East of Shinsaibashi

West of Shinsaibashi

Dōtonbori (道頓堀, Dōtonbori^? IPA: [doːtomboɺ̠i]) is one of the principal tourist destinations in Osaka, Japan. Shinsaibashi (心斎橋 is a district in the Chūō-ku ward of Osaka, Japan and the city's main shopping area Shinsaibashi (心斎橋 is a district in the Chūō-ku ward of Osaka, Japan and the city's main shopping area is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. It is a single shopping/restaurant street, running alongside the Dōtonbori canal, and stretches between the Dōtonboribashi Bridge and the Nipponbashi Bridge. Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways is a shopping district of Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan. The area is centered along Sakaisuji Avenue extending from the Ebisu-chō Interchange of the Hanshin Expressway Dōtonbori is officially a part of the Namba district of Osaka, south of Shinsaibashi. also known as Minami, is a district of Osaka, Japan. Its name is a variation on the name of the surrounding ward Naniwa. Shinsaibashi (心斎橋 is a district in the Chūō-ku ward of Osaka, Japan and the city's main shopping area

A former pleasure district, Dōtonbori is famous for its surrounding theatres, shops, and restaurants and the many colorful neon and mechanized signs, including snack/candy manufacturer Glico's giant electronic display of a runner crossing the finish line. A red-light district is a neighborhood where Prostitution and other businesses in the Sex industry flourish Neon signs are luminous-tube signs that contain neon or other inert gases at a low pressure ( is a Japanese Confectionery company headquartered in Osaka.

History

Dōtonbori traces its history back to 1612, when entrepreneur Doton Yasui was expanding the tiny East/West running Umezu River, hoping to increase commerce in the region by connecting the two branches of the North/South running Yohori River with a canal. Doton’s task was interrupted when he died defending Toyotomi Hideyori in the ill-fated Siege of Osaka, but his cousins carried on his legacy and finished the canal in 1615. Toyotomi Hideyori (豊臣 秀頼 Toyotomi Hideyori) 1593 - June 5, 1615, was the son and designated successor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi The was a series of battles undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate against the Toyotomi clan, and ending in that clan's destruction The new lord of Osaka Castle Tadaki Matsudaira, named the avenue Dōtonbori in honor of its visionary even though Doton had been his enemy during the siege. is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

The character of Dōtonbori became defined in 1621 when the newly minted Tokugawa Shogunate instituted urban planning, designating Dōtonbori as the theater and entertainment district of Osaka. The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the, and the, was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the Shoguns of The Broadway and West End of its time, by 1662 the avenue boasted six Kabuki theaters and five Bunraku theaters, as well as the unique Takeda Karakuri mechanical puppet theater. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate Make-up worn by some of its performers also known as Ningyō jōruri (ja 人形浄瑠璃 is a form of traditional Japanese Puppet theater founded in Osaka in 1684 To support the flood of tourists and entertainment seekers pouring nightly into Dōtonbori, many restaurants and cafes were built, further establishing Dōtonbori's reputation and position as an entertainment district.

Over the years, declining interests in traditional entertainment saw the closing of most of Dōtonbori original attractions, and the final five theaters were bombed and destroyed during World War II, leaving only the restaurants that we see today. The US bombing of Osaka during World War II took place on 13th and 14th March 1945 World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Restaurants

As a domestic tourist destination, Osaka is known for its food, and Dōtonbori is the main destination for food travel in Osaka. A tourist destination is a city town or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from Tourism. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū It is always featured in guidebooks for both foreign tourists and domestic. A guide book is a book for Tourists or travelers that provides details about a Geographic location, Tourist destination, or Itinerary. Osaka regional cuisine includes okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), udon (a noodle dish), as well as regional sushi and other traditional Japanese foods. Meibutsu (名物 is a Japanese term for famous products associated with particular regions is a Japanese dish consisting of a pan-fried batter cake and various ingredients (literally fried or baked Octopus) is a popular Japanese Dumpling made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus Tempura scraps ( tenkasu The Dumplings are "piece of Dough, sometimes filled that cooked in liquid such as water or soup" or "sweetened dough wrapped around fruit such as an apple baked is a type of thick Wheat -based Noodle popular in Japanese cuisine. In Japanese cuisine, is Vinegared Rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish various meats and vegetables Japanese Cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes

