道頓堀
1615
Dōtonboriどうとんぼり
Dōton's canal
- 道頓dōton — Dōton — a person's name
- 堀bori — canal / dug waterway
Dōton spent his fortune digging this canal, then died defending Osaka Castle in 1615 — on the losing side. The winners finished his ditch and named it after him. It's now the neon heart of Osaka.
In 1612 a merchant named Dōton sank his fortune into digging a canal here. In 1615 he died defending Osaka Castle — on the losing side. The winning side's new lord ordered the canal finished, and named it after the man who died for the enemy: Dōton's Canal. Four centuries later, his ditch is the neon heart of Osaka.
Modern proof
A monument honoring Dōton and Dōboku (erected 1915, restored 2014) stands at the northeast corner of Nipponbashi.
sourceA 2.7 km man-made canal linking two rivers. The surrounding marsh was raised with the excavated earth.