The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Osaka, Japan.
Prior to 19th century
211 CE – Sumiyoshi taisha (shrine) founded. 593 CE – Shitennō-ji (temples) founded. 645 CE – Capital of Japan relocated to Naniwa-kyō; Kōtoku in power. 672 – Tenmu in power. 724 – Shōmu in power. 794 – Japanese capital relocated from Naniwa to Heian-kyō. 1496 – Ishiyama Hongan-ji construction begins (approximate date). 1583 – Osaka Castle construction begins. 1614 – November: Siege of Osaka begins. 1615 June: Siege of Osaka ends. Dōtonbori (canal) built. 1684 – Takemoto-za puppet theatre opens. 1720 – Sasa-se theatre fan club founded. 1724 – Kaitokudō merchant academy established.
19th century
1805 – Bunrakuza puppet theatre opens (approximate date). 1837 – Economic/social unrest led by Ōshio Heihachirō. 1838 – Tekijuku (school) opens. 1868 European commerce begins. City becomes part of Osaka Municipal Prefecture. 1869 – Tokyo-Osaka steamship line begins operating. 1871 Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka postal service begins. Imperial Mint built. 1874 – Kobe-Osaka railway begins operating; Ōsaka Station (with clocktower) opens. 1875 – Meiji political Osaka Conference of 1875 held. 1876 – Osaka Nippō (newspaper) begins publication. 1878 – Osaka Stock Exchange and established. 1879 – Asahi Shimbun (newspaper) begins publication. 1880 – established. 1881 – Osaka Iron Works established. 1882 Osaka Boseki Kaisha (spinning mill) in business. Population: 332,425. 1884 – Osaka Shosen Kaisha (shipping firm) in business. 1887 – Population: 426,846. 1888 – (newspaper) begins publication. 1890 – Nakanoshima Park opens. 1892 December 20: Fire. Population: 479,895. 1895 Sumitomo Bank established. Kyōbashi Station built. 1897 Parts of and annexed to Osaka city. Demonstration of Lumière "projected pictures" at the Nanchi Embujo theatre. Population: 758,285. 1900 – Population: 881,344 city; 1,678,422 prefecture.
20th century
1900s–1940s
1901 – Satirical begins publication. 1903 – held in Osaka. 1904 – Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library opens. 1905 – Maruki-go bakery in business. 1909 – Tennōji Park established. 1910 – Population: 1,239,373 city; 2,197,201 prefecture. 1915 – Tennōji Zoo founded. 1917 – City planning committee formed. 1918 City Social Bureau established. built. 1919 – Miki Hall (concert venue) opens. 1920 Shirokiya department store built. Population: 1,768,295. 1922 – Daimaru department store built. 1923 Sharp in business. becomes mayor. 1924 – Osaka Photographic Science Society founded. 1925 City wards established: Higashinari, Higashiyodogawa, Konohana, Minato, Naniwa, Nishinari, Nishiyodogawa, Sumiyoshi, and Tennōji. "Public radio broadcasting commences." Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. established. Population: 2,114,804. 1926 – Asahi Kaikan (concert hall) opens. 1927 – (bridge) built over Dojima River. 1928 – Osaka University of Commerce active. 1929 Kosobe Conservatory (garden) established. Hankyu Department Store opens in Umeda Station. 1930 – Population: 2,453,573 city; 3,540,017 prefecture. 1931 – National Defense Women's Association founded in Osaka. 1932 – City wards established: Asahi and Taishō. 1933 Subway Midōsuji Line begins operating. Sanwa Bank established. 1936 Osaka Tigers baseball team formed. opens. 1940 January 28: Train crash at Ajikawaguchi Station. Population: 3,252,340 city; 4,843,032 prefecture. 1942 (newspaper) in publication. Subway Yotsubashi Line begins operating. 1943 City wards established: Abeno, Fukushima, Higashisumiyoshi, Ikuno, Jōtō, and Miyakojima. Hitachi Zosen Corporation in business. 1945 March 13: Bombing of Osaka during World War II begins. August 14: Bombing of Osaka ends. Population: 1,102,959. Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau established. 1947 Kansai Symphony Orchestra founded. Population: 1,559,310. 1948 – Grand Sumo tournament begins. 1949 – Osaka City University and Osaka Securities Exchange active.