Remember the name JOBK? It was the call sign for the old NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station. Today we are standing in Machibacho, a district whose story is intertwined with Osaka’s broadcasting history.
Machibacho in Osaka is more than just a location. It is a place with a unique identity. The district’s boundaries are defined by major streets. To the north is Honmachi-dori. To the south is Chuo-dori. To the west is Uemachi-suji Avenue. Osaka Castle is a neighbor to the south.
Once upon a time, Machibacho encompassed a far wider area. It included the entire Osaka Castle grounds. It also stretched from Tamatsukuri to Kyobashi. In 1979, the area was redefined. Now, only the area south of Honmachi-dori became Machibacho. However, the name Machibacho stuck around.
The Osaka City Electric company had a Machibacho stop. This helped keep the name alive. So even now the area is still called Machibacho.
Speaking of NHK, the old broadcasting station was a landmark here. It stood at the southeast corner of the Machibacho intersection. Because of its location, the station’s call sign became a familiar nickname. People affectionately called it “Japan, Osaka, Bambacho, Kado.”
In 1985, Osaka City proposed a unification plan. The plan was to integrate Naniwa Palace Ruins Park and Osaka Castle Park. In 2001, the broadcasting station moved. It relocated to Otemae 4-chome. The new location was the site of the Osaka City Central Gymnasium. Now it is a combined facility with the Osaka Museum of History. The old broadcasting station site became vacant. The two-park integration plan never materialized.
What is interesting about Machibacho is its connection to the past. In 1871, the area along Uemachi-suji Avenue was called Uemachi 1-chome. It was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Army. The name Machibacho was officially established in 1879. This happened when the Osaka Prefectural Higashi Ward was created.
The name’s origin is linked to Osaka Castle. The castle grounds were called “Bamba”. It was also related to the residences of Osaka Castle officials. The details are not fully known.
In 1936, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation moved here. The Osaka Central Broadcasting Station relocated from Uemachi 9-chome. The new Osaka Broadcasting Hall was completed.
As of March 31, 2019, the district had 96 residents. All lived in the Mezon Do Biru Osaka Castle Park front apartment complex.
In 2016, Machibacho had 22 business establishments. These establishments employed 4,123 people.
Today, you can find KKR Hotel Osaka and Osaka Castle Remains Park here. Also located here is the Osaka Prefectural Oversight Medical Affairs Office.
Machibacho is a small district. Yet, it reflects Osaka’s dynamic history. From its castle origins to its broadcasting legacy. It remains a vital part of Osaka’s urban fabric.