Directory_and_Chronicle_1898 — Page 492

NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA

M. Hama, agent

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION

NIIGATA-OSAKA

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

POST AND TELEGRAPH Office Director-Toru Tsuruda

SISTERS OF CHARITY

eur Vitalme, supérieure Sœurs Aspasie, Caroline

55

OSAKA

and

Osaka is the second city in Japan in point of size and commercial importance, 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 regalar, 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 editice, 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 sent 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 imports in 1896 amounted to $1,213,790, and the exports to $1,141,325 against $2,621,261 imports and $1,134,700, exports in the previous year. The population of Osaka was 490,009 in December, 1895, The number of foreign residents was 103, not including Chinese. The British and American residents are, with few exceptions, missionaries.

DIRECTORY

CHINA AND JAPAN TRADING COMPANY, LD.

Agency

Phoenix Fire Insurance Company

CONSULATES

BELGIUM

Acting Consul --J. Favre

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

Importers -10, Concession

C. Favre-Brandt (Nenchatei)

J. Favre-Brandt (Yokohama)

L. Du Bois (absent)

J. Favre, M.E., sigus per pro.

FIRE BRIGADE

Captain-Rev. C. Theo, Warren Foremen-C. W. M. Birch, L. M.

Oberkotter

Secretary and Treas.-Walter Loxton

1

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

IMPERIAL ARSENAL

Colonel Ota Tokusaburo, director

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT MINT, Kawasaki

Director-T. Hasegawa

Assayer Y. Koga, F.C.S.

OSAKA FUCHO

Governor - Utsumi Tadakatsu Secretary-Yoshiwara Saburo

Ch. Police Inspr.- Suzuki Sadanao Clerk-in-charge of For.Att.-- T.Maida

OSAKA CASTLE

Commandant-General M. Ogawa

Osaka Chiho Saibansho (Distrt. Court) Presdt, and Judge-Umayabara Jiro Head Public Procurator—Ichinose

Yusaburo

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