130602-0014 - Dotonbori

The crowded and lively Dotonbori (道頓堀) in Osaka.

Designated as the theater and entertainment district in 1621, it was filled with teahouses (shibai-jaya), restaurants and theaters. During the Meiji Period, the five main theaters were called the Dotonbori Goza (道頓堀五座).

The building on the right is Kyoyo (京与割烹店), a famous restaurant, which had another location on Sennichimae (千日前).

During the US firebombing of Osaka in 1945 (Showa 20), the Dotonbori theaters were destroyed or badly damaged.

To this day, Dotonbori is one of the entertainment centers of Osaka, but only one theater remains, the art-deco style Shochikuza, built in 1923 (Taisho 12). It was completely restored in 1997 (Heisei 9).

Provisionally attributed to Reiji Esaki because of the caption style.