The Origins of Osaka Port by Naomasa Kawabata

 Reading the Information Magazine “Osaka Port” (Part 9) “The Origins of Osaka Port” by Naomasa Kawabata

 

    Mr. Naomasa Kawabata served as a member of the Osaka City History Editorial Committee from 1948 to 1975 and was also the chief editor of the History of Osaka Port, compiled to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the port's opening. In conjunction with compiling the History of Osaka Port, Mr. Kawabata contributed numerous articles to the information magazine Osaka Port over an 18-year period from 1967 to 1975, totaling 84 contributions. These articles were organized into series. The “The Origins of Osaka Port” series introduced here, the ‘History’ series covering Minato, Kita, and Wards around the port, and the “Pioneers” series on influential figures like Tomoatsu Godai and Sutezou Nishimura who devoted the port's development—all collected period photographs and serve as invaluable resources for understanding Osaka Port's history. (*Note: The “Origins” and “History” series were published as separate booklets by the City of Osaka. Held by OPPA)

This time, we broadly introduce the content titled “The Origins of Osaka Port,” which ran for 11 installments over two years starting in 1957. 

The asterisk (*) indicates the serial number.

(1) An overview of Osaka Port's development from its opening to the time of writing (1957), the compilation of its history to mark the 90th anniversary of its opening, the topography of Osaka, the origins of the names Naniwa-zu, Suminoe-no-tsu, Watanabe-no-tsu, Kubo-no-tsu, and the navigation markers (miotsukushi).

(2) From ancient times: Naniwa-zu at the northern edge of the Uemachi Plateau, Eguchi, the poetic exchange collection of  Saigyo Hoshi and Kino Tsurayuki's descriptions in his Tosa Daily. Subsequently, the prosperity of Watanabe-no-tsu, the formation of Ishiyama Honganji temple through the Nanbokucho period, and the Ishiyama War.

(3) The historical background leading to Osaka becoming the “Kitchen of the Nation.” From the Toyotomi to the Tokugawa era: river dredging, formation of new land, reaching a population of 350,000 by the first year of Genroku era. The prosperity of the storehouses in  Nakanoshima district. Development of the Kitamae shipping route by Kawamura Zui Ken, growth of the shipping industry at Denpōguchi, details of new land development and its outcomes.

(4) The major dredging of the Anji River and the formation of Tenpōzan as a landmark hill; the arrival of the Black Ships and the incident involving the Russian ship Diana; the process leading to the opening of markets in both Edo（ old  Tokyo's name) and Osaka and the opening of Hyogo Port; the Imperial visit in Meiji 1 and the first naval review.　

(5) After Osaka's Port Opening, Kawaguchi faced instability and inconvenience for large ships; after the railway opened in Meiji 7 (1874), foreign trade shifted to Kobe. Proposal for abolishing Osaka's Port Opening site. Citizens' fervent desire for Osaka Port construction and establishment of the Port Construction Association; Johannis de Rijke’s port plan and the Osaka Port Construction groundbreaking ceremony in Meiji 30 (1897).

(6) Contract details between the first Port Construction Office Director, Mr. Sutezou Nishimura, and Chief Engineer Tadao Okino; difficulties in port construction and the carrying boat Inushima Maru disaster; opening of Osaka's first municipal tram line between Hanazono Bridge and the port construction site; trade expansion during the Russo-Japanese War; post-World War I decline.

