Editing Osaka (section)

== Culture and lifestyle ==
[[File:Osaka Hanyku Grand.tif|thumb|right|A chef prepares for the evening rush in Umeda.]]
[[File:Takoyaki-osk.jpg|thumb|[[Takoyaki]] (たこ焼き)]] [[File:Dotonbori 19.jpg|thumb|The [[Ezaki Glico|Glico Man]] among numerous signboards at [[Dōtonbori]]]]
[[File:Grand Front Osaka and Yodobashi Umeda in 201504 001.JPG|thumb|right|Grand Front Osaka]]
[[File:Chayamachi Osaka.jpg|thumb|Chayamachi district in Kita-ku]]
[[File:Amerikamura 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Amerikamura]] in Chuo-ku]]
[[File:Nipponbashi Osaka Japan01-r.jpg|thumb|[[Nipponbashi]] in Naniwa-ku]]

=== Shopping and food ===
Osaka has a large number of wholesalers and retail shops: 25,228 and 34,707 respectively in 2004, according to the city statistics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/G000/Gyh17/Ga00/Ga00.html |title=大阪市データネット 1 主要指標 |access-date=February 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510223307/http://www.city.osaka.jp/keikakuchousei/toukei/G000/Gyh17/Ga00/Ga00.html |archive-date=May 10, 2007 }}</ref> Many of them are concentrated in the wards of Chuō (10,468 shops) and Kita (6,335 shops). Types of shops vary from malls to conventional [[shōtengai]] shopping arcades, built both above- and underground.<ref>{{cite book | last = Reiber | first = Beth |author2=Janie Spencer | title = Frommer's Japan | publisher = Frommer's | year = 2008 | page = 388 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CtVJf_gocJUC&q=Osaka+shopping+malls&pg=PA388 | isbn = 978-0-470-18100-3 }}</ref> Shōtengai are seen across Japan, and Osaka has the longest one in the country.<ref>[http://www.kansai.gr.jp/KansaiWindowhtml/Collection/English/000232.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222175100/http://www.kansai.gr.jp/KansaiWindowhtml/Collection/English/000232.html|date=December 22, 2008}}</ref> The Tenjinbashi-suji arcade stretches from the road approaching the [[Ōsaka Tenman-gū|Tenmangū shrine]] and continues for {{convert|2.6|km|1|abbr=in}} going north to south. The stores along the arcade include commodities, clothing, and catering outlets.

Other shopping areas include [[Nipponbashi|Den Den Town]], the electronic and manga/anime district, which is comparable to Akihabara; the [[Umeda]] district, which has the Hankyu Sanbangai shopping mall and [[Yodobashi Camera]], a huge electrical appliance store that offers a vast range of fashion stores, restaurants, and a Shonen Jump store.
Osaka is known for its food, in Japan and abroad. Author [[Michael Booth (writer)|Michael Booth]] and food critic [[François Simon (food critic)|François Simon]] of {{Lang|fr|[[Le Figaro]]}} have suggested that Osaka is the food capital of the world.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/jul/13/osaka-japan-best-food-city | work=The Guardian | first=Michael | last=Booth | title=Osaka - the world's greatest food city | date=July 13, 2009}}</ref> Osakans' love for the culinary is made apparent in the old saying "Kyotoites are financially ruined by overspending on clothing, Osakans are ruined by spending on food."<ref>{{cite book|title=Japan Quarterly, ''Asahi Shinbunsha'' 1954 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gBgVAAAAMAAJ&q=kyoto+kidaore|access-date = March 25, 2007|author1=Shinbunsha, Asahi|year=1979}}</ref> Regional cuisine includes {{Nihongo4||お好み焼き|''[[okonomiyaki]]''|pan-fried batter cake}}, {{Nihongo4||たこ焼き|''[[takoyaki]]''|[[Octopus as food|octopus]] in fried batter}}, {{Nihongo4||うどん|''[[udon]]''|a noodle dish}}, as well as the traditional {{nihongo4||押し寿司|''[[oshizushi]]''|pressed sushi}}, particularly {{nihongo4||バッテラ|battera|pressed mackerel sushi}}.
Osaka is known for its fine sake, which is made with fresh water from the prefecture's mountains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/taste/sake/|title=Superior brand sake: Food Library - Kuidaore Osaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327011119/http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/taste/sake/|archive-date=March 27, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> Osaka's culinary prevalence is the result of a location that has provided access to high-quality ingredients, a high population of merchants, and proximity to the ocean and waterway trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/roots/|title=The Roots: Food Library - Kuidaore Osaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327011053/http://www.kuidaore-osaka.com/en/roots/|archive-date=March 27, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> In recent years, Osaka has started to garner more attention from foreigners with the increased popularity of cooking and dining in popular culture.<ref>[http://thecitylane.com/osaka-food-guide/ Osaka Food Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020054652/http://thecitylane.com/osaka-food-guide/|date=October 20, 2014}}, The City Lane</ref>

