Japan Impression II - Osaka

Posted by Yuka as Japan

Osaka is the second biggest city in Japan, and it was once the commercial capital of Japan. Osaka Castle is one of Japan’s most famous castles. It was built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Toyotomi continued to extend and expand the castle, making it more and more formidable to attackers.

But later, Hideyori was attacked by Tokugawa, one of the three most famous generals in ancient Japan. Osaka Castle was burnt in the war, and later reconstructed by Tokugawa Hidetada. The walls built in the 1620s still stand today, and are made out of interlocked granite boulders with no mortar. They are held together solely by each other. It’s amazing! Many of the stones were brought from different places by different subordinate of the general, and each stone had a special sign.

The biggest stone was placed into the wall opposite to the entrance of the castle and I took a picture there. We went to Osaka Castle in early morning, and there were some people doing exercise nearby. A person wore a mask. I was curious about that and asked the guide. He told me it was because the person had a cold. I didn’t know what to say, but I began to feel the Japanese spirits. There is something we should learn from them.

There is a special place in Osaka Castle Park. There was an electric appliance show in Osaka in about 1970s. After the show, all of the appliances were collected and buried under ground. The guide told us it would be opened again after 5000 years. Japanese people want their offspring know the life of the ancestors. I think it’s a great idea. If we leave something important or special every year, it will be easy for people in future to know our lives. I don’t have the habit to collect old things. Part of it is that I wish I can never recall yesterday. Sometimes recall makes me very sad and I wish time can stop at the first time I meet someone.

Shinsaibashi is the city’s main shopping area. Luxury goods and department stores are found around this area. However, it’s a little different from Chinese shopping center. Shinsaibashi has a main street, and most stores stand on both sides of the street. I like this style, ‘cause it’s easier to find what you need. The buildings in Osaka are not very high. It’s seldom to see skyscrapers here. The guide told us part of it was global warming problem and earthquakes.