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Osaka prefecture

Osaka Prefecture
大阪府
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
 • Japanese 大阪府
 • Rōmaji Ōsaka-fu
Flag of Osaka Prefecture
Flag
Official logo of Osaka Prefecture
Symbol of Osaka Prefecture
Location of Osaka Prefecture
Coordinates: 34°41′11″N 135°31′12″E / 34.68639°N 135.52000°E / 34.68639; 135.52000Coordinates: 34°41′11″N 135°31′12″E / 34.68639°N 135.52000°E / 34.68639; 135.52000
Country Japan
Region Kansai
Island Honshu
Capital Osaka
Government
 • Governor Ichirō Matsui
Area
 • Total 1,899.28 km2 (733.32 sq mi)
Area rank 46th
Population (January 1, 2012)
 • Total 8,864,228
 • Rank 3rd
 • Density 4,700/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code JP-27
Districts 5
Municipalities 43
Flower Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)
Primrose (Primula sieboldii)
Tree Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)
Bird Bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus)
Website www.pref.osaka.jp/en/index.html

Osaka Prefecture (大阪府 Ōsaka-fu?) is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area. Osaka is one of the two "urban prefectures" ( fu?) of Japan, Kyoto being the other (Tokyo became a "metropolitan prefecture", or to, in 1941).

Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Osaka prefecture was known as Kawachi, Izumi, and Settsu provinces.

Osaka Prefecture was created on June 21, 1868, at the very beginning of the Meiji era. During the instigation of Fuhanken Sanchisei in 1868, the prefecture received its suffix fu, designating it as an urban prefecture.

On September 1, 1956, the city of Osaka was promoted to a city designated by government ordinance and thereby divided into 24 wards.


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