Osaka Prefecture Specialties, Souvenirs, Shrines, Temples, and Travel | 47 Prefecture Guide

Osaka was less a place where things were made than a place where things gathered It was called the nation’s kitchen because goods from across Japan passed through here.

Specialties

Sakai forged knives are said to account for roughly 90% of the domestic share of Japanese knives used by professional chefs.

This is not 90% of the general consumer market. It is 90% of “people who make their living with them.” In other words, most of the people who use and sharpen their knives every day choose the same production area.

It began in the 16th century, with tobacco knives used to cut tobacco leaves introduced from Portugal They became known for their sharpness, and the shogunate granted them the Sakai Kiwame mark and authorized exclusive sales. It was a “state-guaranteed brand” from 400 years ago.

Senshu water eggplant, Nose chestnuts, Tennoji turnips, and the culture of flour-based foods.

Souvenirs

Awa okoshi, 551 pork buns, and sake cups and tea canisters made with Osaka Naniwa Tinware.

Tin is considered resistant to rust among metals and unlikely to alter flavor This is why it has long been used for sake vessels.

Shrines and Temples

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka City is the head shrine of the approximately 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines said to exist across Japan. It enshrines deities of the sea.

The four main shrine buildings are National Treasures, and preserve a form of architecture called Sumiyoshi-zukuri, a style from before Buddhism arrived in Japan It is. Its straight roof and form without upward curves preserve a Japanese building style from before Chinese influence. Crossing the arched Taiko Bridge is part of the way to worship.

Shitennoji Temple in Osaka City is is said to be Japan’s oldest full-scale Buddhist temple, traditionally believed to have been built by Prince Shotoku The Shitennoji-style temple layout, with the gate, pagoda, main hall, and lecture hall arranged in a straight line from the south, takes its name from this temple.

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine enshrines the deity of learning and comes alive in July for the Tenjin Festival, one of Japan’s three great festivals. Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, known as Ebessan, has also attracted the faith of merchants.

Sightseeing

The Mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku is part of the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group, which was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2019. The groups who made the iron tools used to build this burial mound are considered the origin of Sakai’s metalworking.

Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, and the modern architecture of Nakanoshima.

Traditional Crafts

There are 9 nationally designated items. Sakai forged blades, Osaka ranma transoms, Osaka karaki joinery, Osaka Senshu paulownia chests, Osaka Naniwa tinware, Osaka Kongo bamboo blinds, Naniwa honzome dyeing, Osaka Buddhist altars, and Izumi glass.

Every one of them is something used in daily life. While Kyoto’s 17 items lean toward the decorative side, Osaka leans toward the practical side. Neighboring places can have such different characters.

For details, see [VILLAGE Report vol.23] 90% of professional Japanese kitchen knives come from Sakai

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References: Osaka Prefecture, Sakai City, Osaka City, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries — Value Village Editorial Team