6th film [Osaka Castle: The Great Renovation of the Heisei Era: The History of Castle Construction and Its Transition] 1998, 50 minutes The Yodo River flows through the center of Osaka. Nakanoshima, surrounded by the abundant waters of its tributaries, the Dojima River and the Tosabori River, developed from the Edo period through the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, and people gathered and prospered. In 1972, the "Nakanoshima Film Production Group" was formed to film the true form of this city, known as the "face of Osaka" for its famous architecture and beautiful scenery that represent each era. Led by film producer Noboru Takahira, about 20 young directors and cameramen living in Kansai who work in commercial films and commercial films left their day jobs and pooled their funds to try to film the city of Osaka where they live. In 1976, after overcoming various difficulties and spending four years, the film "Nakanoshima" was completed. The film captured many excellent buildings that have now disappeared, and was a valuable work that carefully depicted Osaka's culture, history, economy, and society. This work attracted a lot of attention and created strong emotional bonds between people who love Osaka. The production of the film "Nakanoshima" prompted the group to make the task of conveying the cultural heritage of the region their life's work, and to work on film production under the name "Osaka Culture Series." The second film, completed in 1980, was "Tekijuku," which depicted the history of Tekijuku, the origin of today's Osaka University and the center of academic learning in the Kamigata region. In 1985, the third film, "Senba," which depicted the appearance of a merchant town with a 400-year history, was completed. After that, the fourth film, "Osaka Castle: Its History and Buried Mysteries," and the fifth film, "Tea Ceremony and the People of Osaka," were produced at a rate of one film every three to four years. The works of the "Film "Nakanoshima" Production Group" are not just documentary films. In addition to examining a wealth of materials, they listen intently to the town's elders and experts, and continue to take a steady stance of reexamining even the most familiar things. The completed film is shown free of charge and can be lent upon request, conveying the region's cultural heritage to a wide range of people and questioning its significance. "We didn't start making films with the intention of thinking about Osaka culture," says Takahira Noboru, but as they searched for the film they really wanted to make, it was only natural that the theme of Osaka, which they love so dearly, emerged. Driven by their passionate love for film and Osaka, the "Film 'Nakanoshima' Production Group" continued its activities while playing the role of "modern storytellers" in the region. In May 1998, the sixth film, "Osaka Castle: The Great Renovation of the Heisei Era: The History of Castle Construction and Its Changes," was completed. However, two months later, Takahira Noboru passed away. Despite battling illness, he continued to work with determination until the end, and a pamphlet for the film was already prepared for screening. He was only 60 years old. Currently, the Nakanoshima Film Production Group is run by his son Tsuyoshi, who is acting as the representative. In order to allow more people to see the history and culture of Osaka as recorded on film, the group manages and rents out the films that have been produced so far, and sells the videos. Contact email address: [email protected]