Hirano
Hirano (Japanese: 平野, lit. 'plain field'),[note 1] [note 2] historically known as Hirano-gō (Japanese: 平野郷), 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.[1]
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.[2][3][4][5][6]
Edo Period
During the Edo period, after being completely burned down in the Siege of Osaka, Hirano was rebuilt as a commercial city.[7][8][9][6] Benefiting from the burgeoning cultivation of cotton in neighbouring Kawachi Province, it gradually specialised in the textile industry.[10][11][12] 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.[13][14][15] It was also home to Gansuido (含翠堂), sometimes considered Osaka's first private academy.[16][17]
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).[18][19][15][20][21] 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.[22][23][24]
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.[22][25][26] Even today, the Hirano-gō Summer Festival is held, the largest danjiri festival in Osaka City.[27][28][29]
Footnotes
- ^ "大阪市：今里・平野郷コース" (in Japanese). 2009-03-16. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "平野郷町". 日本歴史地名大系 (in Japanese). Heibonsha. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ^ "平野郷". 百科事典マイペディア (in Japanese). Heibonsha. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ^ "平野". 日本史事典 (in Japanese). Obunsha. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ^ "平野". デジタル大辞泉 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ^ a b "平野". 日本国語大辞典 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ^ "平野郷の歴史とまちなみ（HOPEゾーン資料）" (PDF) (in Japanese). 大阪市 都市整備局. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "大阪ミュージアム『登録物一覧』（平野郷の項）" (PDF) (in Japanese). 大阪市. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "歴史街道「平野郷」" (in Japanese). 朝日放送テレビ. 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "河内木綿について" (in Japanese). 大阪商業大学 商業史博物館. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "河内木綿の織機" (in Japanese). 富田林市. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "平野郷町". 日本歴史地名大系 (in Japanese). 平凡社. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "坂上廣野麿屋敷跡" (in Japanese). 大阪市平野区役所. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "大阪市指定文化財：杭全神社 連歌所 1棟" (in Japanese). 大阪市教育委員会. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ a b "平野郷". 日本歴史地名大系 (in Japanese). 平凡社. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "含翠堂跡" (in Japanese). 大阪市平野区役所. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "含翠堂跡". 日本歴史地名大系 (in Japanese). 平凡社. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "明治前期大阪編年史綱文データベース（1887–1889）：大阪鉄道、湊町‐柏原間開業（途中：天王寺・平野・八尾）" (PDF) (in Japanese). 大阪市立図書館. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "広報コラム「大阪鉄道開業130周年」" (in Japanese). 大阪府柏原市. 2019. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "大日本紡績 百年史（抄）—平野紡績の合併" (PDF) (in Japanese). ユニチカ. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "History of Unitika". Unitika Ltd. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ a b "東住吉100物語：南海鉄道平野線（廃線）の今昔" (in Japanese). 大阪市東住吉区役所. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "旧南海電鉄平野線平野駅跡プロムナード" (in Japanese). 大阪市平野区役所. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "大阪市内 商店街一覧（平野区）" (PDF) (in Japanese). 大阪市 経済戦略局. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "平野郷地区HOPEゾーン事業" (in Japanese). 大阪市 都市整備局. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "平野郷の歴史とまちなみ（HOPEゾーン資料）" (PDF) (in Japanese). 大阪市 都市整備局. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "平野郷夏祭り（杭全神社）" (in Japanese). 大阪ミュージアム. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "夏祭について" (in Japanese). 杭全神社. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "元気一番！商店街（第36号）：大阪市内で最大規模とも言われる平野郷夏まつり" (PDF) (in Japanese). 大阪市 経済戦略局. 2015. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ There are several theories regarding the origin of the place name Hirano. Although it can be interpreted literally as meaning "flat plain" or "level field", the most widely accepted theory is that it derives from Hirano, the personal name of Sakanoue no Hironomaro, and that the pronunciation subsequently shifted from Hirono to Hirano.
- ^ To avoid confusion, the place is also sometimes prefixed with the province or prefectural name, as Settsu Hirano (Japanese: 摂津平野), Sesshū Hirano (Japanese: 摂州平野), or Osaka Hirano (Japanese: 大阪平野). There are also other places named Hirano in Settsu Province.