Luna Park, Osaka
Encyclopedia
Osaka's Luna Park was Japan's second amusement park
of the same name, replacing the destroyed Luna Park in Tokyo
. In operation from 1912 to 1923, the 132,000 square meter park in the Shinsekai
section of Osaka
featured a unique entrance: an aerial tramway
from the original Tsutenkaku Tower.
ese motion picture company Yoshizawa Shōten
to Shōkichi Umeya
in the wake of the destruction by fire of Luna Park, Tokyo
and two Osaka theaters
in 1911. Prior to the suspicious fires
, all three were owned by the movie studio.
Rather than rebuilding in Tokyo, Kawaura decided to build his second Luna Park in Shinsekai
("New World"), an Osaka subdivision that was under construction at the time. At the same time, the original Tsutenkaku Tower was being built in nearby Tsutenkaku
to the north. Plans were being made to connect the 86 meter tower to the park by an aerial tramway
to provide visitors a unique "flying sensation" as they entered the park.
The Osaka Luna Park featured an arcade
, mechanical rides (including one called the Circular Wave, which had seated riders rise and fall as the revolve in a circular motion), a funhouse
, a music hall
, a theater, and a hot spring
s spa
.
The Osaka Luna Park closed permanently after the 1925 season; in January 1943, the first Tsutenkaku Tower was damaged by a fire and was subsequently closed and demolished by the Japan
ese government. A new Tsutenkaku Tower was built and opened to the public in 1956.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
of the same name, replacing the destroyed Luna Park in Tokyo
Luna Park, Tokyo
In operation in 1910 and 1911, Tokyo's Luna Park was the first park of that name to be open in Japan...
. In operation from 1912 to 1923, the 132,000 square meter park in the Shinsekai
Shinsekai
Shinsekai , "New World" in English, is an old neighbourhood located next to south Osaka City's downtown "Minami" area. The neighbourhood was created in 1912 with New York as a model for its southern half and Paris for its northern half...
section of Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
featured a unique entrance: an aerial tramway
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
from the original Tsutenkaku Tower.
History
The park was constructed and owned by Ken'ichi Kawaura after he sold his interest in the JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese motion picture company Yoshizawa Shōten
Yoshizawa Shōten
was a film studio and importer active in the early years of cinema in Japan. Originally involved in the magic lantern business, Yoshizawa bought a cinématographe camera off a visiting Italian and began exhibiting motion pictures in 1897. Run by Ken'ichi Kawaura, and having an office in London,...
to Shōkichi Umeya
Shōkichi Umeya
was a Japanese film promoter and producer who financially supported Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary activities over a period of nearly 20 years. He was the founder in 1906 of the early Japanese film production company M. Pathe.-See also:...
in the wake of the destruction by fire of Luna Park, Tokyo
Luna Park, Tokyo
In operation in 1910 and 1911, Tokyo's Luna Park was the first park of that name to be open in Japan...
and two Osaka theaters
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in 1911. Prior to the suspicious fires
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, all three were owned by the movie studio.
Rather than rebuilding in Tokyo, Kawaura decided to build his second Luna Park in Shinsekai
Shinsekai
Shinsekai , "New World" in English, is an old neighbourhood located next to south Osaka City's downtown "Minami" area. The neighbourhood was created in 1912 with New York as a model for its southern half and Paris for its northern half...
("New World"), an Osaka subdivision that was under construction at the time. At the same time, the original Tsutenkaku Tower was being built in nearby Tsutenkaku
Tsutenkaku
, lit. "Tower Reaching Heaven", owned by Tsūtenkaku Kanko Co., Ltd. is a well-known landmark of Osaka, Japan and advertises Hitachi. It is located in the Shinsekai district of Naniwa-ku, Osaka....
to the north. Plans were being made to connect the 86 meter tower to the park by an aerial tramway
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
to provide visitors a unique "flying sensation" as they entered the park.
The Osaka Luna Park featured an arcade
Video arcade
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers , or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables...
, mechanical rides (including one called the Circular Wave, which had seated riders rise and fall as the revolve in a circular motion), a funhouse
Funhouse
A funhouse or fun house is an amusement facility found on amusement park and funfair midways in which patrons encounter and actively interact with various devices designed to surprise, challenge, and amuse the visitor. Unlike thrill rides, funhouses are participatory attractions, where visitors...
, a music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
, a theater, and a hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
.
The Osaka Luna Park closed permanently after the 1925 season; in January 1943, the first Tsutenkaku Tower was damaged by a fire and was subsequently closed and demolished by the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese government. A new Tsutenkaku Tower was built and opened to the public in 1956.