History
HISTORY

The center of waterborne trade

In the early modern period, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had a plan to make Osaka the capital, and embarked on urban development. In parallel with the construction of Osaka Castle, he dug the Higashiyokobori River to the west of the castle as an outer moat, and then built wide streets and the Taiko Sewer System, standardized the height of town houses, and created an orderly castle town.

Merchants also competed to obtain permission to excavate canals, and many such projects were undertaken. It was during this period that the prototype of the city known as the "Water City" was created, centered around Senba.

The Horikawa River, which stretches in all directions, played an important role as the artery of Osaka's logistics, supporting the "kitchen of the nation," and has been in use for over 300 years without falling into disuse.
The Aji River, excavated in 1684 by Kawamura Zuiken as a flood prevention measure, served as a route connecting the city with the sea, and together with the Kizu River, it became the center of the port. Osaka served as a hub for the transshipment of products brought by Kitamaebune and Taru-Kaisen ships connecting Hokkaido and Edo with the Kinai region, as well as a manufacturing function for processing goods, with goods being transported to Kyoto and Nara via inland waterways such as the Yodo River and Yamato River.

Osaka flourished as the nation's leading trading hub and water city, so much so that it is written, "Seven percent of the nation's treasure is in Naniwa, and seven percent of Naniwa's treasure is in its boats."

One Hundred Views of Naniwa
Nagahori Ishihama (painting by Horyu, Ansei era 1854-1860)
Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library
Nagahori River was one of the main rivers in Osaka during the Edo period.
Stonemasons who processed and sold stone brought from various places were concentrated here. Heavy stone materials could be transported to the city center by boat.

Sakafu New Sightseeing Spot
The mouth of the Ajigawa River (painted by Sadanobu II, date unknown)
Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library
A port was built on the Aji River, which was excavated by Kawamura Zuiken.
As the saying goes, "A thousand ships leaving the port, a thousand ships entering the port," the painting depicts many ships loaded with goods from various regions at anchor.

[Source] Osaka Brand Resources Report (Osaka Brand Committee, 2006)
[References] The Story of Osaka, the City of Water (Osaka City, Osaka Urban Association, 1995)