Directory_and_Chronicle_1894 — Page 444

NIIGATA-OSAKA

DIRECTORY

American Board MissION

Rev. Hilton and Mrs. Pedley, Nishi

Ohata Dori, 2 bancho

Rev. H. B. and Mrs. Newell, Gakko-cho Miss Clara Brown,

CHINO SAIBANCHO

Judge President-Kouda Gitei

CONSULATE GREAT BRITAIN

Acting Consul―J. C. Hall

CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL

do.

Superintendent-Watanabe Yoshiro

KENCHO

Governor-Koteda Yasusada Secretary-Sugimoto Shigeto

Councillor-Nishigawa Shotaro

Inspector-in-chief of Police-Kubo-

mura Kuwatsuzo

KOTO CHIN GAKKO

O. N. Benton

NIIGATA Bussan Kaisha (Niigata Produce

Company)

Sudzuki Chohachi, director Fujita Bunji, manager

NIPPON YUSen Kaishia

M. Hama, agent

POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICE

Director-Toyohara Kiyoshi

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION

Rev. O. de Noailles, mission. apost. Rev. Alexis Cocherie

SISTERS OF Charity

Sœur Vitalme, supérieure Sœurs Aspasie, Caroline

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 Nagoya, 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, and it has also within its inclosure an extensive military arsenal. 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 establishment is in active operation and turns out a coinage not surpassed by any in the world. The number of foreign residents in 1892 was 262, and most of the British and Americans are missionaries. The imports in 1892 amounted to $5,547.370 and the exports to $1,258,532 against $4,084,705 imports and $981,103 exports in the previous year. The population of Osaka was 484,342 in December, 1891.