Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 640

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

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. Considering the extent to which the factory system of indus- trialism now holds sway, the town recalls Mancester rather than Venice. Osaka is essentially Japanese, though a go-ahead and progressive city, and possesses much of interest to the foreign visitor. The population is close upon a million. It is situated in the province of Setsu, and is built on the banks of the river Aji, 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 which at one time were established in the latter city have removed to Kobe. Hopes are very generally entertained in Osaka of a recovery of the city's lost position in this respect, and to that end a new harbour has been constructed to accom- mmodate ocean-going steamers. The most imposing and at the same time the most- interesting object to be seen in Osaka is the Castle, erected in 1583 by the famous warrior Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and which was carried by Yeyasu, the founder of the House of Tokugawa Shoguns, after a famous siege in 1615. 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 most of the other provincial governments, which are termed Kencho. Osaka is the seat of numerous industries, including cotton spinning mills, shipbuilding yards, iron works, and sugar refining, 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 trade statistics of Osaka in recent years have shown remarkable growth. In 1900 the imports amounted to yen 9,741,436 and the exports to yen 9,626,595, showing an increase of nearly 40 per cent. on the previous year's returns. In each succeeding year there was steady growth in imports, while exports jumped up astonishingly. In 1904 the figures were: imports yen 16,977,392 and exports yen 20,790,208. The returns for 1905 showed a further increase in the trade of Osaka, the imports amounted to 18,499,831 yen while the exports increased to 55,938,208 yen. The imports in 1906 amounted to yen 24,878,715, and the exports to yen 59,910,227. This shows the trade to have more than doubled in three years, but these are abnormal figures, due to the military movements following on the termination of the war. The population returns show 600 foreigners residing in the district of Osaka

Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 640

Comments

Private Research Note