Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
– Japanese	大阪府
– Rōmaji	Ōsaka-fu
Symbol of Osaka Prefecture
Coordinates: 34°41′11″N 135°31′12″E / 34.68639°N 135.52°E / 34.68639; 135.52Coordinates: 34°41′11″N 135°31′12″E / 34.68639°N 135.52°E / 34.68639; 135.52
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Island	Honshū
Capital	Osaka
Government
– Governor	Tōru Hashimoto
Area
– Total	1,898.47 km2 (733 sq mi)
Area rank	46th
Population (August 1, 2011)
– Total	8,862,030
– Rank	3rd
– Density	4,668/km2 (12,090/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-27
Districts	5
Municipalities	43
Flower	Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) Primrose (Primula sieboldii)
Tree	Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)
Bird	Bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus)
Website	pref.osaka.jp/en/

Osaka Prefecture (大阪府, Ōsaka-fu^?) is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan.^[1] The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.^[2]

History

See also: Osaka#History

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Osaka prefecture was known as Kawachi, Izumi and Settsu provinces.^[3]

Osaka Prefecture was created in 1868, at the very beginning of the Meiji era.^[4]

On September 1, 1956, the city of Osaka was promoted to a city designated by government ordinance and thereby divided into 24 wards.

In 2000, Fusae Ota became Japan's first female governor when she replaced Knock Yokoyama, who resigned after prosecution for sexual harassment.^[5]

On April 1, 2006: the city of Sakai was promoted to a city designated by government ordinance and thereby divided into seven wards.

In 2008, Tōru Hashimoto, previously famous as a counselor on television, was elected at the age of 38 as the youngest governor in Japan.

Reform

Hashimoto's proposed division of the city of Osaka and Sakai along with 9 other cities in 20 special wards similar to Tokyo.

In 2010, the Osaka Restoration Association was created with backing by Governor Tōru Hashimoto, attempting to reform Osaka Prefecture into Osaka Metropolis reducing affiliated organizations of Osaka Prefecture and the City of Osaka.

In the 2011 local elections the association was able to win the majority of the prefectural seats.

Geography

Osaka Prefecture neighbors the prefectures of Hyōgo and Kyoto in the north, Nara in the east and Wakayama in the south. The west is open to Osaka Bay. The Yodo and Yamato Rivers flow through the prefecture.

Prior to the construction of Kansai International Airport, Osaka was the smallest prefecture in Japan. The artificial island on which the airport was built added enough area to make it slightly larger than Kagawa Prefecture.^[6][7]

Cities

Map of Osaka Prefecture.

Osaka Pref. Head Office

Thirty-three cities are located in Osaka Prefecture:

Daitō Fujiidera Habikino Hannan Higashiōsaka Hirakata Ibaraki Ikeda Izumi Izumiōtsu Izumisano

Kadoma Kaizuka Kashiwara Katano Kawachinagano Kishiwada Matsubara Minoh Moriguchi Neyagawa Osaka (capital)

Ōsakasayama Sakai Sennan Settsu Shijōnawate Suita Takaishi Takatsuki Tondabayashi Toyonaka Yao

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Minamikawachi District Chihayaakasaka Kanan Taishi Mishima District Shimamoto

Senboku District Tadaoka Sennan District Kumatori Misaki Tajiri

Toyono District Nose Toyono

Mergers

Main article: List of mergers in Osaka Prefecture

Economy

Diamond district in Umeda

Herbis ENT

Osaka castle Reproduction Tower

Osaka Castle park and Osaka business park

Universal Studios Japan

Kansai International Airport

Umeda Sky Building

Famous advertisement by Glico man in Dōtonbori (middle-left)

The gross prefecture product of Osaka for the fiscal year 2004 was ¥38.7 trillion, second after Tokyo with an increase of 0.9% from the previous year. This represented approximately 48% of the Kinki region. The per capita income was ¥3.0 million, seventh in the nation.^[8] Commercial sales the same year was ¥60.1 trillion.^[9]

Overshadowed by such globally renowned electronics giants as Panasonic and Sharp, the other side of Osaka's economy can be characterized by its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) activities. The number of SMEs based in Osaka in 2006 was 330,737, accounting for 99.6% of the total number of businesses in the prefecture.^[10] While this proportion is similar to other prefectures (the average nationwide was 99.7%), the manufactured output of the SMEs amounted to 65.4% of the total within the prefecture, a rate significantly higher than Tokyo's 55.5%, or Kanagawa's 38.4%.^[11] One model from Osaka of serving the public interest and restimulting the regional economy combined with industry-education cooperation efforts is the Astro-Technology SOHLA,^[12] with is struggling artificial satellite project.^[13] Having originally started from a gathering of Higashiosaka based SMEs, Astro-Technology SOHLA, has not only grown into a Kansai region- wide group but has also won the support from the government, through technology and material support from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA),^[14] and financial support from NEDO.^[15][16]

The Osaka Securities Exchange, specializing in derivatives such as Nikkei 225 Futures, is based in Osaka.