Kuidaore (食い倒れ)

Kuidaore (食い倒れ, Kuidaore^?) is a Japanese word meaning roughly “to ruin oneself by extravagance in food. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities ” It is sometimes romanized as cuidaore, and is part of a larger proverb: "Dress (in kimonos) till you drop in Kyoto, eat till you drop in Osaka" (京の着倒れ、大阪の食い倒れ). The romanization of Japanese or ( is the use of the Latin alphabet to write the Japanese language. A proverb (from the Latin proverbium) also called a byword or nayword, is a simple and concrete Saying popularly known and repeated (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan.

The word is associated with Dōtonbori, often used in tourist guides and advertisements, due to the excess and extravagance of restaurants available. It can be seen in the names of several locations in Dōtonbori, such as the mascot Kuidaore Taro and in the restaurant Cui-daore. The term mascot – defined as a term for any person animal or object thought to bring Luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common

Restaurants of Note

• Kinryu Ramen: There are three Kinryu (Golden Dragon) Ramen restaurants in Dōtonbori, one at each end of the street and one in the middle. is a Japanese Noodle dish that originated in China. It tends to be served in a meat-based broth and uses toppings such as,, Kamaboko, green onions The chain is notable for its giant three-dimensional golden dragon billboards, as well as its outdoor seating consisting of tatami mats. The Chinese Dragon or Oriental dragon is a mythical creature in East Asian culture with a Chinese origin (originally meaning "folded and piled" Mats are a traditional type of Japanese flooring Unlike many Japanese restaurants, Kinryu Ramen is open 24 hours, and offers a free garlic and kimchi bar. Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. Kimchi, also spelled gimchi or kimchee, is a traditional Korean fermented dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings most commonly referring to

• Kani Doraku: A crab restaurant, easily identified by its giant moving crab billboard. Crabs are decapod Crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (βραχύ / brachy One of the most famous landmarks of Osaka.

• Otakoya: The famous and popular takoyaki stand, usually with a long, long line leading up to the counter. (literally fried or baked Octopus) is a popular Japanese Dumpling made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus Tempura scraps ( tenkasu

• Zubora-ya: A fugu restaurant with a huge blowfish lantern hanging out front. is the Japanese word for Pufferfish and is also a Japanese dish prepared from the meat of Pufferfish (normally species of Takifugu, Lagocephalus

• Dōtonbori Ramen Taishokudo: A ramen restaurant formed by eight famous ramen shops from across Japan who banded together to form this one ramen paradise.

• Cui-daore: a massive eight-story restaurant with a different Osaka cuisine on each floor, it is a self-proclaimed contender for the world’s largest restaurant. Though one of the most famous sights along Dōtonbori, the owners have announced it will close its doors in July 2008. ^[1][2]

• Hariju: A beef restaurant from 1924. They use only Japanese beef. One of the more famous beef restaurants.

Landmarks

The distinctive commercial architecture of Dōtonbori has been echoed in at least three films. The pleasure district in Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise and the neon-laden Japanese district of Blade Runner were both inspired by the district, and scenes from the 1989 movie Black Rain were shot at the Kirin Plaza building on Ebisubashi bridge. is the first feature-length Anime movie produced by Gainax in 1987 Neon signs are luminous-tube signs that contain neon or other inert gases at a low pressure Blade Runner is a 1982 American Science fiction Film, directed by Ridley Scott.

In the manga Gantz, one of the missions takes place in Dōtonbori. ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese Manga and Anime series written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku.

While Dōtonbori is packed with interesting billboards and buildings, there are three main landmarks that are most often featured on postcards and advertisements for Osaka.

• Kuidaore Taro: In front of Cui-daore is the mechanical drum-playing clown, also known as Kuidaore Ningyo. Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by their Grotesque appearance colored wigs stylistic makeup, outlandish Costumes unusually He was installed in 1950, and instantly became a popular tourist attraction, even now swarmed by crowds of tourists patiently waiting their turn to snap a memento. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

A popular sight is Dōtonbori in March, when the visiting rikishi for the Osaka Grand Sumo tournament line up with Kuidaore Taro for photos. A honbasho (本場所 is any of the six official professional Sumo tournaments held each year

Dōtonbori typifies the flamboyance of Osaka.

