The Original Osaka Castle that Once Stood in the Center of Town
Osaka is the wellspring of Kansai’s energy, energy that keeps the city moving forward at the pace of a bullet train, bringing the whole of Kansai along with it. Osaka’s tremendous human energy made it Japan’s merchant capital for centuries and the country’s number two industrial center in this century, that same energy is helping to turn the city into a world capital of the high technology industry.
Osaka people seem to present a paradox, for they are as well known for their diligence and business sense as for their devotion to leisure activities. On the one hand, Osakans are reputed to be so profit-absorbed that they greet each other with “mokarimakka?” (“making money?”) instead of hello. On the other hand, they are said to enjoy food so much that they will eat their way to financial ruin on expensive delicacies.
Visitors generally find the people of this city to be outgoing and frank, quick to laugh and to make friends, even a bit boisterous, quite a contrast to society-conscious Kyotoites and self-conscious Tokyoites. But it will be evident from one look at modern day Osaka that this city has an exceptional devotion to business. And yes, the dining is indeed terrific. Perhaps there is some truth in what they say about Osakans after all.
The Osaka castle that once stood in the center of town and commanded the entire city has been left behind for the moment by the northwesterly progress of urban development, but its view, as commanding as ever, and its splendor keep it the unchallenged symbol of the city of Osaka. The original Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1586. At the time, Hideyoshi was the military ruler of all of Japan, and his castle was fittingly the greatest and the grandest. The castle has suffered destruction twice in past centuries, both times at the hands of the Tokugawa, who succeeded Hideyoshi in rule. The first time they set fire to it to route out the last vestiges of the Toyotomi clan and secure Tokugawa power. They then rebuilt the castle, but set it ablaze again two and a half centuries later, as they scurried out the back door, themselves routed by imperial forces. The present reconstruction was built in 1931, replicating the external appearance of the 16th century original. It contains a museum filled with relics of Hideyoshi’s day. The grounds around Osaka Castle are an oasis of green open space, popular with runners and picnickers.
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Yes Japanese people are friendly and warm, it’s hard to imagine a dark history they own as agresive invader, but’s it’s a past anyway, btw what did you do to Arthemia it looks so fantastic and unique.
.-= Abi´s last blog ..Tutorial To Upgrade Windows 7 Beta Or RC To Windows 7 RTM =-.
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kalista Reply:
August 1st, 2009 at 4:10 am
Yuppy, their culture is awesome, extensive enough to match most people’s liking of Japanese people. Some says that the streets are much cleaner than in Malaysia, and the roads are broad and rarely ever seem congested, plus the buses and trains are almost always punctual.
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