The Osaka Monorail line, which encompasses various new towns such as Senri-Chūō and Kokusai Bunka Gakuen Toshi (Sayamachi), is a vibrant area where development is actively taking place today, regardless of its historical background. Throughout the region along the Osaka Monorail line, one can witness such landscapes in various locations.
In this edition, we will explore the surroundings of Kadoma City, located along the Osaka Monorail and Keihan Main Line. Even in this area, one can experience the scenery of a new town. You might be thinking, “Wait, the Keihan Main Line has been around for a long time,” and that’s partially true. The station called Kadoma City was established later in 1971 as “Shin-Kadoma Station.” Initially, the area was mostly agricultural land, with only the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (now Panasonic) factory nearby. The development of the area took place alongside the opening of the station. Considering that Senri New Town’s central station, Senri-Chūō, began operating in 1970, you can understand its relative novelty. However, it’s important to note that we are talking about events that occurred nearly 50 years ago.
In front of Kadoma City Station, there stands a commercial facility called “Kadoma Plaza” along with a public housing complex known as “Shinbashi Danchi.” It is said that a stark and striking landscape from the era of high economic growth still remains in the area. In this edition, let’s take a closer look at the large-scale redevelopment project called “Kadoma Plaza,” located in front of Kadoma City Station, and explore its surroundings.
Location
Name: Kadoma Plaza(門真プラザ)
Access: Keihan Line Kadomashi Station(京阪線 門真市駅)
“Kadoma Plaza” A Development Parallel to Senri-Chūō
The map around Kadomashi Station when the station is opened
“Kadoma Plaza” is a large-scale commercial facility that was completed through a significant redevelopment project in 1973 (indicated as 1974 in the classification of “First-Class Large-Scale Retail Stores”). It has been consistently operated by Kadoma Urban Development Building Co., Ltd., a third-sector company headquartered in Kadoma City, from its opening until the present day. Considering that the central commercial facility of Senri New Town, “Senri Selcy(千里セルシー)” opened in 1972, you can understand the long history of Kadoma Plaza.
Kadoma Plaza consists of a commercial facility and three buildings of public housing. The commercial facility occupies the basement 1st to 3rd floors, while the public housing extends from the 4th to 12th floors (the number of floors may vary depending on the building). It is noteworthy that the public housing is quite large in scale for such a facility.
Regarding the specialty shopping area, “Izumiya” has been a consistent tenant since the opening. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, it has reached the remarkable age of 48 years. However, it appears to be facing some challenges as well. As of June 7, 2020, all floors except for the food sales area (1st to 3rd floors) were closed, and currently, only the basement 1st floor is occupied.
“Inside Kadoma Plaza” A Nostalgic Showa-Era Ambience Remains in it
With the overview covered, let’s delve right into Kadoma Plaza. Being the only large-scale commercial facility in the vicinity of the station, it’s no wonder that the place is packed with bicycles to the point where you might mistake it for a parking lot for residents of the nearby Shinbashi public housing complex(新橋団地). Navigating through the crowds can be quite a challenge. Adding to the scene, you’ll come across signage for consumer finance companies like. It truly embodies the typical atmosphere of Osaka’s downtown neighborhoods.
The hair salons in Kadoma Plaza are engaged in fierce competition based on their affordability. It’s not quite clear why they intentionally placed two hair salons side by side in the specialty shopping area, but if it attracts a lively crowd, then so be it. It may appear to symbolize the somewhat dire poverty-stricken state of the town, but perhaps that’s just a subjective observation.
Entering the premises of “Izumiya(Supermarket)”, the anchor tenant of Kadoma Plaza. As expected from a major chain, the store maintains its cleanliness even after nearly 50 years since its opening, enticing customers with its inviting atmosphere. While Izumiya has withdrawn from the Kanto region, it remains a strong presence in the Kansai region, leveraging its solid foundation.
Indeed, Kadoma Plaza is a building that reflects the era of high economic growth. Throughout the facility, there are conspicuous signs and displays that evoke a strong sense of its time period, allowing visitors to grasp the historical journey that this establishment has undergone. Personally, I find these nostalgic signs to be quite charming and appealing.
Next, let’s head to the upper floors where Izumiya is not located. In this area, it appears that the situation has somewhat deteriorated, resembling a somewhat neglected corner. It’s understandable considering that the anchor tenant significantly downsized its presence.
To fill the large space left by Izumiya’s departure, the third floor now houses a toy store called “Kaiyodo Hobby Land(海洋堂ホビーランド, a famous hobby theme park in Japan)” while the second floor accommodates a bookstore and clothing stores. However, even with these additions, it seems that not all the tenant spaces have been completely filled. In one corner of the store, several purikura(photo with decorations) machines are haphazardly placed and operational, despite the absence of customers. It’s puzzling to see multiple machines like these within a public housing complex.
On the windows of the Izumiya side, there are worn-out signs that say “2F Gourmet Plaza,” symbolizing the rise and fall of this place. Currently, only one restaurant remains in this dining area. The influence of the anchor tenant’s departure has had a significant impact, for better or worse.
On the second floor of Kadoma Plaza, in addition to the specialty shopping area that was developed on the former site of Izumiya, there is another “specialty shopping area” that has been there since the opening, adjacent to it, with a courtyard separating the two. There are connecting corridors that link each building, providing excellent accessibility.
However, in that “specialty shopping area,” aside from public facilities of Kadoma City, restaurants, chiropractic clinics, and beauty salons, it seems that consumer finance companies dominate the scene. What’s more, it’s quite remarkable that all four major consumer finance companies have gathered in one place. It does raise questions as to why Kadoma City’s Consumer Affairs Center is located here. It seems quite evident that the flow of borrowing money, accumulating multiple debts, and seeking assistance from the Consumer Affairs Center is interconnected, but it’s unclear whether the authorities view this situation as problematic or not.
“Shinbashi Public Housing Complex” has near the Station
As mentioned earlier, Kadoma Plaza operates in conjunction with the public housing complex, creating an extraordinary large-scale residential development right in front of the station. It is quite unusual to see a combination of a commercial facility and a significant housing complex in such close proximity. The abundance of consumer finance company signs plastered throughout the complex does give it a rather unconventional appearance.
Standing on the south side of Kadoma Plaza, three buildings of public housing can be seen. These buildings have an impactful presence reminiscent of the high economic growth era. However, “Sekai no Matsushita” (Panasonic), which was once a powerhouse, has now lost its momentum and has become a gathering place for elderly residents. Nevertheless, it is evident that significant financial resources would be required to rebuild buildings of this scale. While there are redevelopment plans in place, it appears that they have not yet been implemented.
I will now take a frontal photograph of the Shinbashi Danchi, which no longer resembles a housing complex but rather a massive wall. The prominent red advertising signs of “Acom” catch the eye. Although there was a time when it was hailed as the “Dream New Town” and celebrated, many families once moved here with hopes and aspirations. What lies ahead for this public housing complex, Shinbashi Danchi? There have been talks of redevelopment, but at the same time, the frequency of the Keihan Electric Railway is expected to decrease from a 10-minute interval to 15 minutes. It’s becoming rather unclear what the future holds.
