2018 has just begun, but Osaka and Kyoto are already looking ahead to 2019, when the prospect of hosting two major international conferences has the local political and business circles excited.

One of the big 2019 events is the Group of 20 summit. Following media reports at the start of the year suggesting good news, it is widely expected here that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will choose Osaka.

The two-day event will likely draw tens of thousands of people, including 20 world leaders ranging from U.S. President Donald Trump to Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the city and the Kansai region, to discuss a gamut of issues from North Korea to climate change.