Osaka has long been known as a merchant city, home to small but innovative businesses ranging from consumer electronics to processed foods. But the city where young entrepreneurs once flourished has recently found itself playing second fiddle to Tokyo.
No matter where they're from, Japanese — especially younger ones who come up with hit ideas — end up taking them to Tokyo because its sheer size means new thinking gets embraced in ways that Osaka and, indeed, the Kansai region, just do not.
College graduates from western Japan often prefer to remain in Kansai, especially if they know they will have to help take care of their elderly parents soon. Many have dreams of starting their own business. But if they're operating in the popular IT sector or the service industry, Kansai is just too small, or too conservative, for most young entrepreneurs, — even if they have a good idea and can find funding.