Tsūtenkaku (通天閣; lit. "Tower Reaching Heaven") is a tower and landmark of Osaka, Japan, and advertises the Hitachi company. It is located in the Shinsekai district of Naniwa-ku, Osaka. Its total height is 108 metres (354 ft); the main observation deck is at a height of 91 metres (299 ft). It is owned by Tsūtenkaku Kanko Co., Ltd. (通天閣観光株式会社, Tsūtenkaku Kankō Kabushiki-gaisha).
History
The current tower is the second to occupy the site. The original tower, patterned after the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, was built in 1912, and was connected to the adjacent amusement park, Luna Park, by an aerial cable car. At the time of its construction, its height of 64 metres (210 ft) made it the second tallest structure in Asia. It quickly became one of the most popular locations in the city, drawing visitors from all over the area. The original structure was severely damaged by a fire in 1943, and rather than being repaired, it was disassembled and the steel recycled for the war effort.[1]
After World War II, citizens lobbied to rebuild the tower. A private company, the Tsūtenkaku Kanko Co. Ltd., was established, and Tachū Naitō, Japan's "Father of Towers" was selected to design it. The new, eight-sided structure was opened in 1956.[2]
On the fifth floor observation deck is enshrined Billiken, the God of Happiness or "things as they ought to be". Billiken, a popular American charm doll that came to Japan in about 1910, was enshrined within Luna Park when it opened. When the park closed in 1923, the wooden statue of Billiken went missing. As a part of an effort to revive the tower, a copy of Billiken was made from an old photograph and placed inside the tower in 1979. The statue of Billiken became closely associated with the tower and is a popular symbol of good luck. Each year, thousands of visitors place a coin in his donation box and rub the soles of his feet to make their wishes come true.
Der Turm ist auch für seine Neonbeleuchtung bekannt, die alle paar Jahre wechselt (sie war während der Ölkrise von 1974–76 abgeschaltet ). Die Neonlichter wurden inzwischen durch LED-Beleuchtung ersetzt , die alle zwei Monate eine andere Farbkombination zeigt (z. B. Rosa zur Kirschblüte im März/April). Hitachi ist seit 1957 Sponsor des Turms, und die Lichtdesigns bilden üblicherweise Hitachi-Werbeanzeigen, wobei eine Seite des Turms in der Regel für öffentliche Bekanntmachungen genutzt wird. Die Lichter auf der Turmspitze dienen als Wetteranzeiger und zeigen die Wettervorhersage für den nächsten Tag durch eine Kombination verschiedener Farben an.
Brandschäden am ursprünglichen Tsūtenkaku-Turm im Jahr 1943
Abriss des ersten Tsūtenkaku-Turms
Zugang
- JR West, Osaka Loop Line und Yamatoji Line, Bahnhof Shin-Imamiya , Ostausgang (10 Minuten Fußweg)
- Nankai-Bahn, Nankai-Hauptstrecke und Koya-Linie, Bahnhof Shin-Imamiya, Ostausgang (10 Gehminuten)
- Osaka Municipal Subway Sakaisuji Line (braune Linie), Station Ebisuchō , Ausgang 3 (3 Minuten Fußweg)
- Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuji Line (rote Linie), Station Dobutsuen-mae , Ausgang 5 (10 Minuten Fußweg)
- Straßenbahn Hankai, Hankai-Linie, Station Ebisucho (3 Minuten Fußweg)
Referenzen
- ^ „Tsūtenkaku“ . Amt für Freizeit und Tourismus der Stadt Osaka. Archiviert vom Original am 17. Mai 2010. Abgerufen am 27. Juni 2010 .
- ^ Tegler, Gary. „Osakas Geist am Himmel“ . The Japan Times . Abgerufen am 27. Juni 2010 .
Externe Links
- Offizielle Website (auf Japanisch)
