Osaka

Ōsaka means "large hill" or "large slope". It is unclear when this name gained prominence over Naniwa, but the oldest written evidence for the name dates back to 1496.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pJHArhRVYEoC&pg=PA154|first=Ōta|last=Gyūichi|publisher=Brill Publishers|isbn=978-90-04-20162-0|title=The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga|pages=153–154|year=2011|access-date=July 16, 2019}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=voerPYsAB5wC&pg=PA650|editor1-last=Ring |editor1-first=Trudy|editor2-last=Watson|editor2-first=Noelle|editor3-last=Schellinger|editor3-first=Paul|publisher=Routledge|isbn=1-884964-04-4|title=Asia & Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places|page=650|year=1996|access-date=July 16, 2019}}

By the Edo period, {{Nihongo2|大坂}} (Ōsaka) and {{Nihongo2|大阪}} (Ōsaka) were mixed use, and the writer {{ill|Hamamatsu Utakuni|ja|浜松歌国}}, in his book Setsuyo Ochiboshu published in 1808, states that the kanji {{Nihongo2|坂}} was abhorred because it means "returns to the earth," and thus {{Nihongo2|阪}} was used. The kanji {{Nihongo2|土}} (earth) is also similar to the word {{Nihongo2|士}} (knight), and {{Nihongo2|反}} means against, so {{Nihongo2|坂}} can be understood as "samurai rebellion." {{citation needed|date=January 2025}} {{Nihongo2|阪}} was the official name in 1868 after the Meiji Restoration. The older kanji (坂) is still in very limited use, usually only in historical contexts. When used as an abbreviation, the modern kanji {{Nihongo2|阪}} {{transliteration|ja|han}} refers to Osaka City or Osaka Prefecture.

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During the Jōmon period (7,000 BCE), present-day Osaka was mostly submerged, and the {{Nihongo|Uemachi Plateau|上町台地|Uemachi Daichi}} formed a 12 km long and 2.5 km wide peninsula separating Kawachi Bay from the Seto Inland Sea. It is considered one of the first places where inhabitants of Japan settled, both for the favorable geological conditions, rich in fresh water and lush vegetation, and because its position was defensible against military attack.{{cite web |title=Uemachidaichi - A journey to ancient osaka |date=May 1, 2007 |url=http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/culture/2007may/01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228011113/http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/culture/2007may/01.html |archive-date=December 28, 2012 |website=www.osaka-info.jp}}

File:Corbicula_sandai_-_Osaka_Museum_of_Natural_History_-_DSC07755.JPG)]]

The earliest evidence of settlements in the Osaka area are the {{nihongo4|Morinomiya ruins|森ノ宮遺跡|Morinomiya iseki}} which is located in the central Chuo-ku district. Buried human skeletons and a kaizuka (a mound containing remains), were found as well as shell mounds, oysters, and other interesting archeological discoveries from the Jomon period. In addition to the remains of consumed food, there were arrow heads, stone tools, fishing hooks and crockery with remains from rice processing. It is estimated that the ruins contain 2,000-year-old debris between the Jomon and Yayoi period. The findings of the archeological sites are exhibited in an adjacent building.

In the years between the end of the Jōmon period and the beginning of the Yayoi period, the sediments that were deposited north of the Uemachi peninsula / plateau transformed Kawachi Bay into a lagoon.{{cite journal| url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110003025552 |title=The Developmental History of the Osaka Plain |journal=地質学論集 |year=1972 |issue=7 |pages=101–112 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030528/https://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110003025552 |archive-date=December 1, 2017|last1=Hikotaro |first1=Kajiyama |last2=Minoru |first2=Itihara }} During the Yayoi period (300 BCE-250 CE), permanent habitation on the plains grew as rice farming became popular.{{cite web |title=Historical Overview, the City of Osaka official homepage |url=http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english/for_tourists/c_historical_overview.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322141953/http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english/for_tourists/c_historical_overview.html |archive-date=March 22, 2009 |access-date=March 21, 2009}} Navigate to the equivalent Japanese page ({{Nihongo2|大阪市の歴史 タイムトリップ20,000年}} [History of Osaka, A timetrip back 20,000 years])[http://www.city.osaka.jp/city/history/history.html/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226221108/http://www.city.osaka.jp/city/history/history.html|date=February 26, 2009}} for additional information.

At the beginning of the third century CE the grand shrine of Sumiyoshi-taisha was inaugurated near the harbor, commissioned by consort Empress Jingū. This Shinto shrine structure survived historical events,[http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/tempio/ templi] www.treccani.it which inaugurated a new style in the construction of Shinto shrines, called Sumiyoshi-zukuri.{{cite web |url=http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/sumiyoshi/english/view/view.html |title=Sumiyoshi Ward |website=www.city.osaka.lg.jp |date=April 21, 2011 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030241/https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/sumiyoshi/english/view/view.html}} The maritime panorama enjoyed from the shrine gardens inspired several artists, and nowadays the representations of that type of landscape are called Sumiyoshi drawings.

Towards the end of the Yayoi period the Uemachi plateau-peninsula expanded further, transforming the Kawachi Lagoon into a lake (河内湖) connected to the mouth of the Yodo River, which had widened to the south.

By the Kofun period, Osaka developed into a hub port connecting the region to the western part of Japan. The port of Naniwa-tsu was established and became the most important in Japan. Trade with other areas of the country and the Asian continent intensified. The large numbers of increasingly larger keyhole-shaped Kofun mounds found in the plains of Osaka are evidence of political-power concentration, leading to the formation of a state.{{cite book|title=Tsuneko S. Sadao, Stephanie Wada, Discovering the Arts of Japan: A Historical Overview|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMC4RMXQkn0C&q=osaka+kofun+period&pg=RA2-PA30|access-date = March 25, 2007|isbn=978-4-7700-2939-3|author1=Wada, Stephanie|year=2003| publisher=Kodansha International }} The findings in the neighboring plains, including the mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku was discovered nearby in Sakai testify to the status of imperial city that Osaka had reached. Four of these mounds can be seen in Osaka, in which important members of the nobility are buried. They are located in the southern districts of the city and date back to the 5th century.{{cite web| url=http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/sumiyoshi/english/attract/attrac01.html |title=Tezukayama Ancient Burial Mound |website=www.city.osaka.lg.jp |date= April 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032332/https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/sumiyoshi/english/attract/attrac01.html |archive-date=December 1, 2017}} A group of megalithic tombs called Mozu Tombs are located in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.{{cite web |url=http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/foreigner_en/spot/spot1.html |title=Enjoying Sakai - Kofun Tombs (Tumuli) |publisher=Sakai City |access-date=May 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722214046/http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/foreigner_en/spot/spot1.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}

Important works of the Kofun period is the excavation that diverted the course of the Yamato River, whose floods caused extensive damage, and the construction of important roads in the direction of Sakai and Nara.{{cite book |title=Discovering the Arts of Japan: A Historical Overview|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMC4RMXQkn0C&q=osaka+kofun+period&pg=RA2-PA30|author=Stephanie Wada |year=2003| publisher=Kodansha International |access-date=July 4, 2010|isbn=978-4-7700-2939-3}} Maritime traffic connected to the port of Naniwa-tsu increased in such a way that huge warehouses were built to stow material arriving and departing.

The Kojiki records that during 390–430 CE, there was an imperial palace located at Osumi, in what is present day Higashiyodogawa ward, but it may have been a secondary imperial residence rather than a capital.{{Nihongo2|大石慎三郎「日本の遷都の系譜」、『學習院大學經濟論集』第28巻第3号、学習院大学、1991年10月、 31–41頁}}、 NAID 110007523974。P.31

In 645, Emperor Kōtoku built his Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace in what is now Osaka,{{cite web |script-title=ja:史跡 難波宮跡, 財団法人 大阪都市協会 |trans-title=Naniwa Palace Site, by Osaka Toshi Kyokai|language=ja|url=http://www.osaka-cpa.or.jp/html/bunka/rekisi/naniwa1.html|access-date=March 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502002124/http://www.osaka-cpa.or.jp/html/bunka/rekisi/naniwa1.html|archive-date=May 2, 2007}} making it the capital of Japan. The city now known as Osaka was at this time referred to as Naniwa (written as {{Nihongo2|浪華}} or {{Nihongo2|浪花}}) and this name and derivations of it are still in use for districts in central Osaka such as Naniwa ({{Nihongo2|浪速}}) and Namba ({{Nihongo2|難波}}). Although the capital was moved to Asuka (in Nara Prefecture today) in 655, Naniwa remained a vital connection, by land and sea, between Yamato (modern day Nara Prefecture), Korea, and China.{{cite book |author=Peter G. Stone and Philippe G. Planel |title=The constructed past: experimental archaeology, education, and the public |url=https://archive.org/details/constructedpast00plan |url-access=limited |publisher=Routledge in association with English Heritage |location=London |year=1999 |page=[https://archive.org/details/constructedpast00plan/page/n88 68] |isbn=978-0-415-11768-5 }}

Naniwa was declared the capital again in 744 by order of Emperor Shōmu, and remained so until 745, when the Imperial Court moved back to Heijō-kyō (now Nara). By the end of the Nara period, Naniwa's seaport roles had been gradually taken over by neighboring areas, but it remained a lively center of river, channel, and land transportation between Heian-kyō (Kyoto today) and other destinations. Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine was founded by Tamomi no Sukune in 211 CE.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924111551/http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/outline/history.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url=http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/outline/history.html|title=歴史年表 (History of Sumiyoshi-taisha)|work=sumiyoshitaisha.net|access-date=November 11, 2019}} Shitennō-ji was first built in 593 CE and is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.univie.ac.at/rel_jap/bauten/anm_torii.htm#aussershinto|title=Religion in Japan|last=Scheid, Bernhard|author-link=Bernhard Scheid|work=Torii|publisher=University of Vienna|language=de|access-date=February 12, 2010}}

File:Sumiyoshi-taisha,_keidai-2.jpg|Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine

File:Shitennoji07s3200.jpg|Shitennō-ji

File:Naniwa-no-miya-ato,_zenkei-2.jpg|Remains of Naniwa-no-Miya Palace (2017)

In 1496, Jōdo Shinshū Buddhists established their headquarters in the heavily fortified Ishiyama Hongan-ji, located directly on the site of the old Naniwa Imperial Palace. Oda Nobunaga began a decade-long siege campaign on the temple in 1570 which ultimately resulted in the surrender of the monks and subsequent razing of the temple. Toyotomi Hideyoshi constructed Osaka Castle in its place in 1583.{{cite web|url=http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/discover/learn/historical_overview.html|title=HISTORICAL OVERVIEW – DISCOVER – OSAKA INFO -Osaka Visitors' Guide|date=January 29, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2016|archive-date=September 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923040308/http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/discover/learn/historical_overview.html}} Osaka Castle played a pivotal role in the Siege of Osaka (1614–1615).

