Dotonbori is arguably the heart of Osaka's Minami district. Tourists are constantly seen taking commemorative photos with the Glico sign in the background. However, not many people know the origin of its name. It was named after Yasui Doton, who donated his personal fortune to dig the river about 12 years after the decisive Battle of Sekigahara. After the river was dug, theaters were gathered on the south side of the newly dug Dotonbori, including the "Three Edo Theaters and the Five Naniwa Theaters," as well as many smaller theaters. Kabuki, Bunraku puppet theater, Gidayu, spectacles, Bunraku... Dotonbori became a mecca for a variety of performing arts. Like Broadway, Dotonbori was a coveted stage for entertainers. Even today, kabuki is performed at the Shochikuza Theater, puppet theater at the National Bunraku Theater, and Osaka's pride and joy, comedy, is performed at the Namba Grand Kagetsu Theater and Kadoza Theater, attracting large audiences every day. Restaurants also sprang up spontaneously to cater to theatergoers, and their numbers continued to grow. Meanwhile, giant billboards competed to attract even the slightest attention. Now, Dotonbori is famous for its flashy billboards. In addition to the aforementioned Glico, there are giant crabs, octopuses, and pufferfish. "Kuidaore Taro," who plays the chin-don (a traditional Japanese bell) and taiko (a traditional Japanese drum), is a popular figure who everyone takes photos with. In fact, he is Japan's first robot billboard, created by a Bunraku puppeteer. In recent years, the Tonbori River Walk, a riverside promenade, has also become popular.