Osaka, which means large hill, has a population of 2.7 million ( was up to 3.1 million in 1965 ) and is the largest component of the Keihanshin ( or Greater Osaka ) Metropolitan Area, the second largest in Japan, and tenth biggest urban area in the world, with 19 million inhabitants.   From the early beginning of the country, Osaka was traditionally considered to be Japan's economic hub, having a major port in the 7th and 8th centuries, and continuing to flourish during the Edo Period (1603-1867), becoming the center for Japanese culture, with Kyoto and Nara in this region.  Our two final stops on this Japan trip are to these two cities. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for more than a millennium, from 794 through 1868. All changed that year when the capital was moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo. Osaka was hit hard by U.S. bombing during World War II, particularly just before the end. Reconstruction stimulated population growth. Osaka hosted the World Expo in 1970, and will again

  I was most previously in Fukuoka in 2018  to attend a hydrogen conference, when Kyushu University paid expenses for me to give the invited lecture.    I also asked if they could take me to a fugu restaurant.   Here are two fugu testicles.  Note:  each is bigger than a lemon wedge.  And the fish is not much larger than a grapefruit.  I also took a  tour of Fukuoka   with colleagues from the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute. So yesterday we first had an excellent breakfast in the Ritz Carlton Club Lounge. Then, off to Ohori Park, which was only one subway stop away. Met by my Blue-bar Pigeon. Started kind of gloomy, for the weather was threatening and it was cold. I was watching this black duck of some kind, who now and then dived underwater.  Finally, he caught a fish that was several inches long, and had difficulty swallowing it. Other sights. Two foxes and Fall Colors. A nice outing and some good walking,  Back to our Club Lounge, where I am cranking out this blog. Dinner was with a