Osaka was long considered Japan's primary economic center,{{cite web|url=http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english/for_tourists/c_historical_overview.html |title=-Osaka City- |access-date=March 21, 2009 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322141953/http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english/for_tourists/c_historical_overview.html |archive-date=March 22, 2009 }} with a large percentage of the population belonging to the merchant class (see Four divisions of society). Over the course of the Edo period (1603–1867), Osaka grew into one of Japan's major cities and returned to its ancient role as a lively and important port. Daimyōs (feudal lords) received most of their income in the form of rice. Merchants in Osaka thus began to organize storehouses where they would store a daimyō{{'}}s rice in exchange for a fee, trading it for either coin or a form of receipt; essentially a precursor to paper money. Many if not all of these rice brokers also made loans, and would actually become quite wealthy and powerful. Osaka merchants coalesced their shops around Dōjima, where the Rice Exchange was established in 1697 and where the world's first futures market would come to exist to sell rice that was not yet harvested.{{Cite web |last1=Moss|first1=David A.|last2=Kintgen|first2=Eugene|date=2009-01-30|title=The Dojima Rice Market and the Origins of Futures Trading |website=Harvard Business School |url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=36846|language=en-us}}

The popular culture of Osaka{{cite web |url=http://www.ukiyo-e.se/guide.html |title=A Guide to the Ukiyo-e Sites of the Internet |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-date=September 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914023738/http://www.ukiyo-e.se/guide.html }} was closely related to ukiyo-e depictions of life in Edo. By 1780, Osaka had cultivated a vibrant arts culture, as typified by its famous Kabuki and Bunraku theaters.C. Andrew Gerstle, Kabuki Heroes on the Osaka Stage 1780–1830 (2005) In 1837, Ōshio Heihachirō, a low-ranking samurai, led a peasant insurrection in response to the city's unwillingness to support the many poor and suffering families in the area. Approximately one-quarter of the city was razed before shogunal officials put down the rebellion, after which Ōshio killed himself.{{Cite book |last=Ebrey |first=Patricia Buckley |author2=Walthall, Anne |author3=Palais, James B. |title=East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-618-13384-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/eastasiacultural00ebre_0/page/400 400] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/eastasiacultural00ebre_0/page/400}} Osaka was opened to foreign trade by the government of the Bakufu at the same time as Hyogo Town (modern Kobe) on January 1, 1868, just before the advent of the Boshin War and the Meiji Restoration.{{cite book|first1=John|last1=Whitney Hall|first2=Marius B.|last2=Jansen|title=The Cambridge History of Japan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OFYajIf9QgC&pg=PA304|year=1988|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-22356-0|page=304}} The Kawaguchi foreign settlement, now the Kawaguchi subdistrict, is a legacy of the foreign presence in Osaka.

Osaka residents were stereotyped in Edo literature from at least the 18th century. Jippensha Ikku in 1802 depicted Osakans as stingy almost beyond belief. In 1809, the derogatory term "Kamigata zeeroku" was used by Edo residents to characterize inhabitants of the Osaka region in terms of calculation, shrewdness, lack of civic spirit, and the vulgarity of Osaka dialect. Edo writers aspired to samurai culture, and saw themselves as poor but generous, chaste, and public spirited. Edo writers by contrast saw "zeeroku" as obsequious apprentices, stingy, greedy, gluttonous, and lewd. To some degree, Osaka residents are still stigmatized by Tokyo observers in the same way today, especially in terms of gluttony, evidenced in the phrase, {{Nihongo4|"Residents of Osaka devour their food until they collapse"|大阪は食倒れ|"Ōsaka wa kuidaore"}}.Richard Torrance, "Literacy and Literature in Osaka, 1890–1940", The Journal of Japanese Studies 31#1 (Winter 2005), pp. 27–60

File:Osaka Castle 02bs3200.jpg|Osaka Castle (first built in 1583)

File:Osaka-zu byobu.jpg|The Sumiyoshi-matsuri in the 16th century

File:The Siege of Osaka Castle.jpg|Japanese painting of the Siege of Osaka (1615)

File:Newly compiled and enlarged plan of Ōsaka (14042582876).jpg|Map of Osaka, 1686

File:Dojima-Rice-Exchange-Osaka-by-Yoshimitsu-Sasaki.png|Dōjima Rice Exchange ukiyo-e by Yoshimitsu Sasaki

With the enormous changes that characterized the country after the Meiji Restoration (1868), and the relocation of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo, Osaka entered a period of decline. From being the capital of the economy and finance, it became a predominantly industrial center. The modern municipality was established{{cite web |url=http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/about/historical.html |title=Osaka city |publisher=Osaka-info.jp |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306155741/http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/about/historical.html |archive-date=March 6, 2010 }} in 1889 by government ordinance, with an initial area of {{convert|15|km2|0|abbr=out}}, overlapping today's Chuo and Nishi wards. Later, the city went through three major expansions to reach its current size of {{convert|223|km2|0|abbr=out}}. Osaka was the industrial center most clearly defined in the development of capitalism in Japan. It became known as the "Manchester and Melbourne of the Orient". In 1925, it was the largest and most populous city in Japan and sixth in the world.

The rapid industrialization attracted many Asian immigrants (Indians, Chinese, and Koreans), who set up a life apart for themselves.Chisato Hotta, "The Construction of the Korean Community in Osaka between 1920 and 1945: A Cross-Cultural Perspective." PhD dissertation U. of Chicago 2005. 498 pp. DAI 2005 65(12): 4680-A. DA3158708 Fulltext: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses The political system was pluralistic, with a strong emphasis on promoting industrialization and modernization.Blair A. Ruble, Second Metropolis: Pragmatic Pluralism in Gilded Age Chicago, Silver Age Moscow, and Meiji Osaka. (2001) Literacy was high and the educational system expanded rapidly, producing a middle class with a taste for literature and a willingness to support the arts.Richard Torrance, "Literacy and Literature in Osaka, 1890–1940," Journal of Japanese Studies 31#1 (Winter 2005), p.27-60 in Project MUSE In 1927, General Motors operated a factory called Osaka Assembly until 1941, manufacturing Chevrolet, Cadillac, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick vehicles, operated and staffed by Japanese workers and managers.{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20080914/ANA03/809150388/gm-had-early-start-in-japan-but-was-hobbled-by-nationalism|title=GM had early start in Japan but was hobbled by nationalism|date=August 25, 2008}} In the nearby city of Ikeda in Osaka Prefecture is the headquarters of Daihatsu, one of Japan's oldest automobile manufacturers.

Like its European and American counterparts, Osaka displayed slums, unemployment, and poverty. In Japan it was here that municipal government first introduced a comprehensive system of poverty relief, copied in part from British models. Osaka policymakers stressed the importance of family formation and mutual assistance as the best way to combat poverty. This minimized the cost of welfare programs.Kingo Tamai, "Images of the Poor in an Official Survey of Osaka, 1923–1926." Continuity and Change 2000 15(1): 99–116. {{ISSN|0268-4160}} Fulltext: Cambridge UP

During World War II, Osaka came under air raids in 1945 by the United States Army Air Forces as part of the air raids on Japan. On March 13, 1945, a total of 329 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers took part in the raid against Osaka. According to an American prisoner of war who was held in the city, the air raid took almost the entire night and destroyed {{convert|25|sqmi|km2}} of the city. The U.S. bombed the city again twice in June 1945 and again on August 14, a day before Japan's surrender.Andy Raskin, "The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life".

In the decades following World War II, Osaka's reconstruction efforts and the industriousness of its residents brought the city even greater prosperity than before the war. Its population surpassed three million in the 1960s, initiating large-scale suburbanization within the prefecture, and eventually doubled to six million by the 1990s. With factories rebuilt and trade revived, Osaka rapidly developed into a major multicultural and financial center from the 1950s through the 1980s. Osaka Prefecture was chosen as the venue for the prestigious Expo '70, the first world's fair ever held in an Asian country. Since then, numerous international events have been held in Osaka, including the 1995 APEC Summit.

The modern municipality, which when it was established in 1889 occupied an area of just 15 km² including the districts of Chūō and Nishi, following three successive expansions has reached an area of 222 km². It was one of the first cities in Japan to obtain designated city status in 1956.{{cite journal |author=Jacobs, A.J. |title="Japan's Evolving Nested Municipal Hierarchy: The Race for Local Power in the 2000s"|journal=Urban Studies Research |date=2011 |volume=2011 |pages=1–14 |publisher=Hindawi, Urban Studies Research, Vol. 2011 (2011), doi:10.1155/2011/692764 |doi=10.1155/2011/692764 |doi-access=free }}

The plan to reorganize Osaka and its province into a metropolis like Tokyo met with stiff opposition in some municipalities, particularly the highly populated Sakai. He{{Who|date=May 2024}} then fell back on a project that included the suppression of the 24 wards of Osaka, thus dividing the city into 5 new special districts with a status similar to that of the 23 Special wards of Tokyo. It was introduced by former mayor Tōru Hashimoto, leader of the reform party Osaka Restoration Association which he founded. The referendum of May 17, 2015 called in Osaka for the approval of this project saw the narrow victory of no, and consequently Hashimoto announced his withdrawal from politics.{{cite web |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/17/national/politics-diplomacy/osaka-referendum-rejects-merger-plan-possibly-ending-hashimotos-political-career/ |title=Hashimoto announces exit from politics after Osaka rejects merger plan in referendum |date=May 19, 2017|language= en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127212535/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/17/national/politics-diplomacy/osaka-referendum-rejects-merger-plan-possibly-ending-hashimotos-political-career/ |archive-date=November 27, 2020}} A second referendum for a merger into 4 semi-autonomous wards was narrowly voted down by 692,996 (50.6%).

According to the Forbes list of The World's Most Expensive Places To Live 2009, Osaka was the second most expensive in the world after Tokyo.{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/06/most-expensive-cities-lifestyle-real-estate-daily-costs_slide_20.html|title=In Depth: World's Most Expensive Cities To Live |website=Forbes|date=July 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131736/http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/06/most-expensive-cities-lifestyle-real-estate-daily-costs_slide_20.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=August 20, 2016}} By 2020 it slipped to 5th rank of most expensive cities.