Other shopping districts include:
* [[Amerikamura|American Village (Amerika-mura or "Ame-mura")]] – fashion for young people
* [[Dōtonbori]] – part of Namba district and considered heart of the city
* [[Namba]] – main shopping, sightseeing, and restaurant area
* [[Shinsaibashi]] – luxury goods and department stores
*[[File:Osaka market.jpg|thumb|Osaka market]] [[Umeda]] – theaters, boutiques, and department stores near the train station

=== Entertainment and performing arts ===
{{See also|Kamigata}}
[[File:National Museum of Art, Osaka.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[National Museum of Art, Osaka|National Museum of Art]], a subterranean museum of Japanese and international art]]

* Osaka is home to the [[National Bunraku Theatre|National Bunraku Theater]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/index.html|title=National Theatre of Japan|publisher=Ntj.jac.go.jp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021004001515/http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/index.html|archive-date=October 4, 2002|access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref> where traditional puppet plays, [[bunraku]], are performed.
* At Osaka Shochiku-za, close to Namba station, [[kabuki]] can be enjoyed as well as [[manzai]].
* At Shin Kabuki-za, formerly near Namba and now near [[Ōsaka Uehommachi Station|Uehommachi]] area, [[enka]] concerts and Japanese dramas are performed.
* [[Yoshimoto Kogyo]], a Japanese entertainment conglomerate operates a hall in the city for manzai and other comedy shows: the Namba Grand Kagetsu hall.
* The Hanjō-tei opened in 2006, dedicated to [[rakugo]]. The theater is in the [[Ōsaka Tenman-gū]] area.
* [[Umeda Arts Theater]] opened in 2005 after relocating from its former 46-year-old Umeda Koma Theater. The theater has a main hall with 1,905 seats and a smaller theater-drama hall with 898 seats. Umeda Arts Theater stages various type of performances including musicals, music concerts, dramas, rakugo, and others.
* The Symphony Hall, built in 1982, is the first hall in Japan designed specially for classical music concerts. The Hall was opened with a concert by the [[Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra]], which is based in the city. Orchestras such as the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] and [[Vienna Philharmonic]] have played here during their world tours as well.
* [[Osaka-jō Hall]] is a multi-purpose arena in [[Osaka Castle Park|Osaka-jō park]] with a capacity for up to 16,000 people. The hall has hosted numerous events and concerts including both Japanese and international artists.
* Nearby City Hall in [[Nakanoshima Park]], is Osaka Central Public Hall, a [[Neo-Renaissance]]-style building first opened in 1918. Re-opened in 2002 after major renovation, it serves as a multi-purpose rental facility for citizen events.
* The [[Shiki Theatre Company|Osaka Shiki Theater]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shiki.gr.jp/siteinfo/english/theatres/osakashiki.html |script-title=ja:劇団四季 サイトインフォメーション Theatres |publisher=Shiki.gr.jp |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813120320/http://www.shiki.gr.jp/siteinfo/english/theatres/osakashiki.html |archive-date=August 13, 2010 }}</ref> is one of the nine private halls operated nationwide by the [[Shiki Theatre Company|Shiki Theater]], staging straight plays and musicals.
* [[Festival Hall, Osaka|Festival Hall]] was a hall hosting various performances including [[noh]], [[kyōgen]], kabuki, ballets as well as classic concerts. The Bolshoi Ballet and the [[Philharmonia Orchestra|Philharmonia]] are among the many that were welcomed on stage in the past. The hall has closed at the end of 2008, planned to re-open in 2013 in a new facility.

