OSAKA -- For Kazutoshi Nishimura, a 61-year-old homeless man who, in his own words, is retired and living on a park bench near Nagai Park, the approach of the World Cup soccer finals in June is a case of deja vu.

"I remember about two years ago, we kept hearing rumors that the homeless in Nagai were going to be swept off the streets because the International Olympic Committee officials were going to be in town," he said.

"This time, though, we're wondering if the city isn't going to crack down much harder," Nishimura said.