Hirano (, 'plain field'), historically known as Hirano-gō (), is a former city in Settsu Province, and is now a district in Hirano-ku, Osaka, Japan. It was an autonomous city, in which the townspeople governed the city by council.
History In ancient times, it was a major transportation hub through which several roads passed, and during the Sengoku period it was an autonomous city allying with Sakai in Izumi Province.
Edo Period
During the Edo period, after being completely burned down in the Siege of Osaka, Hirano was rebuilt as a commercial city. Benefiting from the burgeoning cultivation of cotton in neighbouring Kawachi Province, it gradually specialised in the textile industry. Alongside its commercial development, and owing to the Sakanoue family's ancient ties with Kyoto, Hirano cultivated cultural aspects, fostering the appreciation of renga, haiku, noh, and more. It was also home to Gansuido (含翠堂), sometimes considered Osaka's first private academy.
Modern Times Following the Meiji Restoration, leveraging its economic strength, Hirano became involved in the construction of the Osaka Railway and Kayo Railway, and the founding of Hirano Spinning (Hirano Bōseki, now Unitika). The Nankai Hirano Line, connecting the Tennōji area to Hirano, was built, and a bustling commercial district grew up around its terminus at Nankai Hirano Station.
Nowadays
When the Nankai Hirano Line was converted into the Subway Tanimachi Line, the town centre shifted to the area around Hirano Station on the Osaka Metro, and the old quarter became a district where historic landscapes are preserved within a residential neighbourhood. Even today, the Hirano-gō Summer Festival is held, the largest danjiri festival in Osaka City.
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