Abandoned Ruins of Japan

Amusement park version

“Nara Dreamland”

Nara Dreamland was an amusement park opened by Japan Dream Kanko on July 1, 1961 in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Nara Dreamland was an amusement park that aspired to be Disneyland long before Tokyo Disneyland. The impetus came from Kunizo Matsuo, a Showa-era showman, who was impressed by Disneyland in Anaheim, USA. Matsuo met directly with Walt Disney and tried to bring Disneyland to Japan. Initially, the Disney company did not take it seriously and responded that it would help when the time came. Matsuo visited the Disney company again with his engineers. Walt Disney, struck by Matsuo’s enthusiasm, gave him expertise in amusement park management, and Disney also sent engineers to help with the construction of Nara Dreamland. The purpose of the Disney Company’s efforts to teach management know-how and dispatch engineers was not to create a Japanese Disneyland, but to help the Japanese create a unique Japanese amusement park. Matsuo negotiated with the Disney Company to call himself “Disneyland,” but permission was not granted and he was unable to obtain a Disney license. Nara Dreamland was an amusement park that was not designed or engineered by Disney, but only provided know-how and some technical cooperation. Nara Dreamland commented that they were able to negotiate a franchise agreement, but were unable to…