Last chance for that Glico selfie! Osaka’s famous Running Man to go dark on Nov 30 for major makeover

One last pose? Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will switch off its lights on November 30 ahead of a major upgrade. — AFP pic

First Published: Friday, 16 Oct 2026 11:16 AM MYT

Last Modified: Friday, 16 Oct 2026 11:19 AM MYT

OSAKA, Oct 16 — Planning a year-end getaway to Osaka? You might want to cross that iconic Glico Running Man selfie off your itinerary — at least for now.

One of Japan’s most recognisable landmarks is about to take a well-earned break, with the giant illuminated sign overlooking Osaka’s bustling Dotonbori canal set to go dark on November 30 ahead of a major makeover.

The famous Running Man, whose triumphant, arms-raised pose has been recreated by countless tourists, will be getting his first major upgrade in more than a decade, according to The Japan News.

Confectionery manufacturer Ezaki Glico, the company behind the landmark, announced that the current sixth-generation sign will be replaced with a seventh-generation design in spring 2027.

That means visitors heading to Osaka during the year-end holiday season will have to do without one of Dotonbori’s most beloved illuminated backdrops while renovation work is under way.

And for anyone who has ever squeezed onto the crowded canal-side promenade, raised both arms and attempted to recreate the runner’s victory pose, it’s a little piece of Osaka magic that will be temporarily missing.

But don’t panic. The Running Man isn’t retiring.

Although the new design remains under wraps until its unveiling next spring, Ezaki Glico has confirmed that the familiar figure, complete with his unmistakable celebratory pose, is here to stay.

“We’d like to continue using the runner as a symbol of our commitment to delivering health and wellness to society,” a company spokesman said, according to The Japan News.

The makeover is being driven by ageing LED components in the current sign, which has been lighting up the entertainment district since 2014.

Standing an impressive 20m tall and 10.38m wide, the sixth-generation display was the first to swap traditional neon lighting for energy-efficient LEDs.

The upgrade allowed the sign to become more than a static advertisement, with changing backdrops depicting everything from glowing sunsets to Mount Fuji.

The seventh-generation sign will also use LED technology, although exactly what visual surprises await visitors remains a closely guarded secret.

For Japanophiles, the Glico Running Man is more than a giant advertisement for sweets.

First installed in 1935, the sign has become part of Osaka’s identity, watching over generations of visitors drawn to Dotonbori’s dazzling lights, enormous restaurant signs and seemingly endless food offerings.

From takoyaki and okonomiyaki to the neon-lit streets that give the district its unmistakable energy, Dotonbori is often one of the first stops for travellers eager to experience Osaka at its liveliest.

And few visits feel complete without that obligatory photograph in front of the Running Man, preferably with both arms stretched skywards in perfect imitation of the original.

For those determined to capture the current version in all its illuminated glory, November 30 will be the final opportunity before the lights are switched off.

Everyone else will have to look forward to spring 2027, when Osaka’s most famous runner returns to reclaim his place above the canal.