Statue & Monument · Dotonbori

Kuidaore Taro くいだおれ太郎

The drum-beating clown in a striped suit and round glasses who has been the mascot of Dotonbori since 1949, standing in front of the Nakaza Cuidaore Building as the face of "kuidaore", eating until you drop.

About

Kuidaore Taro was built in 1949 as the mechanical greeter for the Cui-daore restaurant, a multi-storey family eatery on Dotonbori. With his red-and-white striped costume, round black glasses and endlessly nodding head as he bangs his drum, he became the symbol of Osaka's food-obsessed spirit. When the restaurant closed in 2008, Osakans feared he would disappear, but he was kept and now stands in front of the Nakaza Cuidaore Building, the old Nakaza theatre site, with a souvenir shop selling his face on everything from pudding to socks. He occasionally goes "on tour" or changes costume for events, which is reported in the local news like a celebrity.

Highlights

• The original 1949 mechanical drummer, nodding and drumming
• Symbol of the Osaka phrase kuidaore
• Souvenir shop of Kuidaore Taro goods next to him
• Steps from Ebisubashi and the Glico sign

Tips

• Queue politely for a selfie; mornings are calm, evenings are busy.
• Look for his seasonal costumes around holidays and big sports events.
• Kuidaore Taro pudding and senbei are classic Osaka souvenirs.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Kukuru Dotonbori HontenRestaurant · 10 m away
• Dotonbori Imai HontenRestaurant · 20 m away
• Ukiyo-koji AlleyPhoto Spot · 40 m away
• Takoyaki Dojo Kukuru Takumi (Dotonbori Konamon Museum)Activities & Experiences · 50 m away
• Kinryu Ramen DotonboriRamen & Noodles · 50 m away
• Kani Doraku Giant Moving CrabLandmark & Tower · 50 m away
• Chibo DotonboriRestaurant · 50 m away
• Tombori River CruiseActivities & Experiences · 50 m away