Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 582

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

524

OSAKA

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 cy'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 a province in itself and has its own Governor. It is the seat of numerous industries, including cotton-spinning 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 1919 were valued at Yen 167,670,519 and the exports at Yen 438,837,169, as compared with Yen 137,538,443 and Yen 405,825,117 in 1918. 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 lim- ported into, Osaka are shipped or discharged at Kobe. The population of the city is 1,252,972, according to the census taken in 1920. In 1909 a third of the city was destroyed by fire, the total daniage 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.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 582

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