This is the OSAKA

Tsuten-kaku is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The present tower is the second one, built in 1956. The original tower along with Luna Park which stood around the tower were completed in 1912, exactly 100 yeas ago. The tower and the park were connected with aerial cable cars.

The new tower was designed by NAITO Tachu, who was nicknamed Dr. Tower. He was asked to build the tallest tower by local Osaka merchants but immediately knew it would be impossible, considering the small area for the tower construction site. But the Osaka store owners begged and Tachu made the height of the Tsuten-kaku observatory highest in the country in those days. It was one meter higher than the tower in Nagoya. Tsuten-kaku became a fun tower with its unique bold design.The most famous tower designed by Tachu is no other than Tokyo Tower.

When Japan was struggling after the Great East Japan Earthquake which shook the country on March 11, 2011 and was saving electricity as much as possible, Tokyo Tower lit up one message by using solar energy and eco-friendly LED bulbs: Ganbaro Nippon (Work on, Japan). Tears on my cheek. 

The Tsuten-kaku tower is the OSAKA. When you are there, don't forget to eat KUSHIKATSU cutlet. Many kinds of veggies, fish, seafood, etc. on a skewer are deep fried. They taste really Osaka. 

Here's the official site of Tsuten-kaku for your convenience.