Ōsaka Prefecture (大阪府 Ōsaka-fu) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka

History

Yokoyama Nokku became governor of Osaka Prefecture in 1995 but resigned in 2000 following allegations of sexual harassment. He was replaced by Ota Fusae.

Geography

Cities

Districts

• Minamikawachi
  • Chihayaakasaka
  • Kanan
  • Mihara
  • Taishi
• Mishima
  • Shimamoto
• Senboku
  • Tadaoka
• Sennan
  • Kumatori
  • Misaki
  • Tajiri
• Toyono
  • Nose
  • Toyono

Economy

- *Gross prefectural product: ¥40.9 trillion + - *Annual industrial output: ¥17.2 trillion + - *Annual retail sales: ¥76.6 trillion + - + - Major companies based in Osaka Prefecture include Hankyu , Kintetsu, Matsushita, Sharp, Sanyo, Nissin and Glico

Transportation

Demographics

Culture

Universities in Osaka Prefecture

• Osaka University (Toyonaka and Suita)
• Osaka University of Foreign Studies (Minoo)
• Osaka Kyoiku University (Kashiwara)
• Osaka City University (Osaka city)
• Osaka Prefecture University (Sakai)
• Kansai University (Suita, Takatsuki, Osaka city)
• Kinki University (Higashiosaka)
• Kansai Gaidai University (Hirakata)

Tourism

Osaka-fu has three airports (Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport, and Yao Airport).

Prefectural symbols

The symbol of Osaka Prefecture, called the sennari byōtan or "thousand gourds," was originally the crest of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the feudal lord of Osaka Castle.

Miscellaneous topics

• Until the reclamation of the Kansai International Airport island, Osaka was the smallest prefecture by area; it is now merely the second-smallest.

• Osaka is the only unlandlocked prefecture that does not have any natural islands.

• In 2000, Osaka became the first prefecture in Japan to elect a woman governor.

External links

• Official Osaka Prefecture homepage
• Osaka Tourism & Convention Guidance homepage