On 7 March 2014, the 300-metre tall Abeno Harukas opened, which became the tallest building in Japan (surpassing the Yokohama Landmark Tower in Yokohama), until it was in turn surpassed by the 330-metre tall Azabudai Hills Main Tower in Tokyo following its completion in 2022.{{cite news | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/23/business/tallest-high-rise-nears-completion/#.UnoXmb-lf-k | title=Tallest high-rise nears completion | work=The Japan Times | date=October 23, 2013 | access-date=November 6, 2013 | archive-date=April 28, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428022114/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/23/business/tallest-high-rise-nears-completion/#.UnoXmb-lf-k | url-status=dead }}

The Expo 2025 will be held at Yumeshima Island, Konohana-ku. Osaka will become the third city to host the Expo twice, previously hosting Expo '70 and Expo '90; it will also be the third Expo held in Japan following Expo '90 and Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture. The event will return to its traditional 5-year scheduling cycle after the Expo 2020 in Dubai was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|url=http://japan-forward.com/osaka-is-world-expo-2025-host/|title=Osaka Is World Expo 2025 Host {{!}} JAPAN Forward|date=23 November 2018|work=Japan Forward|access-date=23 November 2018|language=en-US}} The projected visitor count is approximately 28 million.{{cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/overview/ |work=Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 |access-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811164533/https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/overview/ |archive-date=11 August 2022 |url-status=live}}

MGM Resorts will begin construction of MGM Osaka in April 2025. MGM Osaka will be the first integrated resort in Japan. It will include 2,300 hotel rooms, a casino, shopping and dining options, convention space and a 3,500-seat theatre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.casino.org/news/mgm-osaka-to-begin-construction-main-resort-april-2025/|title=MGM Osaka To Begin Construction on Resort in April 2025|first=Devin|last=O'Connor|date=December 26, 2024|website=Casino.org|accessdate=February 23, 2025}}

File:Osaka Umeda Sky Building Panoramablick 05.jpg|Skyscrapers in Umeda district

File:Sennichimae Osaka ca1916.JPG|Sennichimae area in 1916

File:Osaka after the 1945 air raid.JPG|View of Osaka after the bombing in 1945

File:Abeno Harukas 20140507-002.jpg|Abeno Harukas, second-tallest building in Japan

File:Osaka by Sentinel-2, 2020-10-27.jpg

The city's west side is open to Osaka Bay, and is otherwise completely surrounded by more than ten satellite cities, all of them in Osaka Prefecture, with one exception: the city of Amagasaki, belonging to Hyōgo Prefecture, in the northwest. The city occupies a larger area (about 13%) than any other city or village within Osaka Prefecture. When the city was established in 1889, it occupied roughly the area known today as the Chuo and Nishi wards, only {{Convert|15.27|km2|mi2|0}} that would eventually grow into today's {{Convert|222.30|km2|mi2|0}} via incremental expansions, the largest of which was a single {{Convert|126.01|km2|mi2|0|adj=on}} expansion in 1925. Osaka's highest point, located in Tsurumi-ku, is {{Convert|37.5|m|ft|1}} above Tokyo Peil, while the lowest point, in Nishiyodogawa-ku, is {{Convert|-2.2|m|ft|1}} below Tokyo Peil.{{cite web | title=2. 土地及び気象 | website=city.osaka.jp | date=2008-03-13 | url=http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/G000/Gyh18/Gb00/Gb00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929192142/http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/G000/Gyh18/Gb00/Gb00.html | archive-date=2008-09-29 | url-status=dead | language=ja }} Osaka is situated at a latitude of 34.67° (near the 35th parallel north), a latitude farther south than Rome (41.90°), Madrid (40.41°), San Francisco (37.77°) and Seoul (37.53°).{{Cite web|date=April 2022|title=Osaka, Japan Geographic Information|url=https://www.latlong.net/place/osaka-japan-27244.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506195604/https://www.latlong.net/place/osaka-japan-27244.html |archive-date=May 6, 2021|access-date=April 22, 2022|website=Latlong.net}}

Osaka is located in the humid subtropical climate zone (Köppen Cfa), with four distinct seasons. Its winters are generally mild, with January being the coldest month having an average high of {{convert|9.7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The city rarely sees snowfall during the winter. Spring in Osaka starts off mild, but ends up being hot and humid. It also tends to be Osaka's wettest season, with the {{Nihongo4|tsuyu|梅雨|tsuyu|"plum rain"}}—the rainy season—occurring between early June and late July. The average starting and ending dates of the rainy season are June 7 and July 21 respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.data.jma.go.jp/fcd/yoho/baiu/kako_baiu07.html |script-title=ja:気象庁 - 過去の梅雨入りと梅雨明け（近畿） |script-website=ja:気象庁 |website=Japan Meteorological Agency |access-date=October 7, 2016 |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615105656/https://www.data.jma.go.jp/fcd/yoho/baiu/kako_baiu07.html |url-status=dead }} Summers are very hot and humid. In August, the hottest month, the average daily high temperature reaches {{convert|33.7|°C|0|abbr=on}}, while average nighttime low temperatures typically hover around {{convert|25.8|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Fall in Osaka sees a cooling trend, with the early part of the season resembling summer while the latter part of fall resembles winter. Precipitation is abundant, with winter being the driest season, while monthly rainfall peaks in June with the "tsuyu" rainy season, which typically ends in mid to late July. From late July through the end of August, summer's heat and humidity peak, and rainfall decreases somewhat. Osaka experiences a second rainy period in September and early October, when tropical weather systems, including typhoons, coming from the south or southwest are possible.

{{Weather box

|single line = Y

|metric first = y

|location = Osaka (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1883−present)

|Jan record high C = 19.1

|Feb record high C = 23.7

|Mar record high C = 26.1

|Apr record high C = 30.7

|May record high C = 32.7

|Jun record high C = 36.1

|Jul record high C = 38.4

|Aug record high C = 39.1

|Sep record high C = 36.4

|Oct record high C = 33.1

|Nov record high C = 27.9

|Dec record high C = 24.5

|Jan record low C = -7.5

|Feb record low C = -6.5

|Mar record low C = -5.2

|Apr record low C = -2.6

|May record low C = 3.5

|Jun record low C = 8.9

|Jul record low C = 14.8

|Aug record low C = 13.6

|Sep record low C = 10.4

|Oct record low C = 3.0

|Nov record low C = -2.2

|Dec record low C = -4.5

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 47.0

|Feb precipitation mm = 60.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 103.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 101.9

|May precipitation mm = 136.5

|Jun precipitation mm = 185.1

|Jul precipitation mm = 174.4

|Aug precipitation mm = 113.0

|Sep precipitation mm = 152.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 136.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 72.5

|Dec precipitation mm = 55.5

|year precipitation mm = 1338.3

|Jan mean C = 6.2

|Feb mean C = 6.6

|Mar mean C = 9.9

|Apr mean C = 15.2

|May mean C = 20.1

|Jun mean C = 23.6

|Jul mean C = 27.7

|Aug mean C = 29.0

|Sep mean C = 25.2

|Oct mean C = 19.5

|Nov mean C = 13.8

|Dec mean C = 8.7

|year mean C = 17.1

|Jan high C = 9.7

|Feb high C = 10.5

|Mar high C = 14.2

|Apr high C = 19.9

|May high C = 24.9

|Jun high C = 28.0

|Jul high C = 31.8

|Aug high C = 33.7

|Sep high C = 29.5

|Oct high C = 23.7

|Nov high C = 17.8

|Dec high C = 12.3

|year high C = 21.3

|Jan low C = 3.0

|Feb low C = 3.2

|Mar low C = 6.0

|Apr low C = 10.9

|May low C = 16.0

|Jun low C = 20.3

|Jul low C = 24.6

|Aug low C = 25.8

|Sep low C = 21.9

|Oct low C = 16.0

|Nov low C = 10.2

|Dec low C = 5.3

|year low C = 13.6

|Jan humidity = 61

|Feb humidity = 60

|Mar humidity = 59

|Apr humidity = 58

|May humidity = 61

|Jun humidity = 68

|Jul humidity = 70

|Aug humidity = 66

|Sep humidity = 67

|Oct humidity = 65

|Nov humidity = 64

|Dec humidity = 62

|year humidity = 63

|Jan sun = 146.5

|Feb sun = 140.6

|Mar sun = 172.2

|Apr sun = 192.6

|May sun = 203.7

|Jun sun = 154.3

|Jul sun = 184.0

|Aug sun = 222.4

|Sep sun = 161.6

|Oct sun = 166.1

|Nov sun = 152.6

|Dec sun = 152.1

|year sun = 2048.6

|Jan snow cm = 0

|Feb snow cm = 1

|Mar snow cm = 0

|Apr snow cm = 0

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 0

|Dec snow cm = 0

|year snow cm = 1

|unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 6.4

|Feb precipitation days = 7.3

|Mar precipitation days = 10.3

|Apr precipitation days = 10.0

|May precipitation days = 10.4

|Jun precipitation days = 12.3

|Jul precipitation days = 11.3

|Aug precipitation days = 7.8

|Sep precipitation days = 10.6

|Oct precipitation days = 9.2

|Nov precipitation days = 7.0

|Dec precipitation days = 7.1

|year precipitation days = 109.7

| Jan uv =3

| Feb uv =4

| Mar uv =6

| Apr uv =8

| May uv =9

| Jun uv =10

| Jul uv =11

| Aug uv =10

| Sep uv =8

| Oct uv =6

| Nov uv =3

| Dec uv =2

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=62&block_no=47772&year=&month=&day=&view=

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

|website=Japan Meteorological Agency

| access-date = May 19, 2021}} and Weather Atlas{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/japan/osaka-climate|title=Osaka, Japan - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|publisher=Yu Media Group|website=Weather Atlas|language=en|access-date=July 9, 2019}}

|date=September 2010

}}

Osaka's sprawling cityscape has been described as "only surpassed by Tokyo as a showcase of the Japanese urban phenomenon".{{cite book|title=Discover Japan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4BS9G2TBGhQC&pg=PA146|year=2010|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74179-996-5|pages=146–}}

File:Central Osaka.jpg|Central Osaka looking north from the Abeno Harukas observation deck (2014)

File:Ufoto-wiki-01 Osaka-Skyline May2014.jpg|Osaka skyline towards Umeda (2014)

{{wide image|Osaka_Dusk_Skyline.png|800px|Osaka skyline at night from Umeda Sky Building (2016)}}

Central Osaka is roughly divided into downtown and uptown areas known as {{Nihongo4|Kita|キタ|extra="north"}} and {{Nihongo4|Minami|ミナミ|extra="south"}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4009.html|title=Kita (Umeda)|website=www.japan-guide.com|accessdate=February 23, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4001.html|title=Minami (Namba)|website=www.japan-guide.com|accessdate=February 23, 2025}}

Kita is home to the Umeda district and its immediate surrounding neighborhoods, a major business and retail hub that plays host to Osaka Station City and a large subterranean network of shopping arcades. Kita and nearby Nakanoshima contain a prominent portion of the city's skyscrapers and are often featured in photographs of Osaka's skyline.

Minami, though meaning "south", is essentially in {{Nihongo4|Chūō Ward|中央区|Chūō-ku}} and geographically central within the city. Well known districts here include Namba and Shinsaibashi shopping areas, the Dōtonbori canal entertainment area, Nipponbashi Den Den Town, as well as arts and fashion culture-oriented areas such as Amerikamura and Horie. The 300-meter tall Abeno Harukas was the tallest skyscraper in the country from 2014 until 2023.

The business districts between Kita and Minami such as {{Ill|Honmachi (Osaka)|lt=Honmachi|ja|本町 (大阪市)}} and {{Ill|Yodoyabashi|ja|淀屋橋}}, called {{Nihongo4|Semba|船場}}, house the regional headquarters of many large-scale banks and corporations. The Midōsuji boulevard runs through Semba and connects Kita and Minami.

Further south of Minami are neighborhoods such as Shinsekai (with its Tsūtenkaku tower), Tennoji and Abeno (with Tennoji Zoo, Shitennō-ji and Abeno Harukas), and the Kamagasaki slums, the largest slum in Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.wordpress.tokyotimes.org/kamagasaki-japans-biggest-slum/|title=Kamagasaki: Japan's biggest slum|date=April 8, 2014|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183354/http://www.wordpress.tokyotimes.org/kamagasaki-japans-biggest-slum/|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}

The city's west side is a prominent bay area{{Cite web|url=https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4010.html|title=Osaka Bay Area|website=www.japan-guide.com|accessdate=February 23, 2025}} which serves as its main port as well as a tourist destination with attractions such as Kyocera Dome, Universal Studios Japan and the Tempozan Harbor Village. Higashiosaka is zoned as a separate city, although the east side of Osaka city proper contains numerous residential neighborhoods including Tsuruhashi KoreaTown, as well as the Osaka Castle Park, Osaka Business Park and the hub Kyōbashi Station.

