Dotonbori is a popular nightlife and entertainment district of Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Its name means "Doton's Canal", referencing the canal built by Nariyasu Doton from 1612 to September 1615; the canal was completed a few months after Doton's death while fighting for the Toyotomi during the Osaka Campaign. In 1621, the Tokugawa Shogunate designated Dotonbori as Osaka's entertainment district, and playhouses and performance tents were established in Dotonbori. During World War II, Dotonbori's five remaining theaters were bombed and destroyed, and the area was redeveloped during the 1960s. Dotonbori became a popular tourist destination due to its many well-known traditional and modern restaurants, as well as its large illuminated signboards.
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