Prior to the 8th century Nara period, the capital of Japan moved with each new emperor, and Osaka was one of those earliest capitals, then known as Naniwa. During the Edo period, Osaka grew into a commercial center of the rice trade and became known as “the nation’s kitchen,” a moniker now applied because of the city’s reputation for cuisine so good that, as the saying goes, people go broke buying it. A vibrant arts culture also developed in the 17th century, including the famous kabuki and bunraku theaters that can still be seen today. Devastated during World War II, Osaka reemerged as a maze of bridges and skyscrapers flanking a moated castle that stands in the city center as a reminder of a regal past. The skyline gains further allure from the illumination of several Ferris wheels, unique status symbols of modern Japanese cities.
