Osaka

Osaka was traditionally considered Japan's economic hub. By the Kofun period it had developed into an important regional port, and in the seventh and eighth centuries it served briefly as the imperial capital. Osaka continued to flourish during the Edo period and became known as a center of Japanese culture. Following the Meiji Restoration, it greatly expanded in size and underwent rapid industrialization. This accelerated population growth throughout the following decades, and Osaka was the industrial hub in the Meiji and Taishō eras. It made contributions to redevelopment, urban planning and zoning standards in the postwar period, and developed rapidly as one of the major financial centers in the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area.