=== Annual festivals ===
[[File:Tenjinmatsuri.JPG|thumb|Tenjin Matsuri]]

One of the most famous festivals held in Osaka, the [[Tenjin Matsuri]], is held on July 24 and 25 ([[Osaka Tenmangū]]). Other festivals in Osaka include the Aizen Matsuri (June 30–July 2, Shōman-in Temple), the Sumiyoshi Matsuri (July 30–August 1, [[Sumiyoshi Taisha]]), Shōryō-e (April 22, [[Shitennō-ji]]) and Tōka-Ebisu (January 9–10, Imamiya Ebisu Jinja). The annual [[Osaka Asian Film Festival]] takes place in Osaka every March while the Midosuji Parade takes place in October.<ref>{{cite news |title=Osaka's grandeur on parade |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19940904-1.2.50.7.12 |work=The Straits Times |date=September 4, 1994}}</ref>

=== Museums and galleries ===
{{see also|:Category:Museums in Osaka{{!}}Museums in Osaka}}

The [[National Museum of Art, Osaka|National Museum of Art]] (NMAO) is a subterranean Japanese and international art museum, housing mainly collections from the post-war era and regularly welcoming temporary exhibitions. [[Osaka Science Museum]] is in a five storied building next to the National Museum of Art, with a planetarium and an [[OMNIMAX]] theater. The [[Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka|Museum of Oriental Ceramics]] holds more than 2,000 pieces of ceramics, from China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, featuring displays of some of their Korean [[celadon]] under natural light. [[Osaka Municipal Museum of Art]] is inside [[Tennōji Park|Tennōji park]], housing over 8,000 pieces of Japanese and Chinese paintings and sculptures. The [[Osaka Museum of History]], opened in 2001, is located in a 13-story modern building providing a view of [[Osaka Castle]]. Its exhibits cover the history of Osaka from pre-history to the present day. Osaka Museum of Natural History houses a collection related to natural history and life.

=== Sports ===
[[File:Kyocera Dome Osaka1.jpg|thumb|The [[Osaka Dome]], home to the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers]]
Osaka hosts four professional sport teams: one of them is the [[Orix Buffaloes]], a [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] team, playing its home games at [[Osaka Dome|Kyocera Dome Osaka]]. Another baseball team, the [[Hanshin Tigers]], although based in [[Nishinomiya, Hyōgo]], plays a part of its home games in [[Osaka Dome|Kyocera Dome Osaka]] as well, when their homeground [[Koshien Stadium]] is occupied with the annual [[Japanese High School Baseball Championship|National High School Baseball Championship]] games during summer season.

There are two [[J.League]] clubs, [[Gamba Osaka]], plays its home games at [[Suita City Football Stadium]]. Another club [[Cerezo Osaka]], plays its home games at [[Yanmar Stadium Nagai]]. The city is home to [[Osaka Evessa]], a basketball team that plays in the [[B.League]]. Evessa has won the first three championships of the league since its establishment. [[Kintetsu Liners]], a [[rugby union]] team, play in the [[Japan Rugby League One|Top League]]. After winning promotion in 2008–09, they will again remain in the competition for the 2009–10 season. Their base is the [[Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium|Hanazono Rugby Stadium]].

The {{Nihongo4||春場所|''Haru Basho''|"Spring Tournament"}}, one of the six regular tournaments of professional [[sumo]], is held annually in Osaka at [[Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium]].

