With its fusion of cosmopolitan hipness and country charm, Osaka mixes it up. Hit the slick Umeda neighborhood for pulsing nightlife and elbowed Namba department stores for bargain hunting during the day. And dine at a variety of ethnic restaurants or old-school sushi joints, either in the glitzy entertainment districts or tucked away in the city's alleys.
Osaka is the birthplace of Bunraku, the centuries-old art of Japanese puppet theater. Even the crankiest theater-phobes will find the eerily limber dolls fascinating. The Kuidaore Taro, a drummer doll dressed as a clown, and the giant mechanized crab that greets visitors to Osaka's famed Cui-daore restaurant are enduring icons.
The city's nickname – Tenka no Daidokoro (the Nation's Kitchen) – was originally meant to refer to its status as a rice-trade hub, but nowadays it reflects the foodie reputation that Osaka has earned. One of the region's signature dishes is okonomiyaki, an endlessly variable classic that hovers between an omelette and a pancake. It's customized with a choice of meat, seafood and noodles, and then grilled until bubbling and golden brown.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka's rise to fame as the first ever female winner of four grand slam titles has given her international visibility and the means to address issues and injustices that she sees around her. 大阪 ミックス She has taken to Twitter, Instagram and TikTok with a forcefulness that belies her 20-year-old age.
Unlike many athletes, Osaka has the self-possession to speak up on her beliefs and opinions when and how she feels fit. This is evident in the way she reacted to the US Open's controversial decision to eject Serena Williams for three code violations against her in her match with Osaka. Osaka was not only critical of the decision, but of the way it was publicized and defended. She also made a point of wearing face masks at the New York tournament, mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bearing the names of Black victims of police violence including Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Trayvon Martin and Philando Castile.
Osaka has continued her activism, and despite the criticism that she faces on social media and at home in Japan she is unapologetic about her efforts. She defends her activism as a form of leadership that she hopes will encourage others to speak out and take action on matters that they feel passionate about.
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