Juso is a place name referring to the area around Juso Station in the southwestern part of Yodogawa Ward, Osaka City. One theory for the origin of the name is that a ferry crossing over the former Nakatsu River once existed here, and it was the 13th crossing counted upstream from the Yodo River—hence the name ‘Juso’ (thirteen). Juso is known as an entertainment district dotted with restaurants, pachinko parlors, cabarets, and love hotels. It is also home to many well-known Kansai eateries, such as Yamamoto (famous for negiyaki) and Ganko Sushi. A local specialty is the ‘Juso-yaki’ from Imazatoya Kyubei, which comes in two types—white mochi and yomogi mochi—both filled with sweet red bean paste, and is beloved as a Juso signature. Beyond food, the ‘Dai-Nana Geijutsu Gekijo’ is cherished as one of Osaka’s few mini-theaters. Juso Fandango, a live music venue that supported core music fans since opening in 1987 and where the famous Japanese rock band Ulfuls performed during their indie days, closed in July 2019; in October 2019, Sakai Fandango opened with a ‘grand opening’ performance while preserving the atmosphere of the original Juso venue.