(7) Resumption of Port Construction, Development of the North Port Area, Tide Baths, Seaside Bathing Beaches, Smith's Flight, and Ichioka Paradise

(8) Osaka Port's Second Reconstruction Plan, Pre-War Port Development, and Port Growth

(9) Postwar Reconstruction: Osaka Reconstruction Plan, Inner Port Development Plan, and War Damage Recovery Projects Using Landfill

(10) Typhoon Jane, Damage to Port Facilities, and Recovery of Osaka Port

(11) Current State of Osaka Port Facilities and Development of the Coastal Industrial Zone (South Port)

Each contribution is clearly organized using photographs from the era, statistical data, and construction records, providing a comprehensive overview of Osaka Port's journey as a modern port. We highly recommend reading them. Additionally, the “Origins Series” and “Dedicated Individuals Series” mentioned in the text can be viewed on the OPPA website.　　　September 2025読む（その９）「大阪港の生い立ち」川端直正

  情報誌“大阪港”を　読む（その９）「大阪港の生い立ち」川端直正

川端直正氏は昭和２３～５０年まで大阪市史編集委員であり、大阪港開港90年を記念して編纂された大阪港史の編集主任でもある。川端氏は、大阪港史編纂に合わせて、1967年から75年の18年間に渡って多くの寄稿を情報誌大阪港に寄稿しておりその数は84回にもおよぶ。寄稿文はシリーズ化されており、今回紹介する　”大阪港の生い立ち“シリーズや南港、北港、臨港区の歴史を編纂した”歩み”シリーズ、大阪港の築港に影響のあった五代友厚、西村捨三などの偉人たちの”尽くした人“シリーズなど当時の写真なども収集し大阪港の歴史を知る上で貴重な資料となってっている。

（なお大阪港の”生い立ち“”歩み“は別冊本となって大阪市より発刊されている。大阪港振興協会所蔵）

　今回は大阪港の“生い立ち”と題し1957年（昭和32年）から２年に渡り11回掲載された内容を大まかに紹介します。なお（＊）は連載番号。

（１）開港より当時（1957年）までの大阪港の成り立ちの概括、開港90周年にあたって、大阪港史編纂となったこと、大阪の地形、難波津、墨之江津から渡辺津、窪津と澪標（みおつくし）の由来について。

（２）上代から上町台地北端での難波津、江口、西行法師の歌問答、紀貫之の土佐日記での記述。その後の、渡辺津の繁栄と、南北朝時代を経て石山本願寺の形成と石山合戦など

（３）大坂が「天下の台所」になるに至った歴史的背景。豊臣から徳川時代、河川開削、新地の形成、元禄元年には人口35万人となる。中之島の蔵屋敷の繁栄。河村瑞賢による北前航路の開発、伝法口での廻船業の発達、新田開発の詳細とその結果。

（４）安治川の御救大浚と目印山としての天保山の形成、黒船の来港とロシアのジャナ号の騒ぎ、江戸・大坂両都の開市と兵庫開港に至る経過、明治元年の天皇行幸と初の観艦式など。　

（５）大阪開港後、川口は大船の出入りに不安不便、明治７年の鉄道開設後、外国貿易は神戸に移る。大阪開港場廃止の建議書。大阪築港建設への市民の熱望と築港義社設立、ﾃﾞﾚｰｹによる築港計画と明治30年の大阪築港起工式

（６）初代築港事務所長　西村捨三翁と、沖野忠雄工事長との契約内容他、築港工事の困難と犬島丸の遭難事故、花園橋・築港間に大阪市最初の市電開通、日露戦争による貿易の伸長、１次大戦後の衰退

（７）築港工事の再開と北港一帯の発展と潮湯、海水浴場、スミスの飛行と市岡パラダイス

（８）大阪港第2次修築計画と戦前の港湾整備と港勢

（９）戦後復興の大阪修築計画と内港化計画と盛り土による戦災復興事業

（１０）ジェーン台風と港湾施設への被害と大阪港勢の回復

（１１）大阪港の施設の現状と臨海工業地域の造成（南港）

それぞれの寄稿文には当時の写真や、統計データ、工事実績などを活用して読みやすくまとめられており、まさに近代港湾としての大阪港の歩んできた道のりが概括できる資料となっています。　ご一読をお勧めします。　なお、本文で紹介した“生い立ちシリーズ“、また“尽くした人シリーズ”についても大阪港振興協会ホームページで閲覧できます。　　　                                                              2025年09月