Shopping and culinary
Osaka has a large number of wholesalers and retail shops: 25,228 and 34,707 respectively in 2004, according to the city statistics. A lot of them are concentrated in the wards of Chu? (10,468 shops) and Kita (6,335 shops). Types of shops varies from malls to conventional sh?tengai shopping arcades, built both above- and underground. Sh?tengai are seen across Japan, and Osaka has the longest one in the country. The Tenjinbashi-suji arcade stretches from the road approaching the Temmangu shrine and continues for 2.6 km going north to south. The type of stores along the arcade includes commodities, clothing, and catering outlets.
Other shopping areas are Den Den Town, the electronic and manga/anime district, which is comparable to Akihabara; and the Umeda district, which has the Hankyu Sanbangai shopping mall and Yodobashi Camera, a huge electrical appliance store that offers a vast range of fashion stores, restaurants, and a Shonen Jump store.
Osaka is known for its food, both in Japan and abroad. Author Michael Booth and food critic Fran�ois Simon of Le Figaro have both suggested that Osaka is the food capital of the world. Osakans love for the culinary is also made apparent in the old saying "Kyotoites are financially ruined by overspending on clothing, Osakans are ruined by spending on food". Regional cuisine includes okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), udon (a noodle dish), as well as the traditional oshizushi (pressed sushi), particularly battera (pressed mackerel sushi).
Other shopping districts include:
� American Village (Amerika-mura or "Ame-mura") � fashion for young people
� D?tonbori � part of Namba district and considered heart of the city
� Namba � main shopping, sightseeing, and restaurant area
� Shinsaibashi � luxury goods and department