There are many electrical, chemical,pharmaceutical, heavy industry, food, and housing companies in Osaka Prefecture.

Major companies

Main page: :Category:Companies based in Osaka Prefecture

Major factories and research institutes

Main articles: Hanshin Industrial Region and Kansai Science City

Demographics

According to the 2005 Population Census of Japan, Osaka prefecture has a population of 8,817,166, an increase of 12,085, or 0.14%, since the Census of year 2000.^[17]

Culture

Museums

• National Museum of Ethnology, Japan [2]
• Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses (Hattori Ryokuchi Park)
• OSTEC (Osaka Science and Technology Center) Exhibition Hall
• Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Osaka [3]

Universities in Osaka Prefecture

• Kansai Medical University (Moriguchi, Osaka)
• Osaka University (Toyonaka and Suita)
• former Osaka University of Foreign Studies (Minoh)
• Osaka Kyoiku University (Kashiwara)
• Osaka City University (Osaka city)
• Osaka Prefecture University (Sakai)
• Kansai University (Suita, Takatsuki, Osaka city)
• Kinki University (Higashiosaka)
• Kansai Gaidai University (Hirakata) (Kansai University of Foreign Studies)
• Osaka International Educational University (Moriguchi)
• Osaka University of Health and Sport sciences (Kumatori)
• Osaka University of Commerce (Higashiosaka)
• Osaka University of Economic and Law (Higashiosaka)
• Osaka College of Music (Toyonaka)
• Osaka Electro Comnunication University (Neyagawa)
• Osaka Gakuin University (Suita)
• Otemon Gakuin University (Ibaraki)
• Hannan University (Matsubara)
• Setsunan University (Neyagawa)
• St. Andrew's University (Momoyama Gakuin University) (Izumi)
• Taisei Gakuin University (Mihara, Sakai)

Parks

• The Expo Commemoration Park (Suita) It was held Expo '70 here. About 260 ha.There is The Japanese garden, National Museum of Art, Osaka and an amusement park "Expoland".

• Hattori Ryokuchi Park (Toyonaka) About 150 ha.

• Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park (Osaka city) About 100 ha.It was held Expo '90 of horticulture.^[18]

• Nagai Park (Osaka city) About 66 ha. It is held The World Championships in Athletics games in 2007 at Nagai Stadium in this park.

• Osaka Castle Park (Osaka city) About 106 ha.

• Nakanoshima Park (Osaka city) - The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, public hall (1911, Renaissance Revival architecture), Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library (1904, Baroque Revival architecture), and the city hall of Osaka city. 11 ha.

Transportation

Rail

• JR Central
  • Tokaido Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka Station)

• JR West
  • Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka Station)
  • Osaka Loop Line
  • Osaka Higashi Line
  • Tokaido Main Line
    • JR Kyoto Line
    • JR Kobe Line
  • Gakkentoshi Line
  • Yamatoji Line
  • Hanwa Line
  • JR Tozai Line
  • JR Yumesaki Line
  • Kansai Airport Line

• Osaka Municipal Subway
  • Midosuji Line
  • Tanimachi Line
  • Yotsubashi Line
  • Chuo Line
  • Sennichimae Line
  • Sakaisuji Line
  • Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line
  • Imazatosuji Line

• Keihan
  • Keihan Line
  • Nakanoshima Line
  • Katano Line

• Kintetsu
  • Osaka Line
  • Nara Line
  • Shigi Line
  • Keihanna Line
  • Minami-Osaka Line
  • Domyoji Line
  • Nagano Line

• Hankyu
  • Kyoto Line
  • Senri Line
  • Takarazuka Line
  • Minoo Line
  • Kobe Line

• Nose Electric Railway

• Hanshin
  • Main Line
  • Hanshin Namba Line

• Nankai
  • Nankai Line
  • Takashinohama Line
  • Tanagawa Line
  • Airport Line
  • Koya Line

• Senboku Rapid Railway
• Mizuma Railway
• Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway

People Mover

• Osaka Monorail
• Newtram

Road

Expressway

• Meishin Expressway
• Chugoku Expressway
• Hanshin Expressway
• Nishi-Meihan Expressway
• Second Keihan Road
• Hanwa Expressway
• Second Hanna Road
• Minami Hanna Road

National Highway

• Route 1
• Route 2
• Route 25
• Route 26
• Route 43
• Route 163
• Route 165
• Route 166
• Route 168
• Route 170
• Route 171
• Route 173
• Route 176
• Route 307
• Route 308
• Route 309
• Route 310
• Route 371
• Route 423
• Route 477
• Route 479
• Route 480
• Route 481

Airport

• Osaka International Airport - Domestic
• Kansai International Airport - International and Domestic

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Osaka.

