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Kyoto and Osaka - Discover Japan!
- Kansai region (September 13-15, 2003)

Osaka Aquarium boasts the worlds largest aquarium tank, and it contains an enormous whale shark!	While this picture is very unclear, Yuka was really found of this swimming turtle.  Therefore, I was forced to post it.

Here is another charming fish.	We had a brief conversation, though he strongly disagreed with my opinions on artificial fish food and protectionist Japanese trading policies.

Universal Studios opened in Osaka a few years back, and is evidently envious of the success Disneyland has had in Tokyo.  However, the amusement park has been riddled with scandals.  It was for example discovered that the park was using industrial water as drinking water, which perhaps is not a good thing.  The park was very crowded, but is probably enjoyable on a weekday (when you can actually get into some attractions).

We were in Osaka just before the Hanshin Tigers (baseball) won the northern Japan league.  People were very excited, but I could not care less.  To celebrate, people jump into the heavily polluted river seen behind me.  It is supposedly as healthy as drinking toilet water.

A somewhat interesting place to visit in Osaka is Shin-Sekai (New World), which was one of the most happening places in Japan about 100 years ago.  Since then, the decline has been gradual and consistent.  At the time we visited, however, a seemingly superb spa had just opened in vicinity.  Perhaps that will help the historical area regain some of its grandeur.	The main purpose of visiting Osaka was to view the danjiri festival, which dates back 300 years or so.  It is a well-known matsuri ("festival") as it sometimes turns violent, or at least Japanese people think so.

As most other festivals in Japan, the danjiri involves small shrines ("danjiri") being carried around town by thousands of people.  Many of these festival floats weigh more than 3000 kg.	The festival takes place on September 14-15, and the action takes place by Kishiwada-station (nearby the airport).

The dangerous part is when people start running, dragging the 3000 kg danjiri with them in the process.  That is usually when people get injured or die.	Personally, I believe the danjiri festival is more fun for the participants than it is for the audience.  This is the closest I got to participating - wearing a stupid costume at some tourist information office.

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