Osaka contains numerous urban canals and bridges, many of which serve as the namesake for their surrounding neighborhoods.{{cite book |author=Eiichi Watanabe |author2=Dan M. Frangopol |author3=Tomoaki Utsunomiya |title=Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management and Cost: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management |publisher=Taylor & Francis |location=Kyoto, Japan |year=2004 |page=195 |isbn=978-90-5809-680-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiDvMz1CIvwC&q=872+760&pg=PA195R}} The phrase "808 bridges of Naniwa" was an expression in old Japan used to indicate impressiveness and the "uncountable". Osaka numbered roughly 200 bridges by the Edo period{{cite web|url=http://www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en/|title=More About Osaka, Osaka City Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030402130253/http://www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en/|archive-date=April 2, 2003}} and 1,629 bridges by 1925. As many of the city's canals were gradually filled in, the number dropped to 872, of which 760 are currently managed by Osaka City.

File:Nakanoshima, Osaka in 201504.JPG|Nakanoshima, a boundary of Kita (right) and Semba (left)

File:Aerial photo of Umeda 14-Aug-2019.jpg|Umeda district (2019)

File:Osaka Dotonbori Ebisu Bridge.jpg|Dōtonbori bridge

File:Namba 20150531.JPG|Namba (2015)

There are currently 24 wards in Osaka:

{{Historical populations

|title = Historical population

|type = Japan

|align = right

|width =

|state =

|shading =

|percentages =

|footnote =

|1870|271992

|1880|292636

|1890|483609

|1900|881344

|1910|1239373

|1920|1798295

|1925|2135248

|1930|2477959

|1935|3022425

|1940|3300714

|1945|1614632

|1950|2015350

|1955|2547316

|1960|3011563

|1965|3156222

|1970|2980487

|1975|2778987

|1980|2648180

|1985|2636249

|1990|2623801

|1995|2602421

|2000|2598774

|2005|2628811

|2010|2666371

|2015|2691185

|2020|2752024

}}

Population numbers have been recorded in Osaka since as early as 1873, in the early Meiji era.{{cite book |title=Le Japon à l'exposition universelle de 1878. Géographie et histoire du Japon |author= Japanese Imperial Commission |date=1878 |page=16 |language=fr|location=Paris|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6210871s}} According to the census in 2005, there were 2,628,811 residents in Osaka, an increase of 30,037 or 1.2% from 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.e-stat.go.jp/SG1/estat/NewListE.do?tid=000001007251 |title=2005 Population Census |access-date=February 18, 2009 |publisher=Statistics Bureau, Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards) and Statistical Research and Training Institute, Japan }} There were 1,280,325 households with approximately 2.1 persons per household. The population density was 11,836 persons per km². The Great Kantō earthquake caused a mass migration to Osaka between 1920 and 1930, and the city became Japan's largest city in 1930 with 2,453,573 people, outnumbering even Tokyo, which had a population of 2,070,913. The population peaked at 3,252,340 in 1940, and had a post-war peak of 3,156,222 in 1965, but has declined since, as the residents moved out to the suburbs.{{cite book | last = Prasad Karan | first = Pradyumna |author2=Kristin Eileen Stapleton | title = The Japanese City | publisher = University Press of Kentucky | pages = 79–81 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=eKdMdyZzjyQC | isbn = 978-0-8131-2035-5 | year = 1997 }}

There were 144,123 registered foreigners, the two largest groups being Korean (60,110) and Chinese (39,551).{{Cite web |title=大阪市外国人住民国籍別区別人員数 |url=https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/shimin/cmsfiles/contents/0000431/431477/202112kubetukokusekibetu.pdf |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Osaka City |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531131852/https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/shimin/cmsfiles/contents/0000431/431477/202112kubetukokusekibetu.pdf |url-status=dead }} Ikuno, with its Tsuruhashi district, is the home to one of the largest population of Korean residents in Japan, with 20,397 registered Zainichi Koreans.{{Cite web|title=住民基本台帳人口・外国人人口（令和3年3月末日現在）|url=https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/ikuno/page/0000427171.html|access-date=2021-09-13|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193926/https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/ikuno/page/0000427171.html}}{{cite news|last=JOHNSTON|first=ERIC|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20020629b3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429073450/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20020629b3.html|archive-date=April 29, 2011|title=Tsuruhashi, home of 'exotic' Korea in Osaka|date=June 29, 2002|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=February 18, 2009|url-status=live|publisher=The Japan Times}}{{cite book | last = Karan | first = Pradyumna Prasad |author2=Kristin Eileen Stapleton | title = The Japanese City | publisher = University Press of Kentucky | page = 124 | isbn = 978-0-8131-2035-5 | year = 1997 }}

{{See also|Kansai dialect}}

The commonly spoken dialect of this area is Osaka-ben, a typical sub-dialect of Kansai-ben. Of the many other particularities that characterize Osaka-ben, examples include using the copula ya instead of da, and the suffix -hen instead of -nai in negative verb forms.

{{See also|Local Autonomy Law|Municipalities of Japan|Politics of Osaka City}}

{{infobox

| above = Local administration

| abovestyle = background-color: lightgrey

| subheader = The Mayor and the Council

| image1 = 200px

| caption1 = Osaka City Hall

| headerstyle = background-color: lightgrey

| header1 =

| label2 = Mayor:

| data2 = Ichiro Matsui

| label3 = Vice Mayors:

| data3 = Toru Takahashi,
Shin Asakawa,

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto

| header20 = City Council

| label21 = President:

| data21 = Toshifumi Tagaya (LDP)

| label22 = Members:

| data22 = 83 councilors (7 vacant)

| label31 = Factions:

| data31 = Osaka Restoration Association (36),
Liberal Democratic Party
and Citizen's Club (20),
Komei Party (19),
Japanese Communist Party (9),
Go OSAKA (1)
Osaka Abe (1)

| label32 = Seats by districts:

| data32 = {{Collapsible list

|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;

|title=Ward (no. of seats)

|1=Abeno-ku (4),

|2=Asahi-ku (4),

|3=Chūō-ku (2),

|4=Fukushima-ku (2),

|5=Higashinari-ku (3),

|6=Higashisumiyoshi-ku (5),

|7=Higashiyodogawa-ku (6),

|8=Hirano-ku (6),

|9=Ikuno-ku (5),

|10=Jōtō-ku (5),

|11=Kita-ku (3),

|12=Konohana-ku (3),

|13=Minato-ku (3),

|14=Miyakojima-ku (3),

|15=Naniwa-ku (2),

|16=Nishi-ku (2),

|17=Nishinari-ku (5),

|18=Nishiyodogawa-ku (3),

|19=Suminoe-ku (4),

|20=Sumiyoshi-ku (6),

|21=Taishō-ku (3),

|22=Tennōji-ku (2),

|23=Tsurumi-ku (3),

|24=Yodogawa-ku (5)

}}

| label33 = Website

| data33 = [http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/shikai/english/ Osaka City Council]

| label34 =

| data34 = Note: As of October 27, 2017

}}

The Osaka City Council is the city's local government formed under the Local Autonomy Law. The council has eighty-nine seats, allocated to the twenty-four wards proportional to their population and re-elected by the citizens every four years. The council elects its president and Vice President. Toshifumi Tagaya (LDP) is the current and 104th president since May 2008. The mayor of the city is directly elected by the citizens every four years as well, in accordance with the Local Autonomy Law. Tōru Hashimoto, former governor of Osaka Prefecture is the 19th mayor of Osaka since 2011. The mayor is supported by two vice mayors, currently Akira Morishita and Takashi Kashiwagi, who are appointed by him in accordance with the city bylaw.{{cite web|url=http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/shikai/english/index.html |title=Osaka City Council homepage |publisher=City.osaka.lg.jp |access-date=May 5, 2010}}

Osaka also houses several agencies of the Japanese government. Below is a list of governmental offices housed in Osaka.

{{div col|colwidth=35em}}

• Japan Coast Guard, Fifth Regional Headquarters
• Japan Fair Trade Commission; Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku Office
• Kinki Regional Finance Bureau
• Kinki Regional Economy, Trade and Industry Bureau
• Kinki Regional Transportation Bureau
• Kinki Communications Bureau
• Kinki Regional Development Bureau
• Kinki Regional Police Bureau
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Osaka Office
• Osaka Customs
• Osaka District Court
• Osaka Family Court
• Osaka High Court
• Osaka Immigration
• Osaka Labour Bureau
• Osaka Meteorological Observatory
• Osaka Public Prosecutors Office
• Osaka Regional Aerospace Bureau
• Osaka Regional Law Bureau
• Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau
• Osaka Summary Court

{{div col end}}

In July 2012, a joint multi-party bill was submitted to the Diet that would allow for implementation of the Osaka Metropolis plan as pursued by the mayor of Osaka city, the governor of Osaka and their party. If implemented, Osaka City, neighboring Sakai City and possibly other surrounding municipalities would dissolve and be reorganized as four special wards of Osaka prefecture – similar to former Tokyo City's successor wards within Tokyo prefecture. Special wards are municipal-level administrative units that leave some otherwise municipal administrative responsibilities and revenues to the prefectural administration.The Japan Times, July 31, 2012: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120730221419/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120731a2.html Bill to transform Osaka government jointly submitted to Diet]

In October 2018, the city of Osaka officially ended{{Cite news|url=https://globalvoices.org/2018/10/06/osaka-cuts-sister-city-ties-with-san-francisco-over-comfort-women-statue/|title=Osaka cuts sister city ties with San Francisco over "comfort women" statue · Global Voices|date=October 6, 2018|work=Global Voices|access-date=October 7, 2018|language=en}} its sister city relationship with San Francisco in the United States after the latter permitted a monument memorializing "comfort women" to remain on a city-owned property, circulating in the process a 10-page, 3,800-word letter in English addressed to San Francisco mayor London Breed.{{Cite letter|first=Hirofumi|last=Yoshimura|recipient=London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco|subject=Termination of Sister City Relationship|url=https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/hodoshiryo/cmsfiles/contents/0000448/448185/letter.pdf|date=October 2, 2018|format=PDF|publisher=City of Osaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003000128/http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/hodoshiryo/cmsfiles/contents/0000448/448185/letter.pdf|archive-date=October 3, 2018|title=Archived copy|access-date=May 20, 2019}}

On November 1, 2020, a second referendum to merge Osaka's 24 wards into 4 semi-autonomous wards was narrowly voted down. There were 692,996 (50.6%) votes against and 675,829 (49.4%) votes supported it.{{cite web |title=Osaka referendum defeat raises questions about future of city's politics |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/11/02/national/politics-diplomacy/osaka-referendum-future/ |author=Eric Johnston |date=November 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102090033/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/11/02/national/politics-diplomacy/osaka-referendum-future/ |archive-date=November 2, 2020}} Osaka mayor and Osaka Ishin co-leader Ichiro Matsui said he would resign when his term ended in 2023.

