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| Above, Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
What Japanese castle was demolished in the second Godzilla movie?
For a G-fan that answer is easy. It was Osaka Castle in (where else?) the city of Osaka in Godzilla's Counterattack (or Godzilla Raids Again) in 1955. It got demolished during the battle between Godzilla and Anguirus.
The current Osaka Castle was built in 1931 and has now served as a symbol of Osaka for over 90 years. I first visited the Castle in 2004 during G-TOUR and then in 2015.
The Japan News has posted and article on Osaka Castle with some interesting history on the structure.
It begins with:
OSAKA — Ask a child, “Who built Osaka Castle?” and the answer you’ll probably get is, “Carpenters!” Yet people who know their history are just as likely to say “Toyotomi Hideyoshi.” Turns out, both answers are correct.
Hideyoshi was a powerful warlord who unified Japan in the late 16th century before the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate. He is especially popular in Osaka as a historical figure who rose to power from a peasant background.
However, when it comes to the current Osaka Castle tower that has been transformed into a modern museum with the appearance of a keep, the “carpenters” answer to the riddle is still correct. The castle tower was built by major construction company Obayashi Corp.
The eight-story structure with reinforced concrete was built in 1931 as part of a project to commemorate the accession of Emperor Showa to the throne five years earlier. Since then, it has served as a landmark as well as a symbol of Osaka for more than 90 years.
To read more, go here.
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