Osaka Prefecture

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**Osaka Prefecture (大阪府 *Ōsaka-fu*)**

Capital	Osaka (city)
Region	Kinki
Island	Honshū
Governor	Fusae Ota
Area	1,892.86 km² (46^th)
- % water	17.9%
Population (October 1, 2000)
- Population	8,815,757 (2^nd)
- Density	4,657 /km²
Districts	5
Municipalities	43
ISO 3166-2	JP-27
Website	www.pref.osaka.jp/en/
Prefectural Symbols
- Flower	Primrose (Primula sieboldii)
- Tree	Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)
- Bird	Bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus)
Symbol of Osaka Prefecture

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

[edit] History

For the history of Osaka prior to Meiji Restoration, see Osaka.

Osaka prefecture was created in 1868, at the very beginning of Meiji era.^[1]

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

In 2000, Fusae Ota (太田房江), was the first female to become a governer in Japan, replacing the former Knock Yokoyama, who resigned after having been prosecuted for sexual harassment.^[2].

On April 1, 2006: Sakai City was promoted to a city designated by government ordinance and thereby divided into 7 wards.

[edit] Geography

Osaka prefecture is directly neighboring to the prefectures of Hyogo and Kyoto in the north, Nara in the east and Wakayama in the south. The west is open to Osaka Bay. Rivers flowing through includes the Yodo River and Yamato River.

Osaka used to be the smallest in area in Japan prior to the construction of Kansai International Airport, but is now merely the second-smallest, thanks to the artificial island the airport has reclaimed.^[3]^[4].

Map of Osaka Prefecture.

[edit] Cities

Thirty-three cities are located in Osaka Prefecture:

[edit] Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Toyono District
- Nose
- Toyono

[edit] Mergers

(as of 12/26/05)

Merger: Mihara and Sakai (1 February 2005)

The town of Mihara merged into the city of Sakai. Since then Sakai has been split into wards of which Mihara is one.

[edit] Economy

The gross prefecture product of Osaka for the fiscal year 2004 was ¥38.7 trillion, second after Tokyo with an increase of 0.9% versus previous year. This represented approximately 48% of the Kinki region. The per capita income was ¥3.0 million, 7th in the nation.^[5] Commercial sales the same year was ¥60.1 trillion.^[6]

Shadowed by globally renowned electronics giants as Matsushita or Sharp, the other side of Osaka's economy can be characterized with its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) activities. The number of SMEs based in Osaka in 2006 were 330,737, accounting for 99.6% of total number of businesses in the prefecture.^[7] While such proportion is similar to other prefectures (nationwide average was 99.7%), the manufacturing shipment from the SMEs amounted for 65.4% of the total within the prefecture, a significantly higher rate compared to Tokyo's 55.5%, or Kanagawa's 38.4%.^[8] One of the populary highlighted model from Osaka serving the public interest of re-stimulting regional economy, combined with industry-education cooperation efforts is the Astro-Technology SOHLA,^[9] with is struggling artificial satellite project.^[10] 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)^[11], and financial support from NEDO^[12]^[13].

The Osaka Securities Exchange, specialized much in the derivatives such as Nikkei 225 Futures, is based in Osaka.

It is features there are many companies about electrical,chemical,pharmaceutical,heavy industry food and housing.

[edit] For major companies based in Osaka

see Category:Companies headquartered in Osaka

[edit] For major factories and research institutes in Osaka

see Hanshin Industrial Region and Kansai Science City

[edit] Demographics

According to the 2005 Population Census of Japan, Osaka prefecture has an population of 8,817,166, an increase of 12,085, or 0.14%, since the Census of year 2000.^[14]

[edit] Culture

[edit] 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
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Osaka [3]

[edit] Universities in Osaka Prefecture

Kansai Medical University (Moriguchi, Osaka)
Osaka University (Toyonaka and Suita)
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)

[edit] Osaka in popular culture

The Love Suicides at Sonezaki by Chikamatsu Monzaemon is a classical (1703) title originally written for bunraku and kabuki, based on the real incident.
Nippon Eitaigura by Ihara Saikaku is a classical (1688) novel depicting Osakan merchants.
Modern novels set in Osaka include: Fūfu Zenzai by Sakunosuke Oda, Shiroi Kyotō and Jokei Kazoku by Toyoko Yamazaki, Dōtonborigawa and Doro no Kawa by Teru Miyamoto.
Kaijū (giant monster) films featuring scenes in Osaka include: Godzilla Raids Again, Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Jiger, Gamera: Super Monster, Godzilla vs. Biollante, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Rebirth of Mothra III, and Godzilla vs. Megaguirus.
Films set in Osaka include: Black Rain, Chōsei Kantai Sazer-X, Doro no Kawa, Dōtonborigawa, Dotsuitarunen, Lovely Complex, The Love Suicides at Sonezaki, Minami no Teiō series, Ōsaka Monogatari, Shin Jingi-naki Tatakai, and Shiroi Kyotō.
TV series representations include: Akantare, Akui, Futarikko, Kaze no Haruka, Hassai Sensei, Honmamon, Imo Tako Nankin, Minami no Teiō, Naniwa Kin'yūdō, Ohayōsan, Piano, Shiroi Kyotō, Yanchakure, and Yōi Don.
Manga (comics) representations include: Kabachitare!, Love Complex, Minami no Teiō, Naniwa Kin'yūdō, Naniwa Tomoare, Pretty Yoga, Jarinko Chie, and Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi. The latter two are also made into anime (animation).

[edit] Parks

The Expo Memorial 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.[4]

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 Park (Osaka city) There is The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, public hall (established in 1911,It is Neo-Renaissance architecture.) ,libraly (Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library : established in 1904,It is Neo-Baroque Architecture.) and The city hall of Osaka city. 11 ha.

[edit] Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Osaka.

Football (soccer)

Baseball

Orix Buffaloes (Osaka city)

Basketball

Osaka Evessa (Osaka city)

Volleyball

[edit] Transportation

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

About Railload, see Category:Rail transport in Osaka Prefecture (Osaka mass transit ).

[edit] 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.

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

Osaka is the only unlandlocked prefecture that does not have any natural islands.
There is a first shop of Conveyor belt sushi in Higashiosaka.,^[15]^{[citation needed]}.