Dojima Avanza

A 23-storey office building with two basement levels, holding a bookstore with one of the largest sales floors in Kansai, along with restaurants and variety shops. The name Avanza comes from the Spanish avanzar, to advance, and was chosen to express a resolve to move strongly through the 21st century. The site is that of the former Osaka head office of the Mainichi Shimbun, and the complex was developed jointly by Nippon Life, the Mainichi Shimbun and Dai-ichi Life. Although Dojima is a business district, the building has about 7,000 square metres of open space full of greenery, water and light, where the seasons can be felt. Dojima Yakushido, which sits on the plaza on the east side, is an old hall dating from the reign of Empress Suiko and connected with the origin of the name Dojima; when the building was completed it was given a design of mirror glass and stone that matches the modern architecture.

Translated from the Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City tourist listings (観光施設一覧, CC BY 4.0).