Major Japanese confectionery maker Ezaki Glico Co. has introduced a gigantic new signboard to Osaka's bustling downtown Dotonbori district, a major tourist spot, in hopes of attracting foreign customers as part of its ambitious plan to go global.
The sixth-generation Ezaki Glico signboard, which shows a runner raising his arms in triumph, is illuminated with light-emitting diodes from the evening through midnight, unlike its predecessor that relied on neon.
The newest version of this Osaka landmark, which dates back to the 1930s, also shows popular spots in Japan and abroad. Every 15 minutes, images including Mount Fuji, New York's Statue of Liberty, a pyramid in Egypt and Wat Pho, a Buddhist temple complex in Bangkok, are displayed behind the runner with LED lighting. Visiting foreign tourists can often be heard cheering upon seeing their home countries featured.