Tag - osaka

 
 

OSAKA

JAPAN
Dec 19, 2023
Japan unveils Osaka Expo costs
The government will bear ¥164.7 billion in direct expenses based on the latest estimate for venue construction costs.
A sign in Osaka's Dotonbori district advertises the 2025 World Expo.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2023
Japan eyes panel for Osaka Expo cost transparency
The government plans to set up a third-party panel as part of its plan to ensure transparency over the costs for the 2025 Osaka World Expo, it was learned Sunday.
Naomi Osaka in action at the Pan Pacific Open in Osaka in September 2019.
TENNIS
Dec 17, 2023
'Superstar' Osaka's return a boost for WTA, top coach says
The four-time Grand Slam champion last played a WTA tournament at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in late September 2022.
Nobuko, younger sister of Kotaro Nishizawa, who died at his clinic in Osaka during an arson attack, hugs one of the audience members following a memorial concert for the victims held in the city on Dec. 3.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 17, 2023
Deadly arson attack in Osaka remembered two years on
A piano concert was organized as an opportunity for bereaved relatives to connect and heal.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 15, 2023
Why should any city want to host a world expo?
The projected budget for the 2025 Osaka Expo has nearly doubled and netizens and opposition politicians are calling for a cancellation.
Police have arrested a 58-year-old man after a 16-year-old female high school student was found dead in an apartment in Osaka Prefecture, apparently from a cough medicine overdose.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 8, 2023
Man arrested on kidnapping charge after overdose death in Osaka
An autopsy found that the kidnapped 16-year-old female student had a fatal amount of cough medicine ingredients inside her body.
Naomi Osaka in action during the 2022 U.S. Open in one of her final tournaments before her pregnancy leave
TENNIS
Dec 8, 2023
Returning Osaka targets Paris Olympics and more Grand Slam titles
The 26-year-old former world No. 1 is set to return to competition at the Brisbane International starting at the end of the month.
Naomi Osaka in action during the third round of the Australian Open in January 2022
TENNIS
Dec 7, 2023
Osaka and Nadal set for Grand Slam comebacks in Australia
Osaka gave birth to daughter Shai in July and has not played since September 2022, having also struggled with her mental health.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 5, 2023
Osaka Expo woes weigh on city's casino resort project
Given the logistical and timing issues facing the expo, there are concerns over whether the casino resort can be built on schedule.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 29, 2023
Russia becomes latest country to pull out of Osaka Expo
The announcement is more bad news for the troubled event, which already faces pavilion construction delays, skyrocketing costs and little public support.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida answers questions during an Upper House budget committee meeting on Monday.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2023
Japan discloses extra ¥84 billion needed for Osaka Expo
Ministers told a parliamentary meeting that the government would need to pay more, partly to build the Japan pavilion at the expo venue.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 21, 2023
Japan to ban marijuana-derived substance found in gummy candies
An expert panel at the health ministry decided to officially add the HHCH synthetic compound to a drug list, with the ban taking effect from Dec. 2.
Japan’s first trading of digital securities will begin next month in the form of security tokens issued by real estate firms.
BUSINESS
Nov 21, 2023
Japan to start digital securities trading from December
The trading of security tokens issued by real estate firms Ichigo and Kenedix will begin on the Osaka Digital Exchange.
Overflowing trash next to a vending machine in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, which is popular with tourists, in March
JAPAN / Science & Health
Nov 18, 2023
Trash cans make techie comeback in Japan as tourists flood cities
This week, the tourist-heavy Dotonbori district in Osaka installed around 20 new technologically enabled garbage cans called SmaGO.
The Saitama leader of a rebellion (Gackt, center) decides to unite the citizens of his home prefecture by creating a sea and beach for the area in “Fly Me to the Saitama II.”
CULTURE / Film
Nov 16, 2023
‘Fly Me to the Saitama II’: Silliness abounds but the laughs do not
Hideki Takeuchi’s sequel to his award-winning hit comedy treads familiar and ridiculous ground, but it’s just not as funny as the first film.
JAPAN
Nov 14, 2023
Civil servants face different treatment at Kansai baseball parades
Kobe and Hyogo government workers working at the parades will be treated as being on duty, but those of the Osaka governments will not be.
Naomi Osaka, seen during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will make her return to the WTA Tour at the Brisbane International.
TENNIS
Nov 10, 2023
Naomi Osaka to make return at Brisbane International
The four-time Grand Slam winner made her last appearance in a WTA tournament at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in late September 2022.
PODCAST / deep dive
Nov 9, 2023
Japan’s 'four-eyed tax hiker' and the curse of Colonel Sanders
Baseball writer Jason Coskrey and editor Joel Tansey discuss the Hanshin Tigers’ Japan Series victory; Gabriele Ninivaggi explains how the prime minister hopes to get a home run with his tax plan.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2023
Troubled 2025 Osaka Expo could see further cost increases
Amid numerous challenges, Osaka officials hope no further discussions on increasing the budget of the troubled event will be needed.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 8, 2023
Tigers’ triumph resonates in a sumo world full of Kansai natives
As Hanshin fans celebrate a long-awaited championship, it's timely to look back at what sumo looked like when Hanshin last won it all in 1985.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.