Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 686

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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. Considering the extent to which the factory system of indus- trialism now holds sway, the

town recalls Manchester rather than Venice. 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 Setsu, and is built .on the banks and at the mouth of the river Aji, The river is only navig- able 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 were very generally entertained in Osaka of a recovery of the city's lost position in this respect, and to that end a new harbour was partially constructed to accommodate ocean-going steamers. The works, however, have not had the effect upon the city's trade that was expected, and though the scheme has not been abandoned the work has been greatly delayed. 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 Ieyasu, 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 eighteen great military districts, and it has also within its enclosure an extensive military arsenal. The city is the seat of the provincial government, hich 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

cotton spinning mills, shipbuilding yards, iron works, and sugar refining. Cotton Spinning may be said to be the largest industry. There are six spinning companies in the city representing a paid-up capital of Yen 26,856,250. Of 733,039 looms in Japan no fewer than 5,699 are in Osaka. The number of factories, mills, or works of all kinds in Osaka in 1912 was returned as 9,059, but only four of these employed more than one thousand hands. The Imperial Mint is also located here. 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. The imports in 1913 were valued at Yen 41,675,529 and the exports at Yen 73,452,450. During the latter half of 1914 the trade of Osaka was greatly affected by the conditions that followed closely on the outbreak of war. For the year 1914 the imports were Yen 41,406,054 and the exports Yen 73,342,708. In 1915 there was a considerable revival and the figures were, imports Yen 50,610,954 and exports Yen 93,822,639. The Osaka trade, returns, however, do not afford a reliable index of the foreign trade, the greater part of which passes through the Kobe customs. Most of the goods exported from or imported into Osaka are shipped or discharged at Kobe. The population of the city is given as 1,413,351. The number of foreign residents, other than Chinese, is 97, of whom 51 are Americans, 19 British, 19 French, and 2 Portuguese. In 1909 a third of the city was destroyed by fire, the total damage being estimated at Yen 25,000,000. A much better class of house has taken the place of those destroyed, and the regulations for rebuilding provide for wide thoroughfares.