S x S have always loved the asian culture, particularly Japan's. Osaka is the place that all the stories takes place. Though writing about specific areas in a way that makes it personal, you might be surprised to know that the sisters have never been to Japan in their entire lives. In fact, they're simply just inspired by its culture and plan on taking a special trip there very soon. So for now just indulge yourselves with their stories.
Since ancient times, Osaka has been a gathering place. Located at the confluence of a vast web of busy river and sea routes, it naturally grew into a flourishing economic center and became the gateway to Japan for travelers and traders from all over Asia. It was here that Japan first met the world. With a population of 2.5 million, Osaka is Japan's third largest and second most important city. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries.
Since ancient times, Osaka has been a gathering place. Located at the confluence of a vast web of busy river and sea routes, it naturally grew into a flourishing economic center and became the gateway to Japan for travelers and traders from all over Asia. It was here that Japan first met the world. With a population of 2.5 million, Osaka is Japan's third largest and second most important city. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries.
Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor, Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known.
In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle, and the city may have become Japan's capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and moved his government to distant Edo (Tokyo).
Brief descriptions of the places mentioned in each story:
Asahi-ku (Dreaming of Tokyo Dome)
旭区 is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. It is located in the northeast of the city, near the satellite town of Moriguchi. It was split off from Higashinari in 1932. Asahi-ku itself is further divided into the following areas (towns); Shimizu, Morishoji, Nakamiya, Takadono, Akagawa, Ikue, Shinmori, Senbayashi, Taishibashi, Imaichi, and finally Omiya, the home of Rina Fukuoda.
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| Shirokita Park |
Fukushima-ku (I Love You Jun Matsumoto)
福島区 ward is primarily a residential quarter, but has some office buildings and a commercial district, as well as factories and wholesale businesses. In recent years, many high rise apartment buildings and office buildings have been built in this ward, because it is close to the Umeda and Dōjima business centres. Fukushima is also the home of the deluded Miki Yamada.
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| Miki's neighborhood |
Nishinara-ku (I Want To Become A Yakuza)
西成区 ward contains some shopping and entertainment areas beloved to many Osakans, e.g., Shinsekai and Tamade. It lies directly south of the Namba transport hub and extends further south toward Sumiyoshi Park. It is served by the Nankai Railway lines as well as the Yotsubashi and Sakaisuji subway lines. Nishinari-ku is also home to a number of 'shitamachi' ("lower-town") shopping streets, increasingly a rarity in fast-developing urban Japan.Kamagasaki in Nishinari-ku is home to a large number of day-laborers and most of the homeless people in Osaka.
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| sutenkaku Tower in Shinsekai, Nishinari-ku |
Suita (Saya & Shun)
吹田市 is a city located in northern Osaka, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1940, and was the site of Expo '70, a World's Fair held in 1970. The J-League soccer club Gamba Osaka plays at Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, located in the former world's fair grounds. It is connected to central by Hankyu Railway, West Japan Railway Company and the Osaka Municipal Subway. The Osaka Monorail also passes through the area, connecting the city to Osaka, the Expo Commemoration Park and Osaka International Airport.
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| Expo Commemoration park |
