Osaka Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tokyo and Yokohama

This is a classic example of how city population figures can be misleading. Osaka's official population of 2.5 million (compared with 8.1 and 3.5 million for Tokyo and Yokohama respectively) refers to the area under the control of the city government.

Therefore vast swathes of the city are not included. Osaka is the main centre of a huge urban agglomeration which includes parts of Hyogo, Kyoto and Nara prefectures (as well as Osaka). The total population of these four prefectures is 18.5 million.

Answer: Murray-Darling

The Murray-Darling is the longest river in Australia. All of the others flow through Osaka.

Answer: Octopus pieces fried in ball-shaped batter

Still outselling McDonald's hamburgers and seemingly visible on every street in Osaka.

Answer: 2

Known as a city of trade, Osaka hosted the World Expo at two different sites in 1970 and 1990. Both sites can be visited today - 1970 World Expo Park has the world's second longest roller coaster.

Answer: Black Rain

Some of the chase scenes are viewed with curiosity by Osaka's residents - when Andy Garcia pursues a suspect on foot for example, he is magically teleported several kilometers when he runs around a corner.

Answer: False

There are two Disney theme parks in Tokyo. Osaka has a Universal Studios theme park.

Answer: Jumping off bridges into a river

People congregate around two of Osaka's important bridges and take turns shouting tributes before jumping into the Dotonbori River. 250,000 people did this when Japan defeated Tunisia on June 13, 2002, thus qualifying for the second round of the World Cup.

A crowd of 15,000 turned out for similar reasons when the Kintetsu Buffaloes (baseball) won the Pacific League in 2001. If you read the info in the next question, you might understand why they get so excited!

Answer: Yomiuri Giants

Osaka people love sport, but Osakan sports teams are notorious under-achievers. The Hanshin Tigers, although maintaining huge popularity throughout Japan, finished last in Baseball's Central League four years in a row up until 2001. The Yomiuri Giants are arguably Japan's most accomplished baseball team and are based in Tokyo (worth noting too that they are rather disliked in Osaka).

Answer: Beijing

Beijing was chosen by the IOC to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Despite this it is not unusual to see 'Osaka 2008' posters in bars, shops and in people's homes. I wonder how many people would have jumped in the river had the bid succeeded!

Answer: It is built entirely on an artificial island.

Kansai International Airport (KIX) is situated on a purpose-built artificial island. It is the second busiest airport in Japan (after Tokyo's Narita).