Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 538

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OSAKA

Owing to the inclusion within the city limits, as from April 1st, 1925, of a large number of suburban districts and villages, Osaka is now the largest city in Japan in size, with a population of 3,059,502. In commercial and industrial import- ance it also ranks first in the Japanese Empire. During recent years the city has been rapidly assuming a modern and Western aspect. Broad wood-paved streets intersect it in all directions, large buildings of the sky-scraper type are springing up throughout the business centre, and motor traffic is increasing rapidly. The city is situated in the province of Settsu and is built on the banks and at the mouth of the river Aji. From the point of view of the foreign tourist, the most interesting and imposing sight is Osaka Castle, erected in 1583 by the famous warrior Toyotomi Hideyoshi. 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 18 great military districts. It has also within its enclosure an extensive military arsenal. Osaka, like Tokyo and Kyoto, is the capital of the Prefecture to which the city gives its name. It is the seat of numerous industries, including cotton-spinning mills, shipbuilding yards, iron-works and sugar refineries. Cotton-spinning and weaving are the most important industries and there are a large number of big mills in the city and neighbourhood. The number of factories of all kinds in the city in 1923 was 19,507, employing a total of 114,190 hands. The Imperial Mint also is established here.

Extensive harbour improvements have been in progress for a number of years, and at present wharfage is available for five vessels of 5,000 to 6,000 tons, while vessels of 10,000 tons or 29 feet draught can enter the port. A considerable sum of money is still to be expended on the harbour, on the completion of which eight vessels of 10,000 tons will be able to come alongside the wharves, while as many as 50 or 60 of the same size will be provided with berthing space at buoys.

The trade statistics of Osaka since the war have shown great growth. Imports in 1925 were valued at Yen 306,367,000 and exports at Yen 500,672,000, as compared with Yen 272,753,365 and Yen 402,579,931, respectively, in 1924. The Osaka trade returns, however, do not afford a reliable index of the foreign trade, a great part of which passes through the Kobe customs.

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 thoroughfares have been widened.

DIRECTORY

AALL & Co.-28, Higashi Umeda-cho,

Kitaku; Teleph. 2584 (Kita)

H. Nyhuus

AMERICAN TRADING CO., INC., Importers, Exporters, Engineers, Shipping and Insurance Rooms 416 and 417, Dojima Building, 1-chome, Hama-dori, Kita-ku; Telephs. 5911 to 5913 (Kita, L.D.); P.O. Box 8 (Central); Tel. Ad: Amtraco; Codes: A.B.C. 5th, A.B.C. 5th imp., Western Union, 5-letter edn. Schofield's Eclectic, Bentley's

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National Cash Register Dept.-65, Bakurocho, 2-chome, Higashiku; P.O. Box 8 (Central), Telephs. 1155 and 3914 (Semba)

J. H. Dowling, manager Branches- Nagoya: 12, Shimon- sonocho, 4-chome, Nishiku; Teleph, 2696 (Honkyoku). Kyoto: Yanagin- obamba, Nishi-iru Shijo-dori. Okayama: Homachi, 2-chome;. Teleph. 638 (Okaya). Hakata: 12, Shimookudocho; Teleph. 1187 (Fukuoka)

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