Traditional Japan and modern Japan juxtaposed.
Construction of this castle began in 1583 c.e. At that time it was the largest castle in Japan. The builder Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. In the early 1600's the castle was destroyed in a local war among factions. Its tower burnt down from a lightning strike in the late 1600's. In 1931 the castle tower was rebuilt and amazingly survived the heavy Allied bombardment of Osaka by the Allies during World War II. Major repairs of the castle occurred in 1997.
Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan with a population 2.5 million and over 19 million in its greater metropolitan area. It is a major commercial center.
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