Osaka.July 2007

Osaka Stereotypes/traits

Funny. Best commedians
Leading world fashion - A bit out there with clothes
Best food in Japan
A bit different from other Japanese, ruder/maybe more casual
http://www.quirkyjapan.or.tv/kenminsei.htm


Namba


Shin-Kabuki-za


American Village (Ame-mura)


Namba - Dōtonbori

Curse of the Colonel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Colonel
In 1985, much to Japanese people's surprise,[2] the Hanshin Tigers faced the Seibu Lions and took their first and only victory in the Japan Championship Series, largely due to star slugger Randy Bass,[4] a gaijin player for the team. The rabid fan base went wild, and a riotous celebration gathered at Ebisubashi Bridge in Dotonbori, Osaka. There, an assemblage of supporters yelled the players names, and with every name a fan resembling a member of the victorious team leapt from the bridge into the waiting canal. However, lacking someone to imitate MVP Randy Bass, the rabid crowd seized the Colonel Sanders (like Bass, the Colonel had a beard and was not Japanese) plastic statue from a nearby KFC and tossed it off the bridge as an effigy. This impulsive maneuver was to cost the team greatly, beginning the Curse of the Colonel.[1] Urban legend has it that the Tigers will not win the championship again until the statue is recovered.

2003, the Tigers had an unexpectedly strong season Many KFC outlets in Kōbe and Ōsaka moved their Colonel Sanders statues inside until the series was over to protect them from rabid Tigers fans


Dōtonbori street Fugu restraunt


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Big hair. A definate crowd favorite


Kuidaore Taro installed in 1950,


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Tsutenkaku Tower


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Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan


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Osaka Castle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Osaka

built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1582

In 1614, Ieyasu Tokugawa accused Hideyoshi Toyotomi falsely, which triggered off the Winter Siege of Osaka. For about one month, the Toyotomi Forces, consisting of about 100,000 soldiers, held Osaka Castle and defended the castle from the attack of the Tokugawa Forces, consisting of 200,000 soldiers. But the Tokugawa Forces did not succeed in capturing the sogamae (outer citadel). After concluding peace, however, the outer moats of Osaka Castle were filled up and the castle became defenseless, in which the only Honmaru (Inner Bailey) remained. The Toyotomi family began restoration of Osaka Castle by digging up the outer moats which had been filled up after the family had concluded peace with the Tokugawa family in the Winter Siege of Osaka. The Tokugawas, however, regarded the work as rearmament, which triggered off the Summer War of Osaka. It was five months after the end of the Winter Siege. The Toyotomi Forces struck the Tokugawas first outside the castle, but they had to retreat to Osaka Castle which was almost defenseless. As a result of the War, the city was in utter confusion. Osaka Castle finally fell and the Toyotomi family was ruined.
http://www.tracyanddale.50megs.com/Japan/html%20files/osakac.html



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My favorite friends, a group of Tanuki statues.


The main castle keep


The castle is quite ornate


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Scenes from the famousBattle of Tennôji in June 1615 revolving around the castle.
Hideyori and his mother commited suicide. In the aftermath Ieyasu personally ordered that Hideyori's infant son be executed and Osaka Castle largely dismantled.
http://www.samurai-archives.com/ieyasu.html

View from the top of the keep

Osaka King Festival


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michiko1173 from 2006 festival. Sorry no maids last year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEV9BUEkH-k


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