Osaka Prefecture

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Osaka Prefecture was created on June 21, 1868, at the very beginning of the Meiji era. Prior to the Meiji Restoration, the modern-day area was split between Kawachi, Izumi, and Settsu provinces. During the instigation of Fuhanken Sanchisei in 1868, the prefecture received its suffix fu. On September 1, 1956, the city of Osaka was promoted to a city designated by government ordinance and divided into 24 wards. Sakai became the second city in the prefecture to be promoted to a city designated by government ordinance on April 1, 2006, and was divided into seven wards. In 2000, Fusae Ota became Japan's first female governor when she replaced Knock Yokoyama, who resigned after prosecution for sexual harassment. Tōru Hashimoto, previously famous as a counselor on television, was elected in 2008 at the age of 38, becoming the youngest governor in Japan. On June 18, 2018, an earthquake struck the northern region of the prefecture. It killed 4 people and caused minor damage across Greater Osaka. A proposed reorganisation to reform Osaka Prefecture into the Osaka Metropolis and merge with the City of Osaka was backed by Governor Tōru Hashimoto. A referendum on the issue was held in 2015 and was defeated with 50.38% of voters opposed to the plan. A second referendum in 2020 was rejected by 50.6% of voters.

Reader's Guide

Osaka Prefecture is significant as the third-most-populous prefecture in Japan and the second-most densely populated, below only Tokyo. It is one of only two prefectures designated as fu, reflecting its historical and administrative importance. The prefecture forms the core of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, a globally significant economic region. Its economy is notable for the high proportion of output from small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which accounted for 65.4% of manufactured output in the prefecture, significantly higher than Tokyo's 55.5% or Kanagawa's 38.4%. Major companies include electronics giants Panasonic and Sharp. The prefecture also hosts the Osaka Securities Exchange, specializing in derivatives such as Nikkei 225 Futures. Demographically, Osaka Prefecture has the largest ethnic Korean population of any prefecture in Japan, with about 93,000 persons as of 2022, a legacy of migration during the Japanese rule of Korea. The prefecture's cultural landmarks include Shitennō-ji, Kanshin-ji, and Sumiyoshi Taisha, as well as the Expo Commemoration Park, site of Expo '70. Its universities include Osaka University, Kansai University, and Kindai University.

Did You Know?

• Osaka Prefecture is one of Japan's two 'urban prefectures' using the designation fu, along with Kyoto Prefecture.
• Fusae Ota became Japan's first female governor when she replaced Knock Yokoyama in 2000.
• Tōru Hashimoto was elected governor in 2008 at age 38, becoming the youngest governor in Japan.
• As of 2022, Osaka Prefecture has about 93,000 ethnic Korean persons, the largest such population of any prefecture in Japan.
• A 2015 referendum to reform Osaka Prefecture into the Osaka Metropolis was defeated with 50.38% of voters opposed.