On February 27, 2012, three Kansai cities, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, jointly asked Kansai Electric Power Company to break its dependence on nuclear power. In a letter to KEPCO they also requested to disclose information on the demand and supply of electricity, and for lower and stable prices. The three cities were stockholders of the plant: Osaka owned 9% of the shares, while Kobe had 3% and Kyoto 0.45%. Toru Hashimoto, the mayor of Osaka, announced a proposal to minimize the dependence on nuclear power for the shareholders meeting in June 2012.The Mainichi Shimbun (February 27, 2012)[http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120227p2g00m0dm044000c.html 3 major Kansai cities aim to break dependence on nuclear power] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120710025044/http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120227p2g00m0dm044000c.html |date=July 10, 2012 }}

On March 18, 2012, the city of Osaka decided as largest shareholder of Kansai Electric Power Co, that at the next shareholders-meeting in June 2012 it would demand a series of changes:

• that Kansai Electric would be split into two companies, separating power generation from power transmission.
• a reduction of the number of the utility's executives and employees.
• the implementation of absolutely secure measurements to ensuring the safety of the nuclear facilities.
• the disposing of spent fuel.
• the installation of new kind of thermal power generation to secure non-nuclear supply of energy.
• selling all unnecessary assets including the stock holdings of KEPCO.

In this action, Osaka had secured the support of two other cities and shareholders: Kyoto and Kobe, but with their combined voting-rights of 12.5 percent they were not certain of the ultimate outcome, because for this two-thirds of the shareholders would be needed to agree to revise the corporate charter.The Mainichi Shimbun (March 19, 2012) [http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120319p2g00m0dm011000c.html Osaka aims to end Kansai Electric's nuclear power ops as shareholder] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319172039/http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120319p2g00m0dm011000c.html|date=March 19, 2012}}

At a meeting held on April 10, 2012, by the "energy strategy council", formed by the city of Osaka and the governments of the prefectures, it became clear that at the end of the fiscal year 2011 some 69 employees of Kansai Electric Power Company were former public servants. "Amakudari" was the Japanese name for this practice of rewarding by hiring officials that formerly controlled and supervised the firm. Such people included the following:

• 13 ex-officials of the: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
• 3 ex-officials of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
• 2 ex-officials of the Ministry of the Environment,
• 16 former policemen,
• 10 former fire-fighters,
• 13 former civil engineers.

Besides this, it became known that Kansai Electric had done about 600 external financial donations, to a total sum of about 1.695 billion yen:

• 70 donations were paid to local governments: to a total of 699 million yen
• 100 donations to public-service organizations: 443 million yen,
• 430 donations to various organizations and foundations: a total of 553 million yen

During this meeting some 8 conditions were compiled, that needed to be fulfilled before a restart of the No.3 and No.4 reactors Oi Nuclear Power Plant:

• the consent of the local people and government within 100 kilometer from the plant
• the installation of a new independent regulatory agency
• a nuclear safety agreement
• the establishment of new nuclear safety standards
• stress tests and evaluations based on these new safety rulesThe Mainichi Shimbun (April 10, 2012) [http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120410p2a00m0na014000c.html Kansai Electric, affiliates had 69 ex-bureaucrats employed as execs as of end of fiscal 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414140532/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120410p2a00m0na014000c.html |date=April 14, 2012 }}

{{Main|Hanshin Industrial Region|Keihanshin industrial region}}

File:Osaka umeda06s3200.jpg

The gross city product of Osaka in fiscal year 2004 was ¥21.3 trillion, an increase of 1.2% over the previous year. The figure accounts for about 55% of the total output in the Osaka Prefecture and 26.5% in the Kinki region. In 2004, commerce, services, and manufacturing have been the three major industries, accounting for 30%, 26%, and 11% of the total, respectively. The per capita income in the city was about ¥3.3 million, 10% higher than that of the Osaka Prefecture.{{cite web |script-title=ja:大阪市データネット 市民経済計算 |trans-title=Osaka City Datanet: Osaka City Economy|language=ja|url=http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/E000/Ea00/Ea00.html|access-date=March 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207175629/http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/E000/Ea00/Ea00.html|archive-date=December 7, 2006}} MasterCard Worldwide reported that Osaka ranks 19th among the world's leading cities and plays an important role in the global economy.{{cite web|url=http://www.mastercard.com/us/company/en/insights/pdfs/2008/MCWW_WCoC-Report_2008.pdf|title=Mastercard - Global Leading Company in Payment Solutions Offering Credit, Debit, Prepaid Cards & More|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624211344/http://www.mastercard.com/us/company/en/insights/pdfs/2008/MCWW_WCoC-Report_2008.pdf|archive-date=June 24, 2008}} Osaka's GDP per capita (Nominal) was $59,958.($1=\120.13){{cite web |url=http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/toshikeikaku/cmsfiles/contents/0000410/410210/gaiyou2016-6.pdf |title=Osaka GDP |access-date=August 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822145454/http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/toshikeikaku/cmsfiles/contents/0000410/410210/gaiyou2016-6.pdf |archive-date=August 22, 2018 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/toshikeikaku/page/0000379310.html|title=平成27年国勢調査＜人口等基本集計結果（大阪市）＞|website=大阪市|accessdate=February 23, 2025}} However, by 2020, Osaka ranked as the 5th most expensive city due to flatlining consumer prices and government subsidies of public transportation.{{cite web |title=The World's 10 Most Expensive Cities To Live In |work=Forbes |date=November 18, 2020 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesphillipps/2020/11/18/these-are-the-worlds-10-most-expensive-cities-to-live-in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109090225/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesphillipps/2020/11/18/these-are-the-worlds-10-most-expensive-cities-to-live-in/ |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=January 9, 2021 }}

File:Osaka-Securities-Exchange-01.jpg in the Kitahama district of Osaka]]

Historically, Osaka was the center of commerce in Japan, especially in the middle and pre-modern ages. Nomura Securities, the first brokerage firm in Japan, was founded in the city in 1925, and Osaka still houses a leading futures exchange. Many major companies have since moved their main offices to Tokyo. However, several major companies, such as Panasonic, Sharp, and Sanyo, are still headquartered in Osaka. Recently, the city began a program, headed by mayor Junichi Seki, to attract domestic and foreign investment.{{cite web |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20061228TDY16003.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070103015657/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20061228TDY16003.htm |archive-date=January 3, 2007 |title=Osaka aims to stem exodus of firms to Tokyo |access-date=June 1, 2016 }} In the 2017 Global Financial Centres Index, Osaka was ranked as having the 15th most competitive financial center in the world and fifth most competitive in Asia (after Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai).{{cite web|url=http://www.longfinance.net/images/gfci/gfci_21.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611000617/http://www.longfinance.net/images/gfci/gfci_21.pdf|archive-date=June 11, 2017|title=The Global Financial Centres Index 21|date=March 2017|publisher=Long Finance}}

The Osaka Securities Exchange, specializing in derivatives such as Nikkei 225 futures, is based in Osaka. The merger with JASDAQ will help the Osaka Securities Exchange become the largest exchange in Japan for start-up companies.{{cite web|author=経営に資する統合的内部監査 |url=http://www.j-cast.com/2008/06/11021633.html |script-title=ja:大証との経営統合、ようやく決着 ジャスダック : J-CASTニュース |publisher=J-cast.com |access-date=May 5, 2010|date=June 11, 2008 }}

According to global consulting firm Mercer, Osaka was the second most expensive city for expatriate employees in the world in 2009. It jumped up nine places from 11th place in 2008 and was the eighth most expensive city in 2007. However, it was not ranked in the top ten places of the list in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr#Top_50 |title=Worldwide Cost of Living survey 2009 |publisher=Mercer.com |date=July 7, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725215323/http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr#Top_50 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 }}{{cite web|title=2013 Cost of Living Rankings|url=http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr|work=Mercer|publisher=Mercer LLC|access-date=February 23, 2014|year=2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725215323/http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr|archive-date=July 25, 2011}} The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Osaka as the second most expensive city in the world in its 2013 Cost of Living study.{{cite news|title=The world's most expensive cities|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/datablog/2014/feb/14/most-expensive-cities|access-date=February 23, 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 14, 2014|author=George Arnett|author2=Chris Michael}}

Osaka is part of the metropolitan region called Keihanshin (also known as Greater Osaka) in the Kansai region. The Keihanshin region includes the prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyōgo (Kobe), Nara, Shiga, Wakayama, and Sakai.{{cite web |publisher= Statistics Bureau of Japan |url=https://www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/files?page=1&layout=datalist&toukei=00200521&tstat=000001080615&cycle=0&tclass1=000001110216&second=1&second2=1& |title=2015 Census Final Data}} The Keihanshin region has a population ({{As of|2015|lc=y}}) of 19,303,000 (15% of Japan's population) which covers {{convert|13,228|km2|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/pdf/2019all.pdf |title=Table 2.10 Population of Three Major Metropolitan Areas |publisher=Statistics Bureau of Japan |page=21|access-date=November 26, 2019}} It is ranked the second most urban region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and 10th largest urban area in the world. Keihanshin has a GDP of approximately $953.9 billion in 2012 (16th largest in the world).{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Economy/GDP|title=Countries Compared by Economy > GDP. International Statistics at NationMaster.com|website=www.nationmaster.com|accessdate=February 23, 2025}} Osaka-Kobe has a GDP of $681 billion (2015), which is a bit more than Paris or Greater London.[https://www.brookings.edu/research/redefining-global-cities/ Brookings Institution report 2015], retrieved August 23, 2015

File:Osaka Metropolitan Employment Area 2015.png|Greater Osaka (without Kyoto) Metropolitan Employment Area

File:Keihanshin MEAs 2015.png|Keihanshin with Osaka (red), Kobe (green), and Kyoto (blue)

{{Main|Transport in Keihanshin}}{{Easy CSS image crop|Image=Osaka Urban Railway network.svg|desired_width=300|crop_left_perc=5|crop_right_perc=35|crop_top_perc=15|crop_bottom_perc=|Location=right|caption=The black lines represent the commuter rail network serving the Osaka metropolitan area. The pink lines represent the Osaka Metro system. The blue lines represent three rail extension projects: the Osaka Monorail Main Line (right), the Naniwasuji Line (center), and the {{ill|Osaka Port Transport System Hokkō Line|ja|大阪港トランスポートシステム北港テクノポート線}} (left).}}Greater Osaka has an extensive network of railway lines, comparable to that of Greater Tokyo. Major stations within the city include {{Nihongo4|Umeda|梅田}}, {{Nihongo4|Namba|難波}}, {{Nihongo4|Shinsaibashi|心斎橋}}, {{Nihongo4|Tennōji|天王寺}}, {{Nihongo4|Kyōbashi|京橋}}, and {{Nihongo4|Yodoyabashi|淀屋橋}}.

Osaka connects to its surrounding cities and suburbs via the JR West Urban Network as well as numerous private lines such as Keihan Electric Railway, Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Electric Railway, Kintetsu Railway, and Nankai Electric Railway.

The Osaka Metro system alone ranks 8th in the world by annual passenger ridership, serving over 912 million people annually (a quarter of Greater Osaka Rail System's 4 billion annual riders), despite being only 8 of more than 70 lines in the metro area.

