Osaka - Japan's cultural and historic capital

Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Japan

Thousands of world class athletes, sports fans and guests are currently touring the Japanese city of Osaka. Mainly European, American and Australian visitors have been highly impressed by the hospitality and smiling faces as they get a true experience of Asian culture.

This beautiful Japanese city of Osaka has served as an international gateway since ancient times, beginning way back in the fifth century. Osaka has a background as a meeting point for people, goods, and information fostered a liberal, forward-looking and enterprising spirit in the people of Osaka.

This mindset, combined with Osaka's economic prosperity, supported the flourishing of the arts and enabled the city to play a prominent role in the cultural development of Japan.

The role of Osaka and the region it belongs to - Kansai, as Japan's cultural and historic capital, will continue to grow in future as the nation strives to meet the world's expectations for a greater contribution in the field of arts and culture.

Osaka is an international hub in promoting cultural, artistic, academic, and sports activities in the city and enriching them through cultural exchanges with the rest of the world.

Since olden times, Osaka's growth as focal point of international exchange has been closely related to the sea and many waterways in the city.

The canals and bridges here built hundreds of years ago by townsfolk to bring local produce from all over Japan. Though the surroundings have changed, Osaka is alive, a vibrant water capital even today.

My first experience in Osaka was way back in 1994 when I had a month-long tour of Japan on a youth exchange program, hosted by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Over the past one and half decades, many things have changed, except for the rich heritage of Osaka as a city close to its culture and arts. Undoubtedly, the biggest tourist attraction is the world famous Osaka Castle Area. The famous Osaka castle contains many structures and buildings designed as important cultural assets. Rising up above the surrounding park, this castle is indeed a symbol of Osaka.

A major attraction in the castle area is the magnificent view of the rich greenery that stretches along the reaches of Okawa River. It was fascinating to experience both nature's lush greenery and that majestic view of Osaka's city centre from the deck of a river cruise. Of course, Osaka is better known for its many bridges.

One of the most dynamic and vibrant symbols of Osaka since olden time has been the Dotomborigawa river.

Coming up along the sides of the river is the Naniwa Waterfront Theatre Place - the venue for street performers and performance artists.

Elderly Japanese told me that their national unifier, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, loved viewing the cherry blossoms.

During his life, he laid the foundation of the city that would come to be known as Osaka. Many towns, which emerged around the castle, kept the same names to date.

The gardens of Osaka Castle change from plum blossoms in early spring to cherry blossoms as the weather warms. In the 5th century, the oldest cosmopolitan city in Japan, Naniwa, was founded. By the 6th century, Buddhism was introduced to Japan and in 593, Prince Shotoku built Japan's first state temple, "Shitennoji," on Uemachi Plateau.

It is built in an original style with rows of monasteries arranged in straight line stretching from north to south interconnected by an intricate network of corridors.

Hideyoshi was the creator of what became the foundations of modern Osaka. Hideyoshi, who succeeded Oda Nobunaga upon his assassination at Honnoji Temple in Kyoto, built the vast and spectacular Osaka Castle.

Construction, begun in 1583, had been completed in three years. Though the national reunification under Hideyoshi lasted only 15 to 16 years, he laid the foundations of Japan's distribution economy by establishing a market in Osaka for dealing in materials from throughout the nation. The town established surrounding Osaka Castle eventually developed into Osaka, the city of commerce we experience at present.

Development progressed on the artificial islands around the Osaka Bay Area, laying the groundwork for three unique waterfront areas, Sakishima, Maishima, and Yumeshima.

Universal Studios Japan, a theme park featuring movies, opened in 2001 and is enjoyed not only by Osaka's citisens but also by a great number of visitors from around the world Another attractive area is Tennoji Park, which was originally opened in 1909. It comprises flower bed areas, a large botanical greenhouse and spacious promenades.

Osaka is currently enjoying its hottest period with temperatures running up to 32 degrees C. adding colour during a summer like this is the Tenjin Matsuri Festival, an annual summer festival dedicated to the Osaka Temmangu Shrine.

The scale of Osaka's economy exceeds that of Hong Kong and that of Thailand. In contrast, the scale of the economy in the Kinki Region - official designation of the region which includes six prefectures, even exceeds that of Brazil or Australia.

Touring Osaka is a totally new experience that is hard to match. Many foreign visitors to the 2007 World Championship in Athletics are making the best use of their trip here.

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