Osaka

:This article is for the city of Osaka. For information about the anime/manga character named Osaka, see Azumanga Daioh.

History

Osaka city was named originally Naniwa and appears in

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early Japanese historical documents. Emperor K?toku made this area his capital, and named it Naniwa-no-miya (The Capital of Naniwa).

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It has always been a vital connection, by land and sea, between Yamato (modern day Nara Prefecture), Korea, and China. Settsu, a former province of Japan, consisted of the northern part of modern Osaka prefecture and the seaside part of Hyogo Prefecture.

Related Topics:
Yamato - Nara Prefecture - Korea - China - Settsu - Hyogo Prefecture

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In 1496 the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect set up their headquarters, the heavily fortified Ishiyama Honganji temple, in Ishiyama, today a part of Osaka. In 1576, Oda Nobunaga started a siege of the temple that went on to last for four years. The monks finally surrendered in 1580, the temple was razed and Toyotomi Hideyoshi took the place for his own castle, Osaka Castle.

Related Topics:
1496 - Jodo Shinshu - 1576 - Oda Nobunaga - 1580 - Toyotomi Hideyoshi - Osaka Castle

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Osaka was called Ōzaka (大坂) from the middle ages until the premodern period. In the beginning of Meiji Era the government renamed the city to Ōsaka, which remains its name today. In those days Osaka was the second largest city of Japan and economically the most important, because most of the important markets, rice, exchange and so on were there.

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The modern city was designated on September 1, 1956 by government ordinance.

Related Topics:
September 1 - 1956 - Government ordinance

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