All Shinkansen trains including Nozomi stop at Shin-Osaka Station and provide access to other major cities in Japan, such as Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, Yokohama, and Tokyo.

Regular bus services are provided by Osaka City Bus, as well Hankyu, Hanshin and Kintetsu, providing a dense network covering most parts of the city.

Osaka is served by two airports situated just outside of the city, Kansai International Airport (IATA: KIX) which handles primarily international passenger flights and Osaka International Airport (IATA: ITM) which handles mostly domestic services and some international cargo flights.

Due to its geographical position, Osaka's international ferry connections are far greater than that of Tokyo, with international service to Shanghai, Tianjin, and Busan along with domestic routes to Kitakyushu, Kagoshima, Miyazaki and Okinawa.

File:Osaka Hanyku Grand.tif

File:Takoyaki-osk.jpg (たこ焼き)]] File:Dotonbori 19.jpg among numerous signboards at Dōtonbori]]

File:Grand Front Osaka and Yodobashi Umeda in 201504 001.JPG

File:Chayamachi Osaka.jpg

File:Amerikamura 2014.jpg in Chuo-ku]]

File:Nipponbashi Osaka Japan01-r.jpg in Naniwa-ku]]

Osaka has a large number of wholesalers and retail shops: 25,228 and 34,707 respectively in 2004, according to the city statistics.{{cite web |url=http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/G000/Gyh17/Ga00/Ga00.html |title=大阪市データネット 1 主要指標 |access-date=February 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510223307/http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/G000/Gyh17/Ga00/Ga00.html |archive-date=May 10, 2007 }} Many of them are concentrated in the wards of Chuō (10,468 shops) and Kita (6,335 shops). Types of shops vary from malls to conventional shōtengai shopping arcades, built both above- and underground.{{cite book | last = Reiber | first = Beth |author2=Janie Spencer | title = Frommer's Japan | publisher = Frommer's | year = 2008 | page = 388 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CtVJf_gocJUC&q=Osaka+shopping+malls&pg=PA388 | isbn = 978-0-470-18100-3 }} Shōtengai are seen across Japan, and Osaka has the longest one in the country.[http://www.kansai.gr.jp/KansaiWindowhtml/Collection/English/000232.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222175100/http://www.kansai.gr.jp/KansaiWindowhtml/Collection/English/000232.html|date=December 22, 2008}} The Tenjinbashi-suji arcade stretches from the road approaching the Tenmangū shrine and continues for {{convert|2.6|km|1|abbr=in}} going north to south. The stores along the arcade include commodities, clothing, and catering outlets.

Other shopping areas include Den Den Town, the electronic and manga/anime district, which is comparable to Akihabara; the Umeda district, which has the Hankyu Sanbangai shopping mall and Yodobashi Camera, a huge electrical appliance store that offers a vast range of fashion stores, restaurants, and a Shonen Jump store.

Osaka is known for its food, in Japan and abroad. Author Michael Booth and food critic François Simon of {{Lang|fr|Le Figaro}} have suggested that Osaka is the food capital of the world.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/jul/13/osaka-japan-best-food-city | work=The Guardian | first=Michael | last=Booth | title=Osaka - the world's greatest food city | date=July 13, 2009}} Osakans' love for the culinary is made apparent in the old saying "Kyotoites are financially ruined by overspending on clothing, Osakans are ruined by spending on food."{{cite book|title=Japan Quarterly, Asahi Shinbunsha 1954 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gBgVAAAAMAAJ&q=kyoto+kidaore|access-date = March 25, 2007|author1=Shinbunsha, Asahi|year=1979}} Regional cuisine includes {{Nihongo4||お好み焼き|okonomiyaki|pan-fried batter cake}}, {{Nihongo4||たこ焼き|takoyaki|octopus in fried batter}}, {{Nihongo4||うどん|udon|a noodle dish}}, as well as the traditional {{nihongo4||押し寿司|oshizushi|pressed sushi}}, particularly {{nihongo4||バッテラ|battera|pressed mackerel sushi}}.

Osaka is known for its fine sake, which is made with fresh water from the prefecture's mountains.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/taste/sake/|title=Superior brand sake: Food Library - Kuidaore Osaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327011119/http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/taste/sake/|archive-date=March 27, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2014}} Osaka's culinary prevalence is the result of a location that has provided access to high-quality ingredients, a high population of merchants, and proximity to the ocean and waterway trade.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/roots/|title=The Roots: Food Library - Kuidaore Osaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327011053/http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/roots/|archive-date=March 27, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2014}} In recent years, Osaka has started to garner more attention from foreigners with the increased popularity of cooking and dining in popular culture.[http://thecitylane.com/osaka-food-guide/ Osaka Food Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020054652/http://thecitylane.com/osaka-food-guide/|date=October 20, 2014}}, The City Lane

Other shopping districts include:

• American Village (Amerika-mura or "Ame-mura") – fashion for young people
• Dōtonbori – part of Namba district and considered heart of the city
• Namba – main shopping, sightseeing, and restaurant area
• Shinsaibashi – luxury goods and department stores
• File:Osaka market.jpg Umeda – theaters, boutiques, and department stores near the train station

{{See also|Kamigata}}

File:National Museum of Art, Osaka.jpg, a subterranean museum of Japanese and international art]]

• Osaka is home to the National Bunraku Theater,{{cite web|url=http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/index.html|title=National Theatre of Japan|publisher=Ntj.jac.go.jp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021004001515/http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/index.html|archive-date=October 4, 2002|access-date=May 5, 2010}} where traditional puppet plays, bunraku, are performed.
• At Osaka Shochiku-za, close to Namba station, kabuki can be enjoyed as well as manzai.
• At Shin Kabuki-za, formerly near Namba and now near Uehommachi area, enka concerts and Japanese dramas are performed.
• Yoshimoto Kogyo, a Japanese entertainment conglomerate operates a hall in the city for manzai and other comedy shows: the Namba Grand Kagetsu hall.
• The Hanjō-tei opened in 2006, dedicated to rakugo. The theater is in the Ōsaka Tenman-gū area.
• Umeda Arts Theater opened in 2005 after relocating from its former 46-year-old Umeda Koma Theater. The theater has a main hall with 1,905 seats and a smaller theater-drama hall with 898 seats. Umeda Arts Theater stages various type of performances including musicals, music concerts, dramas, rakugo, and others.
• The Symphony Hall, built in 1982, is the first hall in Japan designed specially for classical music concerts. The Hall was opened with a concert by the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, which is based in the city. Orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic have played here during their world tours as well.
• Osaka-jō Hall is a multi-purpose arena in Osaka-jō park with a capacity for up to 16,000 people. The hall has hosted numerous events and concerts including both Japanese and international artists.
• Nearby City Hall in Nakanoshima Park, is Osaka Central Public Hall, a Neo-Renaissance-style building first opened in 1918. Re-opened in 2002 after major renovation, it serves as a multi-purpose rental facility for citizen events.
• The Osaka Shiki Theater{{cite web |url=http://www.shiki.gr.jp/siteinfo/english/theatres/osakashiki.html |script-title=ja:劇団四季 サイトインフォメーション Theatres |publisher=Shiki.gr.jp |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813120320/http://www.shiki.gr.jp/siteinfo/english/theatres/osakashiki.html |archive-date=August 13, 2010 }} is one of the nine private halls operated nationwide by the Shiki Theater, staging straight plays and musicals.
• Festival Hall was a hall hosting various performances including noh, kyōgen, kabuki, ballets as well as classic concerts. The Bolshoi Ballet and the Philharmonia are among the many that were welcomed on stage in the past. The hall has closed at the end of 2008, planned to re-open in 2013 in a new facility.

File:Tenjinmatsuri.JPG

One of the most famous festivals held in Osaka, the Tenjin Matsuri, is held on July 24 and 25 (Osaka Tenmangū). Other festivals in Osaka include the Aizen Matsuri (June 30–July 2, Shōman-in Temple), the Sumiyoshi Matsuri (July 30–August 1, Sumiyoshi Taisha), Shōryō-e (April 22, Shitennō-ji) and Tōka-Ebisu (January 9–10, Imamiya Ebisu Jinja). The annual Osaka Asian Film Festival takes place in Osaka every March while the Midosuji Parade takes place in October.{{cite news |title=Osaka's grandeur on parade |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19940904-1.2.50.7.12 |work=The Straits Times |date=September 4, 1994}}

{{see also|:Category:Museums in Osaka{{!}}Museums in Osaka}}

The National Museum of Art (NMAO) is a subterranean Japanese and international art museum, housing mainly collections from the post-war era and regularly welcoming temporary exhibitions. Osaka Science Museum is in a five storied building next to the National Museum of Art, with a planetarium and an OMNIMAX theater. The Museum of Oriental Ceramics holds more than 2,000 pieces of ceramics, from China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, featuring displays of some of their Korean celadon under natural light. Osaka Municipal Museum of Art is inside Tennōji park, housing over 8,000 pieces of Japanese and Chinese paintings and sculptures. The Osaka Museum of History, opened in 2001, is located in a 13-story modern building providing a view of Osaka Castle. Its exhibits cover the history of Osaka from pre-history to the present day. Osaka Museum of Natural History houses a collection related to natural history and life.

File:Kyocera Dome Osaka1.jpg, home to the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers]]

Osaka hosts four professional sport teams: one of them is the Orix Buffaloes, a Nippon Professional Baseball team, playing its home games at Kyocera Dome Osaka. Another baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers, although based in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, plays a part of its home games in Kyocera Dome Osaka as well, when their homeground Koshien Stadium is occupied with the annual National High School Baseball Championship games during summer season.

There are two J.League clubs, Gamba Osaka, plays its home games at Suita City Football Stadium. Another club Cerezo Osaka, plays its home games at Yanmar Stadium Nagai. The city is home to Osaka Evessa, a basketball team that plays in the B.League. Evessa has won the first three championships of the league since its establishment. Kintetsu Liners, a rugby union team, play in the Top League. After winning promotion in 2008–09, they will again remain in the competition for the 2009–10 season. Their base is the Hanazono Rugby Stadium.

The {{Nihongo4||春場所|Haru Basho|"Spring Tournament"}}, one of the six regular tournaments of professional sumo, is held annually in Osaka at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.

Another major annual sporting event that takes place in Osaka is Osaka International Ladies Marathon. Held usually at the end of January every year, the {{convert|42.195|km|3|abbr=in|adj=on}} race starts from Nagai Stadium, runs through Nakanoshima, Midōsuji and Osaka castle park, and returns to the stadium. Another yearly event held at Nagai Stadium is the Osaka Gran Prix Athletics games operated by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in May. The Osaka GP is the only IAAF games annually held in Japan.

Osaka made the bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Paralympics but was eliminated in the first round of the vote on July 13, 2001, which awarded the game to Beijing.

Osaka was one of the host cities of the official Women's Volleyball World Championship for its 1998, 2006 and 2010 editions.

