Ramen restaurant in Osaka removes tail of famous dragon symbol after losing lawsuit

OSAKA – A popular ramen restaurant will cut off and remove part of its three-dimensional dragon-shaped sign after losing a legal battle.

According to sources including the company that operates Kinryu Ramen's Dotonbori branch in the downtown Minami district of Chuo Ward in Osaka, the sign, which features a dragon's face and body protruding from the wall, was installed around 1992.

However, the owner of the adjacent property filed a lawsuit in the Osaka District Court, demanding the removal of the dragon's tail and other parts that protrude beyond the property line and restrict the use of the property. The operator of Kinryu argued that the cost of removing the sign would be high and would damage the store's brand image.

In an October 2023 district court ruling, the company was ordered to remove the tail and other parts of the shield. It appealed to the Osaka High Court, but its case was dismissed in May 2024.

At the time of the eviction, the company said: “We need to coordinate with the parties involved,” but the eviction is expected to take place at the end of August.

(Japanese original by Koji Minemoto, Osaka City News Department)