Osaka’s iconic Glico sign is being removed for renovations

It looks like one of Osaka’s biggest icons is about to get an upgrade. If you’ve passed through Dotonbori, chances are you’ve snapped a photo in front of the glowing Glico ‘running man’ – a longstanding landmark that attracts thousands of visitors every day.

The current sign has been in place since October 2014, but The Mainichi recently reported that Ezaki Glico Co. plans to remove the sixth-generation sign to make way for a new, seventh-generation version in spring 2027. 

While details of the new sign’s design have yet to be revealed, the company has confirmed that the iconic running man’s pose will remain unchanged. Interestingly, the current sign was the first version to feature an LED display, with approximately 140,000 LED chips. The upcoming replacement will not only give the landmark a fresh look but is also designed to be more energy-efficient.

The current sign will stay up until November 30, giving visitors another month to snap photos with it before work on the replacement begins.

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