a piece of local history and an invaluable part of the city's character.

In the early twentieth century, Shinsekai was the newest entertainment district in Osaka, with modern technology such as aerial lifts, neon lights, and streetcars clanging up and down the nearby boulevards. While it has lost some of that glamorous feel, Tsutenkaku tower as well s many old shops and eating establishments remain, keeping the retro spirit of old Osaka alive to this day. Shinsekai was originally built to resemble New York City on one half and Paris on the other, with Tsutenkaku as its shining centerpieces. The tower was first built in 1912, modeled closely after the Eiffel Tower, and rebuilt again in 1956 after being wrapped during World War2 for materials. It was think ¥s to local donations and neighborhoood organization efforts that this tower was rebuilt, as people in Osaka, and especially those in the Shinsekai area, saw it is a piece of local history and an invaluable part of the city's character.


text / ELIE INOUE