Football (soccer)

• Gamba Osaka (Suita)
• Cerezo Osaka (Osaka city)

Baseball

• Orix Buffaloes (Osaka city)
• Hanshin Tigers (Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture)

Basketball

• Osaka Evessa (Osaka city)
• Panasonic Trians (Hirakata)

Volleyball

• Osaka Blazers Sakai (Sakai)
• Suntory Sunbirds (Osaka city)
• Panasonic Panthers (Hirakata)

Rugby union

• Kintetsu Liners (Higashiōsaka)

Transportation

Osaka Prefecture has three airports (Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport, and Yao Airport).

For more information about the railroad system, see Category:Rail transport in Osaka Prefecture (Osaka mass transit ).

Education

Public elementary and junior high schools in the prefecture are operated by the municipalities. Public high schools are operated by the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education.

Friendship relationships

Osaka Prefecture has sister-city type relationships with these eight locations:^[19]

• Shanghai in People's Republic of China
• East Java in Indonesia
• Val-d'Oise in France
• Queensland in Australia
• the Primorsky area of Russia
• California in the United States
• Lombardy in Italy
• Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

Prefectural symbols

The symbol of Osaka Prefecture, called the sennari byōtan or "thousand gourds," was originally the crest of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the feudal lord of Osaka Castle.

Miscellanea

• Osaka and Akita are the only unlandlocked prefectures that do not have any natural islands.^{[citation needed]}
• The first conveyor belt sushi originated in Higashiosaka in Osaka Prefecture.^{[20][unreliable source?]}

Notes

1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Osaka-fu" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 759 at Google Books; "Kansai" in p. 477 at Google Books.
2. ^ Nussbaum, "Osaka" in p. 759 at Google Books.
3. ^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in p. 780 at Google Books.
4. ^ "大阪のあゆみ (History of Osaka)" (in Japanese). http://www.pref.osaka.jp/j_intro/ayumi/ayumi1.html. Retrieved 2007-03-12. The creation of Osaka prefecture took place slight earlier than many other prefectures, that had to wait for abolition of the han system in 1871.
5. ^ Tolbert, Kathryn. "Election of First Female Governor Boosts Japan's Ruling Party", The Washington Post, February 8, 2000.
6. ^ "平成１０年全国都道府県市区町村の面積の公表について(Official announcement on the national territory and area of 1998, by prefectures, cities, districts, towns and villages)", Geographical Survey Institute, Government of Japan, January 29, 1999.
7. ^ "コラム Vol.017 全国都道府県市区町村面積調 (Column: "National Area Investigation" vol.017)", Alps Mapping K.K., March 8, 2001.
8. ^ "平成16年度の県民経済計算について (Prefectural Economy for the fiscal year 2004 based on 93SNA) Cabinet Office, Government of Japan" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2007-06-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20070614232333/http://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/kenmin/h16/kenmin1.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-13. 
9. ^ "大阪府民経済計算 (Osaka Prefectural Economy based on 93SNA) Osaka Prefectural Government" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2007-06-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20070614232402/http://www.pref.osaka.jp/aid/naniwa/naniwa2007/n2007-2-5.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-13. 
10. ^ "2006 White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan, Japan Small Business Research Institute (Japan)". http://www.chusho.meti.go.jp/pamflet/hakusyo/h18/download/2006hakusho_eng.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-13. 
11. ^ "なにわの経済データ (The Naniwa Economy Data)" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2007-06-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20070614232332/http://www.pref.osaka.jp/aid/naniwa/naniwa2007/n2007-2-3.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-13. 
12. ^ "Astro-Technology SOHLA" (in Japanese). http://www.sohla.com/index.php. Retrieved 2007-03-14. 
13. ^ "Japan Advertising Council". http://www.ad-c.or.jp/eng/index.html. Retrieved 2007-03-14.  For details on the campaign featuring SOHLA, navigate through the Japanese page to the 2003 campaign listing, at entry "東大阪の人工衛星" (Higashiosaka's Satellite) [1]
14. ^ ""Smaller firms build a satellite" City of Osaka, Chicago Office". http://www.osakacity.org/news/newsItem.aspx?news=244. Retrieved 2007-03-14. 
15. ^ The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
16. ^ ""Study of PETSAT" NEDO, 2005" (in Japanese with English abstract). http://www.nedo.go.jp/kibanbu/saitaku/15h/houkokusho/16higasiosaka.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-14. 
17. ^ "Table 1: 大阪府の人口の推移 ( Population Change of Osaka Prefecture)" (in Japanese). Osaka Prefectural Government. Archived from the original on 2007-01-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20070105142219/http://www.pref.osaka.jp/toukei/kokucho/gaiyou1.html. Retrieved 2007-03-13. 
18. ^ 財団法人 国際花と緑の博覧会記念協会：English：Expo'90 Foundation
19. ^ Osaka's friendships regions/states and Overseas Offices
20. ^ 回転寿司！元祖 廻る元禄寿司 ！回転寿司の事始め！, retrieved March 14, 2007 (Japanese)

References

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 10-ISBN 0-674-01753-6; 13-ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128

External links

• Official Osaka Prefecture homepage
• Osaka Tourism & Convention Guidance homepage