Directory_and_Chronicle_1900 — Page 520

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 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 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 imports in 1898 amounted to yen 3,555,937 and the exports to yen 3,165,082 against yen 4,424,742 imports and yen 2,342,437 exports in the previous year. The population of Osaka was 490,009 in December, 1895. The number of foreign residents on 31st December, 1897, was 121, not including Chinese. The British and American residents, numbering 104 are, with few exceptions, missionaries.

DIRECTORY

CHINA AND JAPAN TRADING COMPANY, LD.

Agency

Phoenix Fire Insurance Company

CONSULATE

BELGIUM

Acting Consul-H. Renault

FAVRE-BRANDT, C. & J., Watch and Clock

Importers 10, Concession

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

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

F. Favre

C. Favre

L. Rubattel

FIRE BRIGADE

Captain-Rev. C. Theo. Warren

Foremen-C. W. M. Birch, L. M.

Oberkotter

Secretary and Treas.-Walter Loxton

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT MINT, Kawasaki

Director T. Hasegawa Assayer-Y. Koga, F.C.S.

IMPERIAL ARSENAL

Colonel Ota Tokusaburo, director

OSAKA FUCHO

Governor-Kikuchi Kanji Secretary- Nishizawa Shotaro Ch. Police Inspr.-Yoshimi Teru Clerk-in-charge of For.Aff.-T. Maida

OSAKA CASTLE

Commandant-General M. Ogawa

OSAKA CHIHO SAIBANSHO (Distrt. Court) President and Judge-Kawamura

Yoshimasu

Pub. Procurator-Mizukami Chojiro Interpreter (Eng.)-Mikuni Isotaro -Nagano Keijiro do. (Chinese)-Nishijima Rioji

do.

Osaka KosoIN (Court of Appeal)

President and Judge Kabuto

Kuninori

Chief Public Procurator-Oshima

Sadatoshi

OSAKA KU SAIBANSHO (Local Court)

Superdng. Judge-Matsuno Setzupu

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