Dotonbori Kuidaore Taro puppet in Osaka

Introducing one of Osaka’s most famous characters- Kuidaore Taro! He’s a puppet, and a clown, and a restaurant mascot. Originally created in 1950 to welcome children & improve business at the family restaurant he represented. Unfortunately, his restaurant Cui-Daoré has since closed down, but the popularity of Kuidaore Taro has kept him at his post drumming away all these years. Look for him in the heart of Dōtonbori in his signature red & white striped robes, welcoming guests to Osaka with his animatronic grin. Kuidaore-taro also happens to have a great self-preserving sense of humor. He wore a float and a quote reading “I can’t swim” to save himself from being thrown into the Dōtonbori Canal during a particularly exciting baseball season. And he’s been known to change his outfit on other big occasions too.