A new wave of creativity in Namba, Osaka

Namba is located in the Minami district of Osaka, Japan. It is home to many well-known tourist attractions and its streets have a lively atmosphere, typical of Osaka. It is also known as Japan's largest downtown area and is popular with visitors from all over the world.

Namba has been known since the Edo period as a place of theater and commerce and the "kitchen of the nation", a cosmopolitan area attracting many visitors and diverse influences. In the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Sennichimae area developed into a busy shopping area with show booths and teahouses. Namba has also long been a transportation hub, serving as one of Osaka City's leading rail terminals since 1885 when Namba Station was opened.

In ancient times, Namba was a sea called Kawachi Bay. However, over a long period of time, sediment flowed into the area, and in the early Yayoi period it was transformed into a lake. It is thought that the name Namba, for which the characters mean difficult wave, was derived from this time. However, the exact origin is still unclear, as some believe the name was derived from the place name Naniwa, which is mentioned in Japan's oldest history book, Kojiki.