Glico Man in Dōtonbori, an Osaka landmark

• There is a museum of ukiyo-e (Kamigata-Ukiyoe-Kan) near Hozenji temple, where a visitor can see the lifestyle of the Edo period through collections made in Osaka. ( is a Japanese Confectionery company headquartered in Osaka. "pictures of the floating world" is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or Woodcuts) and Paintings produced between the 17th The, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868

• Kani Doraku Crab: This six and a half meter crab fronts the famous crab restaurant Kani Doraku. It is mechanized, being able to move its arms and eyestalks. Built in 1960, the mechanical billboard soon spawned a craze of imitators including a squid that puffs steam and oni that light up at night. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Kani Doraku crab is responsible in many ways for the current look of Dōtonbori; it appears on postcards and websites probably more than any other symbol of Osaka.

• Glico Man: Originally installed in 1935, the giant athlete is a symbol of Glico candy, featuring a running man on a blue track. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ( is a Japanese Confectionery company headquartered in Osaka.

The giant neon sign has been revised on several occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup and to bolster team spirit for Osaka's baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. Sporting competitions named World Cup include FIFA World Cup (men's football(soccer FIFA Women's World Cup (women's football(soccer The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League.

Bridges

A massive canal slicing though a popular district calls for many bridges. Allowing for car travel are Dōtonboribashi Bridge itself (part of Midosuji Avenue) on one side and and Nipponbashi Bridge (part of Sakaisuji Avenue) on the other, flanking the west and east of the main Dōtonbori district. History The Midōsuji Line was the first subway line in Osaka and the first government-operated subway line in Japan is a shopping district of Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan. The area is centered along Sakaisuji Avenue extending from the Ebisu-chō Interchange of the Hanshin Expressway In between are several footbridges, connecting the Namba and Shinsaibashi shopping districts to Dōtonbori, such as Tazaemonbashi and Aiaibashi.

Ebisubashi Bridge

Of particular note and reputation is Ebisubashi Bridge, which sits just under the Glico Man billboard. Originally constructed to provide access to the nearby Ebisu Shrine, the bridge has gained a reputation as being the ultimate pick-up spot in Osaka, as well as the location of a legendary curse for Osaka baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. Ebisu (恵比須 恵比寿 夷 戎, also transliterated Yebisu or called Hiruko (蛭子 or Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami (事代主神 is the Nanpa or nampa ( Japanese ナンパ in Japanese culture, is a type of Flirting and Seduction, popular among Teenagers A curse (also called execration) is any manner of Adversity thought to be inflicted by any supernatural power (such as a spell, a Prayer, an Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. More practically, the bridge provides a link between the Shinsaibashi-suji and Ebisubashi-suji shopping districts, popular with tourists.

Hikkake-bashi

Due to the familiarity of the Glico Man, Ebisubashi Bridge makes for a convenient location when gathering a group to go out into the lively Osaka nightlife. NightLife with Tony Delroy is a popular late night talkback show across ABC Local Radio, Broadcasting from the 702 ABC Sydney studios in Ultimo Groups of women, both native to Osaka as well as those coming from the neighboring rural Kansai prefectures, always arranged to meet at "Ebisu-bashi bridge under the Glico Man". The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan 's main island Honshū. With such large groups of women gathering in one spot, men also swarmed to the bridge in the hopes of getting a date for the evening. The guys would line up along the bridge, and the girls would parade by, ready for the smoothest talker or sharpest dresser who could single himself out from the competition and score a date. During its heyday, Ebisubashi acquired several nicknames, including nanpa-bashi, mostly used by foreigners and hikkake-bashi, the pulling bridge, mostly used by native Japanese. Nanpa or nampa ( Japanese ナンパ in Japanese culture, is a type of Flirting and Seduction, popular among Teenagers is a Japanese word meaning "foreigner" or "non-Japanese"

A "swimming prohibited" sign of Dōtonbori.

Temporary fence along Ebisubashi bridge. A pedestrian walkway along the canal (with access from its bridges) is currently under construction.