Osaka is the home of the 2011 created Japan Bandy Federation and the introduction of bandy, in the form of rink bandy, was made in the city.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=50&title=Bandy%20came%20to%20Japan!|title=Bandy came to Japan!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502200433/http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=50&title=Bandy%20came%20to%20Japan!|archive-date=May 2, 2012}} In July 2012 the first Japan Bandy Festival was organized.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=138&title=BANDY%20Festival%202012%20in%20OSAKA|title=BANDY Festival 2012 in OSAKA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016043725/http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=138&title=BANDY%20Festival%202012%20in%20OSAKA|archive-date=October 16, 2012}}

File:NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station Bldg 20060604-001.jpg

Osaka serves as one of the media hubs for Japan, housing headquarters of many media-related companies. Abundant television production takes place in the city and every nationwide TV network (with the exception of TXN network) registers its secondary-key station in Osaka. All five nationwide newspaper majors also house their regional headquarters, and most local newspapers nationwide have branches in Osaka. However major film productions are uncommon in the city. Most major films are produced in nearby Kyoto or in Tokyo. The Ad Council Japan was founded in 1971 is based in Osaka, now it is the Osaka branch.

All five major national newspapers of Japan, The Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun,The five largest newspapers by number of circulation in Japan in alphabetical order. {{cite book | last = Mooney | first = Sean |author2=ebrary, Inc | title = 5,110 Days in Tokyo and Everything's Hunky-dory | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | year = 2000 | pages = 99–104 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Fkt8CkTejUAC | isbn = 978-1-56720-361-5 }} have their regional headquarters in Osaka and issue their regional editions. Furthermore, Osaka houses Osaka Nichi-nichi Shimbun, its newspaper press. Other newspaper-related companies located in Osaka include the regional headquarters of FujiSankei Business i.;Houchi Shimbunsha; Nikkan Sports; Sports Nippon, and offices of Kyodo News Jiji Press; Reuters; Bloomberg L.P.

The five TV networks are represented by Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ANN), Kansai Telecasting Corporation (FNN), Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. (JNN), Television Osaka, Inc. (TXN) and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (NNN), headquartered in Osaka. NHK has also its regional station based in the city. AM Radio services are provided by NHK as well as the ABC Radio (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation), MBS Radio (Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc.) and Radio Osaka (Osaka Broadcasting Corporation) and headquartered in the city. FM services are available from NHK, FM OSAKA, FM802 and FM Cocolo, the last providing programs in multiple languages including English.

Osaka is home to many publishing companies, including Examina, Izumi Shoin, Kaihou Shuppansha, Keihanshin Elmagazine, Seibundo Shuppan, Sougensha, and Toho Shuppan.

File:KansaiUV1.JPG]]

File:Osaka_City_University_Main_Building_20190818.jpg]]

Public elementary and junior high schools in Osaka are operated by the city of Osaka. Its supervisory organization on educational matters is Osaka City Board of Education.{{Cite web|url=http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english/more_about_osaka/administrative.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310133632/http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/english/more_about_osaka/administrative.html|url-status=dead|title=-OSAKA CITY-|archivedate=March 10, 2010|website=www.city.osaka.lg.jp|accessdate=February 26, 2025}} Likewise, public high schools are operated by the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education.

Osaka once had a large number of universities and high schools, but because of growing campuses and the need for larger area, many chose to move to the suburbs, including Osaka University.{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.jp/kyouiku_hiroba/02/osaka-city-education-history.html |trans-title=History of Education in Osaka |script-title=ja:大阪市の教育史 |access-date=February 18, 2009 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406021719/http://www.geocities.jp/kyouiku_hiroba/02/osaka-city-education-history.html |archive-date=April 6, 2009 }}

Historically foreign expatriates in the Kansai region preferred to live in Kobe rather than Osaka. As a result, until 1991 the Osaka area had no schools catering to expatriate children.Stewart, Alex. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20040921130423/http://www.accj.or.jp/document_library/Journal/1070851088.pdf educating kansai]" ([http://web.archive.org/web/20040921130423/http://www.accj.or.jp/document_library/Journal/1070851088.pdf Archive]). The Journal of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (Jānaru), Volume 40, Issues 7–12. The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), 2003. p. 43. Osaka International School of Kwansei Gakuin, founded in 1991, is located in nearby Minoh,"[http://yayoi.senri.ed.jp/downloads/1409_School%20profile%202014-2015.pdf School Profile 2014–2015]" ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306100142/http://yayoi.senri.ed.jp/downloads/1409_School%20profile%202014-2015.pdf |date=March 6, 2016 }}). Osaka International School of Kwansei Gakuin. Retrieved on November 1, 2015. and it was the first international school in the Osaka area. The Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake of 1995 caused a decline in demand for international schools, as there were about 2,500 U.S. nationals resident in Osaka after the earthquake while the pre-earthquake number was about 5,000. American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) Kansai chapter president Norman Solberg stated that since 2002 the numbers of expatriates in Kansai were recovering "but the fact is there is still a persistent exodus to Tokyo."Stewart, Alex. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20040921130423/http://www.accj.or.jp/document_library/Journal/1070851088.pdf education kansai]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20040921130423/http://www.accj.or.jp/document_library/Journal/1070851088.pdf Archive]). The Journal of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (Jānaru), Volume 40, Issues 7–12. The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), 2003. p. 41. In 2001 the city of Osaka and YMCA established the Osaka YMCA International School.

Colleges and universities include:

{{Div col}}

• Kansai University
• Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences
• Osaka Metropolitan University
• Osaka University of Economics
• Osaka Institute of Technology
• Osaka Jogakuin College
• Osaka Seikei University
• Osaka University of Arts, Minamikawachi District, Osaka
• Osaka University of Comprehensive Children education
• Osaka University of Education
• Soai University
• Tokiwakai Gakuen University

{{Div col end}}

• International Institute for Children's Literature, Osaka{{Cite web|url=http://www.iiclo.or.jp/english/english.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214043955/http://www.iiclo.or.jp/english/english.htm|url-status=dead|title=IICLO / INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE,OSAKA|archivedate=February 14, 2008|website=www.iiclo.or.jp|accessdate=February 26, 2025}}
• Osaka Municipal Central Library
• Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library

• The Japanese Academy of Family Medicine

"Important cultural property" (重要文化財) after the name of a facility indicates an important cultural property designated by the country.

File:USJ_5years.JPG]]

{{Div col}}

• Abeno Harukas
• {{ill|Asia Pacific Trade Center|ja|アジア太平洋トレードセンター}}
• Festivalgate
• Intex Osaka
• Namba Parks
• OAP Tower
• Osaka Business Park
• {{ill|Osaka Garden City|ja|オオサカガーデンシティ}}
• Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building
• {{ill|Tempozan Harbor Village|ja|天保山ハーバービレッジ}}
• Tsūtenkaku (Registered Tangible Cultural Property)
• Umeda Sky Building
• Universal Studios Japan

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• {{ill|Hirano (Osaka)|ja|平野 (大阪市)|lt=Hirano}}
• {{ill|Horijo|ja|堀城}}
• Kawaguchi foreign settlement
• {{ill|Ruins of Naniwanomiya Palace|ja|難波宮}}
• Osaka Castle
• Tekijuku (important cultural property)

{{Div end}}

{{Div col}}

• {{ill|Hakubo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi|ja|花博記念公園鶴見緑地}}
• {{ill|Keitaku Garden|ja|慶沢園}}
• Nagai Park
• Nakanoshima Park
• {{ill|Ogimachi Park|ja|扇町公園}}
• Osaka Castle Park
• {{ill|Osaka Nanko Bird Sanctuary|ja|大阪南港野鳥園}}
• {{ill|Sakuranomiya Park|ja|桜之宮公園}}
• {{ill|Shirokita Park|ja|城北公園}}
• {{ill|Suminoe Park|ja|住之江公園}}
• Sumiyoshi Park
• Tennoji Park
• Utsubo Park
• {{ill|Yodogawa River Park|ja|淀川河川公園}}

{{Div col end}}

File:UtsuboPark-RoseGarden02.jpg|Utsubo Park

File:Osaka Castle Park 20071230.jpg|Osaka Castle Park

File:Sakuranomiya-Park_02.jpg|{{ill|Sakuranomiya Park|ja|桜之宮公園}}

File:Yodogawa Kasen Park Juso area IMG 5195-2 20190114.jpg|Yodogawa Riverside Park

• Sumiyoshi Taisha main shrine (national treasure)

• Around Umeda
• {{ill|Osaka Central Post Office|ja|大阪中央郵便局}} – {{ill|Central Electric Club|ja|中央電気倶楽部}} – {{ill|Oe Building|ja|大江ビルヂング}}
• Nakanoshima
• Osaka City Central Public Hall (Important Cultural Property) – Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library (Important Cultural Property) – Bank of Japan Osaka Branch Old Building
• Around Osaka Castle
• {{ill|Old Mint Foundry Front Entrance|ja|旧造幣寮鋳造所正面玄関}} (Former Youth Art Gallery) (Important Cultural Property) – Senpukan (Important Cultural Property) – Osaka Castle (registered tangible cultural property) – former Osaka City Museum – {{ill|Osaka Prefectural Government Office|ja|大阪府庁舎}}
• Kitasenba, Minamisenba
• {{ill|Kitahama Retro Building|ja|北浜レトロビルヂング}} (Registered Tangible Cultural Property) – Osaka Securities Exchange – Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Osaka (Sumitomo Building) – {{ill|Arai Building|ja|新井ビル}} (Registration Tangible Cultural Property) – {{ill|Osaka Municipal Aizuku Kindergarten|ja|大阪市立愛珠幼稚園}} (Important Cultural Property) – Nippon Life Insurance Head Office Building – {{ill|Osaka Club|ja|大阪倶楽部}} (registered tangible cultural property) – Sumitomo Mitsui Bank Osaka Central Branch – {{ill|Koraibashi Nomura Building|ja|高麗橋野村ビル}} – {{ill|Nippon Christian Church Naniwa Church|ja|日本基督教団浪花教会}} – {{ill|Aoyama Building|ja|青山ビル}} (Registered Tangible Cultural property) – {{ill|Fushimi Building|ja|伏見ビル}} (registered tangible cultural property) – {{ill|former Konishi Gisuke store building|ja|コニシ}} (important cultural property) – {{ill|Osaka Gas Building|ja|大阪瓦斯ビルヂング}} (registered tangible cultural property) – {{ill|Ikoma Building|ja|生駒ビルヂング}} (registered tangible cultural property) – {{ill|Cotton Industry Hall|ja|綿業会館}} (Important Cultural Property) – Meidi-Ya building – {{ill|Miki Musical Instrument Headquarters|ja|三木楽器}} (Registered Tangible Cultural Properties) – {{ill|Harada Industry|ja|原田産業}}
• Shimojoba (Nishisenba)
• {{ill|Japanese Christian Church Osaka Church|ja|日本基督教団大阪教会}} (registered tangible cultural property) – Yamauchi Building (registered tangible cultural property) – Edobori Kodama Building (registered tangible cultural property)
• Shinsaibashi/Namba
• Daimaru Shinsaibashi – Takashimaya Osaka (Nankai Namba) – Takashimaya East Annex – {{ill|Miki Instruments Main Store Kaiseikan|ja|三木楽器}} (registered tangible cultural property)
• Osaka Port/Kawaguchi
• {{ill|Tsuki Port Red Brick Warehouse|ja|築港赤レンガ倉庫}} – {{ill|Sumitomo Warehouse Tsuki Port|ja|住友倉庫}} – MOL Mitsui Tsuki Port Building ({{ill|Osaka Merchant Ship|ja|大阪商船}}) – Japan Anglican Church Kawaguchi Christian Church (Registered Tangible Cultural Property) – {{ill|Mitsui Warehouse|ja|三井倉庫ホールディングス}} – Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau (Osaka City Electricity Bureau)

