A Neo Renaissance style building with a distinctive large arch, Osaka Shochikuza Theatre was Kansai's first Western theater, opened in 1923. It is a beloved symbol of the city to the residents of Osaka. From Namba Station, it's a minute by foot. Using Teatro alla Scala in Milano, Italy as a model, the Obayashi Group architect, Tokusaburo Kimura designed Japan's this as the first steel-frame, reinforced concrete building in Japan. The performance hall is 3 floors, has 557 seats, and is accented with red throughout the chairs, walls, and floor to give it an out of the ordinary atmosphere. The first floor has a book store specializing in theater and the basement floor has an izakaya brews a local Dontonbori beer in store. On May 17th of the opening year, the German Movie, "Das Weib des Pharao," Sochiku Kamata's production, "Haha," and "L'Arlesienne," as performed by Sochiku's Opera Group, were showed to commemorate the theater. In 1997, the theater was rebuilt while maintaining the facade in order to furnish it with the latest equipment. In 2004, the OSK Nippon Revue Company performed "Haru no Odori" for the first time in 66 years, after which it has become a yearly staple.