to wear helmets for cycling since 2008, few bicycle helmet producers exist to meet the rising demand for adult head protection. OGK Kabuto has added a range of fabric-covered helmets that resemble hats, while Nicco has launched an updated range of adult commuter helmets in collaboration with Moca, an Osaka-based label of bicycle accessories company.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/05/20/style/on-design-bicycle-helmets/

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Luxury condos spreading around Japanese cities and selling fast

Nikkei Asia

23-05-20 05:18

Luxury condominiums worth at least ¥100m ($735,000) have been increasing in popularity outside of Japan's biggest metropolitan areas, with 452 units sold in 2022 compared to just a handful a decade ago. These properties, known as "okushon," are popular among wealthy retirees and provide unique living experiences in less urban environments. Despite the pandemic, the demand for these high-end properties has only increased in part due to the lack of travel opportunities prompting individuals to invest in their homes.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Property/Luxury-condos-spreading-around-Japanese-cities-and-selling-fast

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G-7 latest: Zelenskyy and Kishida lay flowers at peace monument

Nikkei Asia

23-05-21 09:43

The Ukraine conflict was at the forefront of G7 meetings in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the invitees to the meetings, which discussed China's growing dominance and issues affecting the so-called "Global South." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the need for a "resilient and diversified" approach to supply chains, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the summit's significance for consolidating peace. Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for the issue of nuclear weapons to be discussed openly, and said it was "historically significant" for the G7 leaders visiting the Peace Memorial Museum to publish a focus on nuclear disarmament – known as the Hiroshima Vision. The G7 summit heralded a number of warm bilateral meetings, concluding with talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the conflict on Sunday afternoon.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/G-7-in-Japan/G-7-latest-Zelenskyy-and-Kishida-lay-flowers-at-peace-monument

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G-7 latest: Kishida says Zelenskyy invite shows nuclear threat must be ended

Nikkei Asia

23-05-21 08:08

The Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan has ended, with discussions centring around the Ukraine war, China’s growing dominance and support for the “Global South”. According to a communique, the G7 nations have agreed to support public-private initiatives to swerve China's “belt and road” initiative, to implement measures to counter state-backed “malicious cyber activities”, and to decarbonise energy systems by the end of the century. The G7 also signed a declaration committing to the protection of international maritime regulations, including the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, navigation rights, and safety along sea lanes. G7 leaders expressed concern over the situation in the East and South China seas. The summit also saw the invitees from Indonesia, South Korea, India and Australia discuss issues such as Ebola, the impact of Brexit, terrorism and trade. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine was in the spotlight throughout the summit.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/G-7-in-Japan/G-7-latest-Kishida-says-Zelenskyy-invite-shows-nuclear-threat-must-be-ended

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Japanese firms offer programming classes for children

Japan Times

23-05-21 07:55

Schools in Japan are turning to businesses to provide programming classes, apps and teaching materials due to the introduction of compulsory coding education last year. Companies are offering specialised support to teachers who lack knowledge of the subject and are also looking to contribute as part of their corporate social responsibility principles. According to the guidelines for the elementary school curriculum, the aim of the courses is to teach students to think in a systematic way, draw logical conclusions and achieve their goals logically, however firms such as major confectioner Ezaki Glico and electronic parts and robots manufacturer Murata Manufacturing, are taking advantage to provide teaching materials.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/21/national/japanese-firms-programming-classes-for-children/

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Hiroshima’s savory pancake wins new fan in British prime minister

Japan Times

23-05-21 11:54

During his recent visit to Japan for the G7 summit, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunek, extolled the virtues of Okonomiyaki, a savoury, Japanese pancake from Hiroshima. The dish is a hearty mix of cabbage, meat, batter and noodles that can be prepared in many different ways, sometimes by customers themselves. Okonomiyaki is an example of Japan's soul food and an important part of culinary tradition across the country. Despite the dish’s ubiquity, it is also a source of regional pride and often triggers heated debates among foodies across the country. Restaurants in Hiroshima and Osaka, for examples, have their own distinct methods of mixing and layering ingredients. While in Hiroshima, Sunek tried the layered variety, which was reportedly different from the styles that the Prime Minster had already tried in Tokyo and Osaka. Sunek reportedly toasted the culinary traditions of Hiroshima and said he particularly enjoyed Okonomiyaki while on his visit. Around 800 Okonomiyaki restaurants exist in Hiroshima, ensuring that visitors to the city have access to a great range of interpretations of this culinary classic.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/21/national/sunak-likes-okonomiyaki/

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Hiroshima's savoury pancake wins new fan in Britain's Sunak

Reuters

23-05-21 11:21

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has become a fan of okonomiyaki, a savoury Japanese pancake, during his trip to Hiroshima for the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit. Okonomiyaki is a heaped mound of batter, cabbage, noodles and often meat that is fried on a hot plate and then smothered with savoury sauce. It is the subject of fierce regional rivalry in Japan, with ingredients being layered and mixed in different ways depending on the region. Sunak, who tried okonomiyaki with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, said the Hiroshima style were the best.

https://www.reuters.com/world/hiroshimas-savoury-pancake-wins-new-fan-britains-sunak-2023-05-21/