What did baseball fans famously do in 1985?

Jump into the canal to celebrate

Dōtonbori Quiz: Osaka's Neon Canal and Glico Running Man

This Dōtonbori quiz walks the bright canal in the heart of Osaka, Japan. Play 10 interactive questions on Yasui Dōton who began the canal in 1612, its old theater district, the Glico Running Man sign, the giant moving crab, Kuidaore Taro, the motto eat until you drop, takoyaki and okonomiyaki, Ebisu Bridge and baseball fans leaping into the canal.

Start Dōtonbori Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

City
Which city is Dōtonbori in?
Founder
Who began digging the canal in 1612?
Theaters
What was Dōtonbori famous for in the Edo period?
Sign
Which famous sign shows a runner with raised arms?
Crab
What moves on the Kani Doraku restaurant sign?
Taro
Who is Kuidaore Taro?
Motto
What does Osaka's motto kuidaore mean?
Snack
Which octopus-filled balls are an Osaka favorite?
Bridge
Which bridge is a famous meeting point?
Fans
What did baseball fans famously do in 1985?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which city is Dōtonbori in?
Answer: Osaka
It is in the Minami area.
Q2: Who began digging the canal in 1612?
Answer: Yasui Dōton
The canal is named after him.
Q3: What was Dōtonbori famous for in the Edo period?
Answer: Theaters
Kabuki and puppet shows drew crowds.
Q4: Which famous sign shows a runner with raised arms?
Answer: Glico Running Man
It first appeared in 1935.
Q5: What moves on the Kani Doraku restaurant sign?
Answer: A giant crab's legs
It has become a landmark.
Q6: Who is Kuidaore Taro?
Answer: A drumming clown mascot
He wears glasses and stripes.
Q7: What does Osaka's motto kuidaore mean?
Answer: Eat until you drop
Food culture is central there.
Q8: Which octopus-filled balls are an Osaka favorite?
Answer: Takoyaki
They are cooked in round molds.
Q9: Which bridge is a famous meeting point?
Answer: Ebisu Bridge
Crowds gather under the signs.
Q10: What did baseball fans famously do in 1985?
Answer: Jump into the canal to celebrate
Their team, the Hanshin Tigers, won.

Neon Signs, Street Food and a Canal of Theaters

Dōtonbori is a canal and entertainment street in the Minami area of Osaka. Merchant Yasui Dōton began digging it in 1612, and it was completed after his death and named after him. In the Edo period it became Osaka's theater district, with kabuki and puppet shows drawing crowds.

Today it glows with giant signs. The Glico Running Man, first put up in 1935, raises his arms over the water, the Kani Doraku crab moves its huge legs and Kuidaore Taro, a drumming clown, greets visitors. Osaka's motto kuidaore means eat until you drop, and stalls sell takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

Ebisu Bridge is a famous meeting point under the lights. When the Hanshin Tigers baseball team won the championship in 1985, fans jumped into the canal, and a statue of Colonel Sanders was thrown in too, starting a joke about a curse on the team.

What This Quiz Teaches

Travel fans will enjoy these questions.

Who began the canal
What the area was known for
Which signs are famous
Which foods are popular
Which legends surround it

Did You Know?

Canal cruises run along Dōtonbori.
The Colonel Sanders statue was recovered in 2009.
Shinsaibashi shopping arcade is nearby.
Kushikatsu skewers are another local dish.
The area is busiest late at night.