In the early Showa period, Osaka was praised as the "Manchester of the East." Japan surpassed England in the spinning industry and became the world's number one exporter of cotton products. As a monumental symbol of this praise, construction of a members-only club hall was started with 1 million yen donated as a will by the late Toyobo Managing Director Tsuneo Oka (to promote the progress and development of the Japanese cotton industry) and 500,000 yen donated by the industry. Designed by Osaka's leading architect, Setsuko Watanabe, it was completed in 1931 (Showa 6). The reconstruction of Osaka Castle, which was carried out at the same time, cost 480,000 yen. This shows how extravagant this Cotton Industry Hall was. Before and after the war, many historic figures visited the hall, including the Lytton Commission, First Lady Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and other successive prime ministers. The hall, which incorporates styles from around the world, and the elegant and stately design of each room, are an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and still exude a beautiful presence here. Hats off to the strong presence that has endured the turbulent Showa era, the war damage, the great earthquake, and everything else, and continues to carry out the deep will of many of them. Because it is a members-only facility, tours are only available once a month (in principle, the fourth Saturday, paid tours).