Modern culture
The Rise of Modern Education In the latter half of the 17th century, Shimokobe Nagaru and Keichu started “Wagaku,” the study of Japanese classics. Goi Jiken, who studied Wagaku in the Shimokobe style, also studied medical science and “Rangaku,“ the study of Dutch or Western Sciences through Dutch. His son, Goi Ranshu, solidified the foundation for private educational facilities. In the city of Osaka, five wealthy men known as the Godoshi funded the school “Kaitokudo”. Miyake Sekian was the first president and Goi Ranshu was the professor. Many outstanding scholars graduated from Kaitokudo, including Nakai Shuan, who studied with Sekian and later became the school’s second president. Shuan’s sons Chikuzan and Riken, and a gifted scholar, Tominaga Nakamoto, also graduated from Kaitokudo. In 1726, Kaitokudo was recognized as a public educational facility, a monument to which can be found today in Yodoyabashi.
Osaka’s Academic Spirit
With the repeated success of research conducted by Kaitokudo graduates, “Yogaku” or Western studies became popular by the end of the 18th century. Takahashi Yoshitomi, Hazama Shigetomi, and Asada Goryu, who excelled in astronomy, all had excellent academic careers in Western studies. In the early 1800s, Yamagata Banto, who studied Confucianism as well as astronomy and invented a calendar. is renowned for subscribing to a heliocentric theory and the existence of a universe other than our own based on thorough, rational scientific principle. Every year, Osaka Prefecture awards a non-Japanese scholar who introduces Japanese culture to the world with the Yamagata Banto Prize.
In 1838, Ogata Koan established another private school, “Tekijuku,” focusing on medical science, Rangaku and astronomy. Among the Tekijuku graduates is Fukuzawa Yukichi, who played an active role in the Meiji government. The spirit of medical research that was conducted at Tekijuku then is well alive today at the medical department of Osaka University and the pharmaceutical companies in the Doshomachi area. Some parts of the original Tekijuku building can be visited today in Kitahama.
Modern Architecture: Also Treasure of Osaka Kitahama, where Tekijuku was located, as well as the Yodoyabashi and Hommachi areas where wealthy merchants worked, are known to be a treasure trove of modern architecture. The Bank of Japan’s Osaka Branch (1903), Nakanoshima Library (1904), Osaka Central Public Hall (1918), Osaka Club (1924), Aijitsu Elementary School (1929) and the
Japan Cotton Industry Building (1931), stand prominently, bringing us all a taste of the glorious days of the past.
Present Day Culture
Osakans Active Worldwide
From child prodigy to genius: Much talent is found in Osaka
Osaka has made tremendous achievements in music. There was Koichi Kishi, who studied under Wilhelm Furtwängler before World War II, and then conducted the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. At the height of his worldwide fame, Kishi died of illness at the young age of 28. Maestro Takashi Asahina, who founded and conducted the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, had an illustrious career and passed away at the age of 93. Other musicians of note include Midori Goto, who studied at Julliard School in New York, and debuted at the age of 10, and Tomomi Nishimoto, the female conductor who is now in the midst of a highly successful career. There is also Eiji Ohue, who brought fame to the Minnesota Orchestra as its music director. Osaka’s classical music scene has various talents who command center stage both nationally and internationally.