“Who was Yasui Doton?” I ask. Let’s unravel a captivating tale around this very \u6c34\u8def\u8a18\u5ff5 Stone.
The \u6c34\u8def\u8a18\u5ff5 Stone stands as a monument to the story of Osaka’s Dotonbori canal. It commemorates Yasui Doton who was initially thought to be the creator of the Dotonbori canal. The story goes that Yasui Doton used his personal fortune to expand the Umezu River in 1612. He wanted to boost commerce by connecting the Yokobori River’s branches with a canal running east to west.
Sadly, Yasui Doton died during the Siege of Osaka. His cousin supposedly completed the canal in 1615. This revised story became so popular that in 1915, this engraved \u6c34\u8def\u8a18\u5ff5 Stone was erected for Yasui Doton. It stands proudly on the north side of Nipponbashi.
But truth often has a way of surfacing. The so-called Dotonbori Trial took place in 1965. It disputed the canal’s ownership rights. During the trial, it was determined that Yasui Doton was actually a fictional character. This revelation came from Yasui family records dating back to the 1600s.
So, who really created Dotonbori? Nariyasu Doton started the canal’s construction in 1612. He was the administrator of local canals. Joined by Yasui Jihē, Yasui Kuhē, and Hirano Tōjirō, construction faced interruptions. Nariyasu Doton died during the Siege of Osaka in 1615. He fought on the losing side of Toyotomi Hideyori. Yasui Kuhē and Hirano Tōjirō continued his work. They completed the canal by September 1615.
Matsudaira Tadaaki renamed the canal Dotonbori in memory of Nariyasu Doton. The name stuck even though Doton had been on the losing side of the siege. The \u6c34\u8def\u8a18\u5ff5 Stone serves as a reminder. It reminds us that history isn’t always as it seems. It also acknowledges the fictional Yasui Doton. His story captured the imagination of Osaka for many years.
Dotonbori has transformed over time. It became Osaka’s entertainment district in 1621. Playhouses and performance tents flocked to the area. Restaurants and cafes catered to the crowds. Today, Dotonbori is known for its eccentric atmosphere and illuminated signboards. The Glico Running Man sign is an icon of Osaka.
So, as you stand before the \u6c34\u8def\u8a18\u5ff5 Stone, remember the layers of history. Remember the fictional tales and the real people who shaped Dotonbori. Consider the evolution of a city’s identity. It is a place where fact and fiction intertwine. It is all etched in stone for us to ponder.