Osaka Background

If Tokyo is Japan's capital, Osaka might be called its anti-capital. Osaka is the main metropolis of the Kansai region, and its inhabitants exhibit a strong rivalry towards the Kanto region, from baseball, food, popular culture, even to which side they ride escalators (on the left in Tokyo, but on the right in Osaka).

Osaka skyline, Japan -- by MattSal

Back in the days of the Tokugawa shogunate, Edo (now Tokyo) was the austere seat of military power and Kyoto was the home to the Imperial court and its effete courties, but Osaka was where the merchants made and lost their fortunes. To this day Osaka remains Japan's best place to eat, drink and party, and Osakans still greet each other with moukarimakka?, "are you making money?".

Content of this article provided by Japan Guide.