{{Div col}}

• {{ill|Izumi Hall|ja|いずみホール}}
• Umeda Arts Theater
• {{ill|Morinomiya Piloti Hall|ja|森ノ宮ピロティホール}}
• NHK Osaka Hall
• Osaka International Convention Center
• {{ill|Osaka Shiki Theater|ja|大阪四季劇場}}
• {{ill|Osaka Castle Music Hall|ja|大阪城音楽堂}}
• Osaka-jō Hall
• Orix Theater
• National Bunraku Theatre
• {{ill|The Symphony Hall|ja|ザ・シンフォニーホール}}
• {{ill|Theater BRAVA!|ja|シアターBRAVA!}}
• {{ill|New Kabukiza|ja|新歌舞伎座 (大阪)}}
• Zepp Osaka
• {{ill|Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei|ja|天満天神繁昌亭}}
• {{ill|Namba Grand Kagetsu|ja|なんばグランド花月}}
• Festival Hall, Osaka

{{Div col end}}

File:Izumi_Hall_Osaka01n3200.jpg|{{ill|Izumi Hall|ja|いずみホール}}

File:Osaka-jo_Hall_in_201408.JPG|Osaka-jō Hall

File:National_Bunraku_Theatre_in_201408.JPG|National Bunraku Theater

File:Temma-Tenjin_Hanjo-tei_in_201407.JPG|{{ill|Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei|ja|天満天神繁昌亭}}

File:Views from Abeno Harukas in 201512 008.JPG is visible at center.]]

{{Div col}}

• {{ill|Ogimachi Pool|ja|扇町プール}}
• Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium
• Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
• Maruzen Intec Osaka Pool
• Kyocera Dome Osaka
• Nagai Park
• Yanmar Stadium Nagai
• Yanmar Field Nagai
• Yodoko Sakura Stadium
• Maishima Sports Island

{{Div col end}}

; Shrines

{{Div col}}

• Sumiyoshi Taisha
• Osaka Tenmangu
• {{ill|Goryo Shrine|ja|御霊神社 (大阪市)}}
• Zama Shrine
• {{ill|Namba Shrine|ja|難波神社}}
• Ikukunitama Shrine
• Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine
• Kōzu-gū
• {{ill|Mitsu Hachimangu|ja|御津宮}}
• {{ill|Namba Yasaka Shrine|ja|難波八阪神社}}
• {{ill|Shinmei Shrine (Osaka)|lt=Shinmei Shrine|ja|神明神社 (大阪市)}}
• {{ill|Imamiya Shrine|ja|今宮戎神社}}
• {{ill|Abe Seimei Shrine|ja|阿倍王子神社}}
• {{ill|Kumata Shrine|ja|杭全神社}}
• {{ill|Tsuyunoten Shrine|ja|露天神社}}
• Tsunashiki Tenjin Shrine
• {{ill|Asahi Shinmeisha|ja|朝日神明社}}

{{Div col end}}

; Temples

{{Div col}}

• Shitennō-ji
• {{ill|Shitennoji Honbo Garden|ja|四天王寺本坊庭園}}
• {{ill|Shomanin|ja|勝鬘院}}
• Dainenbutsu-ji
• {{ill|Taishokannonji|ja|大聖観音寺}}
• Isshin-ji
• Taiyū-ji
• {{ill|Hozenji|ja|法善寺}}
• {{ill|Honganji Tsumura Betsuin|ja|本願寺津村別院}}
• {{ill|Shinshu Buddhist Otani-ha Sect Namba Betsuin Temple|ja|真宗大谷派難波別院}}

{{Div col end}}

; Churches

{{Div col}}

• {{ill|United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ) Naniwa Church|ja|日本基督教団大阪教会}}
• {{ill|Grand Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of Osaka|ja|大阪カテドラル聖マリア大聖堂}}
• Japan Anglican Church
• Japan Christian Church Osaka Fukushima Church
• Japan Evangelical Lutheran Osaka Church

{{Div col end}}

;

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

File:Osakatowernight.jpg, a symbol of Osaka's postwar reconstruction]]

Osaka is twinned with:{{cite web |title=The City of Osaka's International Network|url=https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/keizaisenryaku/english/international_network.html|website=city.osaka.lg.jp|publisher=Osaka|access-date=December 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415203553/https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/keizaisenryaku/english/international_network.html|archive-date=April 15, 2021}}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• {{flagicon|TUR}} Aksaray, Turkey
• {{flagicon|USA}} Chicago, Illinois, United States (since November 1973)
• {{flagicon|DEU}} Hamburg, Germany (since May 1989)
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (since May 1984)
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (since April 1978)
• {{flagicon|ITA}} Milan, Lombardy, Italy (since June 1981)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Saint Petersburg, Russia (since August 1979)
• {{flagicon|USA}} San Francisco, California, United States (former partnership, October 1957–October 2018)
• {{flagicon|BRA}} São Paulo, Brazil (since October 1969)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Shanghai, China (since April 1974)
• {{flagicon|CAN}} Toronto, Ontario, Canada (since June 1994)

{{Div col end}}

Osaka also cooperates with:

• {{flagicon|HUN}} Budapest, Hungary (1998)
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Busan, South Korea (2008)
• {{flagicon|ARG}} Buenos Aires, Argentina (1998)
• {{flagicon|UKR}} Dnipro, Ukraine (2022)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Seattle, United States

Osaka's business partner cities, mostly in the Asia-Pacific region, are:

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• {{flagicon|NZL}} Auckland, New Zealand
• {{flagicon|THA}} Bangkok, Thailand
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• {{flagicon|DEU}} Hamburg, Germany
• {{flagicon|VNM}} Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• {{flagicon|HKG}} Hong Kong, China
• {{flagicon|INA}} Jakarta, Indonesia
• {{flagicon|MYS}} Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• {{flagicon|USA}} Los Angeles, California, United States
• {{flagicon|PHL}} Manila, Philippines
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• {{flagicon|IND}} Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Seoul, South Korea
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Shanghai, China
• {{flagicon|SGP}} Singapore
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Tianjin, China

{{div col end}}

Osaka's sister ports are:

{{div col|colwidth=10em}}

• {{flagicon|KOR}} Port of Busan, South Korea
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Port of Le Havre, France
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Port of Melbourne, Australia
• {{flagicon|VNM}} Saigon Port, Vietnam
• {{flagicon|USA}} Port of San Francisco, United States
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Port of Shanghai (friendship port treaty)
• {{flagicon|ESP}} Port of Valencia, Spain
• {{flagicon|CHL}} Port of Valparaiso, Chile

{{div col end}}

• Expo '70
• Expo 2025
• List of metropolitan areas by population

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{See also|Timeline of Osaka#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Osaka}}

• {{cite journal|doi=10.1017/S0080440118000063|title=Castles and the Militarisation of Urban Society in Imperial Japan|journal=Transactions of the Royal Historical Society|volume=28|pages=107–134|year=2018|last1=Benesch|first1=Oleg|s2cid=158403519|url=http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/133333/1/Benesch_Castles_and_the_Militarisation_of_Urban_Society_in_Imperial_Japan_TRHS_Accepted_Manuscript.pdf|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120055147/http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/133333/1/Benesch_Castles_and_the_Militarisation_of_Urban_Society_in_Imperial_Japan_TRHS_Accepted_Manuscript.pdf|archive-date=November 20, 2018}}
• {{cite book |title=An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles | last=De Lange |first=William |year=2021 |pages=600 pages|publisher=Toyo Press |location=Groningen |isbn=978-94-92722-30-0}}
• De Lange, William. (2022). The Siege of Osaka Castle: The Winter and Summer Campaigns. Groningen: Toyo Press. {{ISBN| 978-949-2722-386}}
• Gerstle, C. Andrew. Kabuki Heroes on the Osaka Stage 1780–1830 (2005).
• Hanes, Jeffrey. The City as Subject: Seki Hajime and the Reinvention of Modern Osaka (2002) [https://www.questia.com/read/105859766?title=The%20City%20as%20Subject%3a%20%20Seki%20Hajime%20and%20the%20Reinvention%20of%20Modern%20Osaka online edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513171856/http://www.questia.com/read/105859766?title=The%20City%20as%20Subject%3A%20%20Seki%20Hajime%20and%20the%20Reinvention%20of%20Modern%20Osaka |date=May 13, 2012 }}
• Hauser, William B. "Osaka: a Commercial City in Tokugawa Japan." Urbanism past and Present 1977–1978 (5): 23–36.
• Hein, Carola, et al. Rebuilding Urban Japan after 1945. (2003). 274 pp.
• Hotta, Chisato. "The Construction of the Korean Community in Osaka between 1920 and 1945: A Cross-Cultural Perspective." PhD dissertation U. of Chicago 2005. 498 pp. DAI 2005 65(12): 4680-A. DA3158708 Fulltext: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Lockyer, Angus. "The Logic of Spectacle C. 1970", Art History, Sept 2007, Vol. 30 Issue 4, p571-589, on the international exposition held in 1970
• McClain, James L. and Wakita, Osamu, eds. Osaka: The Merchants' Capital of Early Modern Japan. (1999). 295 pp. [https://www.questia.com/read/103760551?title=Osaka%2c%20the%20Merchant's%20Capital%20of%20Early%20Modern%20Japan online edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513031100/http://www.questia.com/read/103760551?title=Osaka%2C%20the%20Merchant%27s%20Capital%20of%20Early%20Modern%20Japan |date=May 13, 2012 }}
• Michelin Red Guide Kyoto Osaka Kobe 2011 (2011)
• Najita, Tetsuo. Visions of Virtue in Tokugawa Japan: The Kaitokudo Merchant Academy of Osaka. (1987). 334 pp. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120513171901/http://www.questia.com/read/34221399?title=Visions%20of%20Virtue%20in%20Tokugawa%20Japan%3a%20The%20Kaitokudo%20Merchant%20Academy%20of%20Osaka online edition]
• Rimmer, Peter J. "Japan's World Cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya or Tokaido Megalopolis?" Development and Change 1986 17(1): 121–157. {{ISSN|0012-155X}}
• Ropke, Ian Martin. Historical Dictionary of Osaka and Kyoto. 273pp Scarecrow Press (July 22, 1999) {{ISBN|978-0-8108-3622-8}}.
• Ruble, Blair A. Second Metropolis: Pragmatic Pluralism in Gilded Age Chicago, Silver Age Moscow, and Meiji Osaka. (2001). 464 pp.
• Torrance, Richard. "Literacy and Literature in Osaka, 1890–1940," The Journal of Japanese Studies 31#1 (Winter 2005), pp. 27–60 in Project MUSE

{{Wiktionary|大阪|Ōsaka}}

• [https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/enjoy/en/index.html Osaka City official website] {{in lang|en}}
• [https://osaka-info.jp/en/ Official Osaka Tourist Guide]
• {{Cite NSRW|short=x|wstitle=Osaka}}
• {{osmrelation-inline|358674|Osaka}}

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