Geography Learning

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Official website: http://www.pref.osaka.jp/en/index.html

Official website: http://www.pref.osaka.jp/en/index.html

1. Describe the significance of the Region, Osaka, Japan and Cultural Component [i.e. Culture Region]

The Osaka Prefecture is in the center of Japan and it is the second smallest prefecture. It is significant because it is the third most populated prefecture after Tokyo and Kanagawa, holding 7% of the population of Japan within 0.5% of the nation's entire land area. The Osaka Prefecture, which is located in the approximate center of Japan, is divided into 33 cities, 9 towns, and 1 village. It faces Osaka Bay to the west and is surrounded by mountains on the other three sides. The weather is generally mild, with four distinct seasons. Osaka extends from north to south, with a slight curve. All of these factors greatly affect the culture of the region. Osaka is a dynamic region with something for everyone. It is a verdant prefecture in harmony with nature and with as many faces as there are seasons. Numerous rivers run through the area, and Osaka, a region brimming with enchanting waterfront scenery is also known as the Water Metropolis. From the water one can enjoy viewing the numerous distinctive bridges and lit up buildings. Public and private sectors have joined together and are working on urban planning which exploits the charm of the Water Metropolis. Located in the center of the metropolitan area "Kansai", Osaka has an economic power comparable to that of an entire developed country. Being home to corporations equipped with world class high levels of technology and academic research institutions and having a transportation network which includes Kansai International Airport, business opportunities are abundant in Osaka. Since days gone by, Osaka has been a region filled with Japanese traditions. Osaka is brimming with historical buildings and places of historical interest such as shrines and temples which convey today the atmosphere of yesteryear, Osaka Castle which is popular amongst tourists, and Jinai-machi, a district in which streets and houses of the 17th to 19th centuries have been preserved. Here in Osaka you will have the opportunity to view traditional culture refined over a long period of time such as Bunraku puppetry which has been designated an intangible cultural asset by UNESCO, Kabuki and Noh. There is shopping in districts lined with brand boutiques, the electronics district and local shopping streets, or enjoying a modern cultural event such as music or the arts. Osaka is replete with gourmet spots which include both fine dining and more run of the mill cuisine. The people of Osaka are full of hospitality and greet visitors with a warm welcome. Osaka's diversity in what it has to offer greatly affects the culture of the region with regard to its cultural interaction and its resulting cultural landscape. Tourism, history, food, population, industry, location, and adaptations through time make Osaka a place of great cultural interaction, and as a region it is a place that has a very global cultural landscape.

4. Discuss Cultural Interaction as related to the Culture Region

It is a fact that 10.5% of all non-Japanese registered in Japan, reside in Osaka. You now have many different cultures of non-Japanese interacting with Japanese.

It is also a fact that humans have inhabited what is now called Osaka for more than 10,000 years. Osaka became the center of politics and culture of Japan in the 5th century A.D., Chinese culture was introduced to Japan via the Korean peninsula. In the 7th century, the first capital of Japan was modeled after the capital of China, and was established in Osaka. Even though the capital was subsequently moved to nearby Nara and Kyoto, Osaka continued to flourish, serving as the gateway of culture and trade. At the end of the 12th century, political power fell into the hands of the warrior class and Japan entered an age of civil strife. Sakai (south of present-day Osaka City) developed as a free city of the type seen in medieval Italy. In1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who accomplished the great task of unifying the country, chose Osaka as his base and constructed the magnificent Osaka Castle, making Osaka the political and economic center of Japan. In the 17th century, though the political center shifted to Tokyo, called Edo at the time, Osaka continued playing a vital role in managing the nation's economy and distribution of goods, and was therefore named the "Nation's Kitchen". During this time period, a broad town-based culture flourished and reached maturity in Osaka. Private schools, such as Kaitokudo and Tekijuku not under the educational dictates of the government, also took root in Osaka. In this way, open-mindedness and a vigorous enterprising spirit were nurtured, ...