Restoration of the Main Tower in the Showa Period


Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple	Toyotomi Period	Reconstruction by the Tokugawa Shogunate	Edo Period	Showa	Heisei

The Main Tower of Osaka Castle was the first example in Japan of restoring a building with the technology of the Modern Age. It was a creatvie project that realized the dreams and wishes of Osaka Citizens through recollecting the prosperity of Osaka in the Toyotomi period.

Restoration by Osaka Citizens

In 1928, the mayor of Osaka, Hajime Seki, proposed the restoration of the Main Tower by raising funds from the citizens of Osaka. The contribution by the citizens reached its target level of 1,500,000 yen in only 6 months. In the oppressive atmosphere of the period heading towards a Great War, the restoration of the Main Tower (Osaka Castle Museum) was approved and enthusiastically welcomed by people.

Building-up iron frames of the Main Tower of Osaka Castle

Reconstruction with the most advanced building technology of the time

The reconstruction of the Main Tower in the Showa period set the goal of reproducing the appearance of the Main Tower in the Toyotomi period and making it a permanent monument as well. The work was undertaken by making the most of the building technology available at the time; steel-frame and reinforced concrete construction. The Tower was unprecedented in high-rise building, rising to a height of 55 meters from the ground. On November 7, 1931, the Main Tower of Osaka Castle, the 3rd generation in its history, was completed. It was the first castle tower in Japan reconstructed by the building technology of the Modern Age. At the same time, it was an original idea that the interior of the Tower be used to house a local history museum, the only such museum in Osaka prefecture.

Special Admission Ticket in commemoration of the completion of the Main Tower
Special Discount Admission Ticket in the form of a picture postcard

Overcoming War Damage

As there were a large number of military installations in the vicinity of the Castle, Osaka Castle was exposed to intense bombing raids by the U. S. Air Force during World War II. In addition, in 1950, Typhoon Jane caused tremendous damage to the Castle. After the War, the restoration of the old structures in the precincts of the Castle was undertaken through the joint efforts of government and people by raising funds. Thereafter, renovation and repairs have been repeated up to the present day. Osaka Castle area has been improved as an "Historic Site Park", which is a spacious park located in the center of the city.

Ichiban (No.1) Turret damaged by bombing raid

Section of a Stone Wall of Osaka Castle in the Toyotomi period, lying deep under the Honmaru (Inner Bailey)
The stone wall was piled up by an old method referred to as "Nozura-zumi" (method of piling up natural stones without working them). There remain marks of fire damage on the surface.

Discovery of the Remains beneath the ground in the Toyotomi period

The Osaka Castle Comprehensive Academic Investigation unearthed a mysterious old stone 7 meter deep under the ground. Subsequent investigation and study confirmed that stone walls from the Toyotomi period are still unearthed, lying deep under the present Honmaru (Inner Bailey). The majority of people think that the excellent stone walls existing today were built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. However all existing castle remains date not to the Toyotomi period, but to the time of the Tokugawas.