Another major annual sporting event that takes place in Osaka is [[Osaka International Ladies Marathon]]. Held usually at the end of January every year, the {{convert|42.195|km|3|abbr=in|adj=on}} race starts from Nagai Stadium, runs through [[Nakanoshima]], [[Midōsuji]] and [[Osaka Castle|Osaka castle]] park, and returns to the stadium. Another yearly event held at Nagai Stadium is the Osaka Gran Prix Athletics games operated by the [[International Association of Athletics Federations]] (IAAF) in May. The Osaka GP is the only IAAF games annually held in Japan.

Osaka made the bid for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and the [[2008 Summer Paralympics]] but was eliminated in the first round of the vote on July 13, 2001, which awarded the game to Beijing.

Osaka was one of the host cities of the official [[Women's Volleyball World Championship]] for its [[1998 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship|1998]], [[2006 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship|2006]] and [[2010 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship|2010]] editions.

Osaka is the home of the 2011 created [[Japan Bandy Federation]] and the introduction of [[bandy]], in the form of [[rink bandy]], was made in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=50&title=Bandy%20came%20to%20Japan!|title=Bandy came to Japan!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502200433/http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=50&title=Bandy%20came%20to%20Japan!|archive-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref> In July 2012 the first Japan Bandy Festival was organized.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=138&title=BANDY%20Festival%202012%20in%20OSAKA|title=BANDY Festival 2012 in OSAKA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016043725/http://www.worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=138&title=BANDY%20Festival%202012%20in%20OSAKA|archive-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref>

=== Media ===
[[File:NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station Bldg 20060604-001.jpg|thumb|upright|NHK Osaka]]
Osaka serves as one of the media hubs for Japan, housing headquarters of many media-related companies. Abundant television production takes place in the city and every nationwide TV network (with the exception of TXN network) registers its secondary-key station in Osaka. All five nationwide newspaper majors also house their regional headquarters, and most local newspapers nationwide have branches in Osaka. However major film productions are uncommon in the city. Most major films are produced in nearby [[Kyoto]] or in Tokyo. The [[Ad Council Japan]] was founded in 1971 is based in Osaka, now it is the Osaka branch.

==== Newspapers ====
All five major national newspapers of Japan, ''[[The Asahi Shimbun]]'', ''[[Mainichi Shimbun]]'', ''[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]'', ''[[Sankei Shimbun]]'' and ''[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]'',<ref>The five largest newspapers by number of circulation in Japan in alphabetical order. {{cite book | last = Mooney | first = Sean |author2=ebrary, Inc | title = 5,110 Days in Tokyo and Everything's Hunky-dory | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | year = 2000 | pages = 99–104 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Fkt8CkTejUAC | isbn = 978-1-56720-361-5 }}</ref> have their regional headquarters in Osaka and issue their regional editions. Furthermore, Osaka houses Osaka Nichi-nichi Shimbun, its newspaper press. Other newspaper-related companies located in Osaka include the regional headquarters of FujiSankei Business i.;Houchi Shimbunsha; [[Nikkan Sports]]; [[Sports Nippon]], and offices of [[Kyodo News]] [[Jiji Press]]; [[Reuters]]; [[Bloomberg L.P.]]

====Broadcasting====
The five TV networks are represented by [[Asahi Broadcasting Corporation]] ([[All-Nippon News Network|ANN]]), [[Kansai Telecasting Corporation]] ([[Fuji News Network|FNN]]), [[Mainichi Broadcasting System]], Inc. ([[Japan News Network|JNN]]), [[Television Osaka]], Inc. ([[TX Network|TXN]]) and [[Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation]] ([[Nippon News Network|NNN]]), headquartered in Osaka. [[NHK]] has also its regional station based in the city. AM Radio services are provided by NHK as well as the ABC Radio (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation), MBS Radio (Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc.) and Radio Osaka ([[Osaka Broadcasting Corporation]]) and headquartered in the city. FM services are available from NHK, [[FM OSAKA]], [[FM802]] and [[FM Cocolo]], the last providing programs in multiple languages including English.

==== Publishing companies ====
Osaka is home to many publishing companies, including Examina, Izumi Shoin, Kaihou Shuppansha, Keihanshin Elmagazine, Seibundo Shuppan, Sougensha, and Toho Shuppan.