So notorious was Ebisubashi bridge that a drinking game evolved, where a group of girls would walk, one-by-one, a circuit up and back across the bridge counting how many times they got chatted up before reaching the starting point. Drinking games are Games which involve the drinking of Beer or other Alcoholic beverages These games commonly take place at house parties public bars or Whoever had the least amount of guys approach her owed a round of drinks to the party.

Unfortunately, nowadays only the legend remains. Invading armies of black-suited, bleached-haired scouts started monopolizing the bridge, trying to con the girls into working at their clubs or posing for porno mags, but ultimately scaring away everyone who just wanted to meet some people and have a good time.

The Curse of the Colonel

Main article: Curse of the Colonel

Ebisubashi bridge has one more notorious reputation, being a scene of triumph, tragedy and a mysterious curse. refers to an Urban legend regarding a reputed Curse placed on the Japanese Kansai-based Hanshin Tigers Baseball team by deceased KFC A curse (also called execration) is any manner of Adversity thought to be inflicted by any supernatural power (such as a spell, a Prayer, an In 1985 the Osaka-based Hanshin Tigers baseball team faced the Seibu Lions and took their first and only victory in the Japan Championship Series. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. The are a Professional baseball team in Japan 's Pacific League. or is a seven-game championship played by the teams of Japan 's two professional baseball leagues (the Central League and Pacific League) As a riotous celebration, an assemblage of supporters yelled the players names, and with every name a fan resembling a member of the victorious team leapt from the bridge into the waiting canal. However, lacking someone to imitate American MVP Randy Bass, the rabid crowd seized the Colonel Sanders statue from a nearby KFC, and tossed it off the bridge as an effigy. (born March 13, 1954 in Lawton Oklahoma) is a former American Baseball player and current politician Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders ( September 9, 1890 &ndash December 16, 1980) was an American entrepreneur Kentucky Fried Chicken, usually known as KFC, is a chain of Fast food restaurants based in Louisville Kentucky. This impulsive maneuver was to cost the team greatly, beginning the Curse of the Colonel. Legend has it that the Tigers will not win the championship again, until the statue is recovered. Attempts have been made, including sending divers down and dredging the river, but so far the statue remains in the murky depths and the Tigers cursed.

In 2003, the Tigers won the qualifying Central Tournament, and fans figured this was good enough. Over 5,300 fans repeated the plunge into the canal. However, for 24-year old Masaya Shitababa it was a tragedy. He drowned in the canal, with all reports being that he had been shoved in by the revelers. The Tigers lost the follow-up Japan Championship Series game, this time to Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, and Ebisubashi Bridge was forever changed. The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The Osaka city council ordered the construction of a new Ebisubashi bridge, beginning construction in 2004, which will make it more difficult for rabid fans to take the celebratory leap should the Tigers win again. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The bridge has been re-built several times over the years, with the current bridge constructed in 1925, making it younger than the Glico Man. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

See also

• Ginza, Tokyo
• Harajuku, Tokyo
• Amerikamura, Osaka
• Akihabara, Tokyo
• Motomachi, Yokohama
• Shinsaibashi, Osaka

External links

• Dotonbori Street "Virtual Tourist"
• Dotonbori Image Gallery "Metavert Blog"
• Restaurant Cui-daore, "Homepage"
• Butai Karakuri, "Karakuri.info"
• Dotonbori Restaurants, "Gourmet Navigator"

Notes

References

• Davisson, Zack, Osaka InfoGuide, Japan, Carter Witt Media, 2006 (English language tourist guide. Pg. 20-23 have detailed article on Dōtonbori, including history and culture. The majority of this article comes from this tourist guide. )
• Kinoshita, June, Gateway to Japan, USA, Kodansha International, 1998, ISBN 4-7700-2018-X (pg. 608-609, Short section on areas of interest in Namba district)
• Brand New Osaka (2005) "History of Dotonbori". (Short section on the history of Doton Yasui. )link
• Japan National Tourist Association "Dotonbori" . (About the culture of Dōtonbori)link
• Seattle Times (November 30, 2005) "10 great moments in baseball superstition history". link (#6 is the Curse of the Colonel)
• AP Worldstream (September 18, 2003) "Japanese man drowns during baseball pennant celebrations". link (News article on the death of Masaya Shitababa)