The subway in Osaka, Japan, is in activity since 1933. It is the second oldest metro in Asia and Japan, following that of Tokyo. The initial line of the subway serves a north-south axis and follows the route of Midōsuji street, from which derives its name, the Midōsuji line, or line 1. The tunnel connecting Umeda stations to Shinsaibashi was dug by hand by unemployed workers, an operation aimed at reducing the high unemployment of the time.
