Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 576

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HAKODATE-OSAKA

NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA (Japan Mail Steam- Ship Co.)-Telephs. 137, 1354, 1366 and 548; Tel. Ad: Yusen

I. Matsudaira, manager

K. Akiyama, sub-manager

T. Inouye, resident marine supt.

SALE & FRAZAR, LTD.-23, Benten-cho,

Hakodate-ku, Hokkaido

W. W. Purdue

SAPPORO

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, Tohoku Im-

perial University

HOKKAIDO CHO (ADMINISTRATION)

Governor-M. Tawara

MERCANTILE AGENCY, The Tokyo Koshinjo (Mercantile Agency) Moto Machi; Teleph. 871

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. Osaka, like Tokyo and Kyoto, forms province in itself and has its own Governor. It is the seat of numerous industries, including cotton-spinning mills,

mills, shipbuilding yards, iron works, and sugar refining. Cotton spinning may be said to be the largest industry. There are eight spinning companies in the city representing a paid-up capital of Yen 87,308,000. Of 37,607 looms (in spinning factories only) in Japan no fewer than 5,376 are in Osaka, The number of factories, mills, or works of all kinds in Osaka in 1916 was returned as 14,233, but only ten of these employed more than one thousand hands. The Imperial Mint is also located here. This establish. ment 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 1918 were valued at Yen 137,538,443 and the exports at Yen 405,825,117. During the latter half of 1914 the trade of Osaka was greatly affected by the con- ditions 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. In 1916 the imports were Yen 81,908,705 and the exports Yen 141,805,247; and in 1917, Yen 93,611,621 and Yen 255,316,717 respectively. 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 1,576,283. The number of foreign residents, other than Chinese, is 119, of whom 59 are Americans, 30 British, and 11 French. 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 regula tions for rebuilding provide for wide thoroughfares.

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