Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 442

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OSAKA.

Osaka is the second city in Japan in point of size and commercial importance, and has not inaptly been termed the Venice of the Far East, owing to the manner in which it is intersected by canals. The city is compact and well laid out, the streets being regular, clean, and animated. Osaka is essentially Japanese, though a go-ahead and progressive city, and possesses much of interest to the foreign visitor. It is situated in the province of Settsu, and is built on the banks of the river Ajikawa, about five miles from the sea. The river is only navigable for small vessels, and on the opening of the railway to Kobe the foreign trade of Osaka commenced to decline. Almost all the foreign firms in the latter city have removed to Kobe. The most imposing and at the same time the most interesting object to be seen in Osaka is the Castle, erected in 1583 by one of the Shoguns, the famous Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Though less extensive than that of Tokyo, it is a much grander and more striking edifice, and is indeed, next to that of Nagoyo, the finest example of the ancient feudal castles of Japan. It is now occupied by the Osaka garrison, and forms the headquarters of one of the six great military districts. The city is the seat of the provincial government, which is called Fucho, in contradistinction to the other provincial governments, which are termed Kencho. Osaka is the seat of numerous industries, including cotton spinning mills, shipbuilding yards, and iron works, and the Imperial Mint is located there. This establisliment is in active operation and turns out a coinage not surpassed by any in the world. The number of foreign residents in 1889 was 283, of whom 135 were Chinese, 83 American, and 50 British, nearly all of the two latter nationalities being missionaries. The imports and exports are included with those of Kobe-Hyogo. The population of Osaka was 442,658 in 1889.

DIRECTORY

CHINA AND JAPAN TRADING COMPANY, LD'

Wm. Posch, manager

T. Asai

Ahency

Phoenix Fire Insurance Company

CONSULATE BELGIUM

Acting Consul-L. Du Bois

Favre-BrandT, C. & J., Watch and Clock

Importers-10, Concession

C. Favre-Brandt (Neuchatel) J. Favre-Brandt (Yokohama)

L. Du Bois

G. Du Bois

FIRE BRIGADE

Captain-L. Du Bois

Foreman-A. N. Hansell

Secretary and Treas.-Walter Loxton

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

IMPERIAL ARSENAL

Colonel Makino, director

Colonel Tajima

Major P. Asa

Major P. Grillo

M. Bisso M. Forniers

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IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT MINT, Kawasaki

K. S. Endo, director

T. Hasegawa, superintendent

OSAKA CASTLE

General Viscount Takashima, com-

mandant

OSAKA FUCHO

Nishimura Suteso, Chiji

Satow Chow, Shoki-kwan

Suzuki Masaya,

do.

Takasaki Chika Akira, s iperintend-

ent of police

Tateishi Kanemasa, chief collector

of revenue

OSAKA KOSO SAIBANSHO (Court of

Appeal)

Kojima Korekata, Chief Judge,

President

OSAKA SHISHIN SAIBANSHO (Court of

First Instance)

Oshima Sadatoshi, Chief Judge,

President

HANSELL, A. N., Architect and Surveyor,

18, Concession