Osaka is a major port and commercial city in western Japan, and the name here marks its establishment as a modern municipality. The site has a very long history: in the seventh century the Naniwa Palace was the seat of the imperial court for a time, and the area remained an important trading centre. In the late sixteenth century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle there, and during the Edo period the city became the country's main commercial hub, known as the kitchen of the nation, with merchants, rice exchanges and a vibrant popular culture. Osaka industrialised rapidly in the Meiji era. It hosted the 1970 World Exposition and the 2025 World Expo, and is famous for its food.
Before and after
- 1889Founding of Interparliamentary Union
- 1889The Starry Night
- 30 January 1889Mayerling Incident
- 31 March 1889Construction of Eiffel Tower
- 1 April 1889Origins of Osaka
- 7 April 1889Birth of Gabriela Mistral
- 16 April 1889Birth of Charlie Chaplin
- 20 April 1889Birth of Adolf Hitler
- 26 April 1889Birth of Ludwig Wittgenstein
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 1785 to 1925Qajar dynasty
- from 2 September 1793 to 28 July 1794Reign of Terror
- from 11 August 1804 to 8 June 1867Austrian Empire
- from 1837 to 1901Victorian era
- from 1858 to 1947British Raj
- 1879Altamira cave paintings are discovered
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.