LUCKY BILLIKEN - Osaka, Japan
N 34° 42.037 E 135° 29.600
53S E 545180 N 3839954
The Lucky Billiken located in the walkway to the Osaka JR train station in Osaka, Japan.
Waymark Code: WMB5MY
Location: Osaka, Japan
Date Posted: 04/08/2011
Views: 12
The lucky Billiken will make your wish come true if you scratch his sole of foot. Because he cannot reach to his sole of foot... The statue of the Billiken is located in the covered walkway to the Osaka JR train station. Many people pass this way every day and many stop to scratch his soles. The Billiken originated in the United States by an art teacher Ms. Florence Pretz in 1908. Its popularity grew and soon enjoyed worldwide celebrity. The billiken, as a good luck charm, appears multiple times in the Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor movie Waterloo Bridge. At least two Billiken-themed songs were recorded, including "Billiken Rag" and the "Billiken Man Song. Throughout Japan representations of the Billiken were enshrined. The Billiken was a star in Sakamoto Junji's 1996 comedy Billiken in which the statue is restored to the Tsutenkaku in an effort to revive the popularity of the tower and save Shinsekai. Today you can see statues of Billiken in many places. It is also used as a Mascot for sports teams such as the Saint Louis University, you can see a statue at the university.
We hope you will have an opportunity to find the Billikin and receive your good luck!
Character Type: Movie
Character originator: Ms. Florence Pretz: An American art teacher and illustrator
Internet Link: [Web Link]
Address or Location:
The statue is located about 400 feet from the posted coordinance which is the entrance to the Osaka JR Train Station. It is located in the covered walkway towards the station.
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Visit Instructions:Provide a picture of the statue or something at the site relating to it.
You can be in the photo if you desire.