Osaka’s World-Leading Industries

Medical and Life Sciences

There are many international universities and research institutions, such as Osaka University, that are all positioned in a compact area in Osaka and excel in the medical and life science fields, while a new international healthcare hub is opening in 2024 in the Nakanoshima area. The biomedical facilities clustered in northern Osaka (KENTO) as well as the cardiovascular disease risk prediction model known as the Suita CVD Risk Model named after the Osakan city are just some of the examples of the medical innovations that Osaka produces. Osaka is also known as the town of medicine; many global pharmaceutical companies and organizations are centered around the neighborhood of Doshomachi, where many of Japan’s first apothecaries opened their stores over 400 years ago.

Cutting-Edge Science and Technology

Osaka and the surrounding Kansai region are one of Japan’s centers for science and technology, with many different kinds of research conducted in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing, biotechnology, robotics, super computers, and nanotechnology. In addition to Osaka’s public and private universities, the many national research institutions in the area contribute to successful joint research with the private sector, driving international attention on these science and technology fronts.

Gastronomy

Osaka is affectionately known to be where you “eat till you drop,” a reputation earned from its hearty food culture derived from its history as the commercial center of Japan and the gathering place for both goods and people. Also known as the Nation’s Kitchen, the confluence of ingredients from across Japan in Osaka gave birth to dashi, the primary stock used in today’s Japanese cooking, as well as industries such as Sakai’s knife craftsmanship traditions. We place strategic importance on Osaka’s branding as a City of Food, and we promote innovation in gastronomy and foster education in the food industry.

Craftsmanship

There are many companies in Osaka with a long tradition of high-quality craftsmanship work, and the city of Higashiosaka is home to even more companies than even Tokyo’s Ota City, known to be where many of Japan’s international companies hold headquarters.
The city of Sakai is one of the most famous regions in Japan for knifemaking, with Sakai knives becoming an integral part of kitchens across Japan and for some of the most prominent chefs, with increasing attention from enthusiasts around the world.

Sports

In addition to the energetic baseball, soccer, basketball, and more professional sports teams that give exciting sports matches, Osaka also offers active sports activities like trekking and cycling. Osaka is also home to internationally prominent sportswear and equipment manufacturers such as Mizuno and Asics, with many factories, research centers, and shops across the prefecture. We take great pride in branding Osaka as a Sports Entertainment City.

Academia and Research

Not limited to just Osaka University and other comprehensive institutions, Osaka is home to many academic institutions ranging from Kindai University, Kansai University, and other private universities to the newly founded Osaka Metropolitan University, born from the merger of Osaka Prefecture University and Osaka City University. Each institution soars in their academic prowess with distinct specialties as well as high educational standards and research results. Furthermore, in the region shared by the borders of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara prefectures lies Keihanna (Kansai) Science City, a national project dedicated to furthering the fields of cultural and scientific research. With local cutting-edge research centers developing A.I. and robotics technology that will be employed at Expo 2025, Osaka gathers attention from researchers around the world.