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OSAKA

Participants perform Kagami Biraki (the opening of the sake barrel) at an event promoting this year's World Exposition held at the Japanese Embassy in Brasilia on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2025
Japan embassy in Brazil holds Osaka Expo promotional event
The tourism promotion event comes as this year marks the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries being established.
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko observes the 2025 World Exposition venue from the top of a ring-shaped roof called the Grand Ring, the world's largest wooden structure and a symbol for the Expo, on Wednesday in Osaka's Konohana Ward.
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2025
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko visit Osaka Expo venue
The Crown Prince serves as honorary president of the Expo, which will be held in the city for six months from April 13.
Some 8.06 million tickets for the Osaka Expo, to be held on the artificial island of Yumeshima for 184 days from April 13, had been sold as of March 5, less than 60% of the target.
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2025
Advance ticket sales target for Osaka Expo likely out of reach
As of March 5, some 8.06 million advance tickets had been sold — less than 60% of the target.
The Osaka Prefectural Police headquarters in the city of Osaka. Police there arrested three people on Tuesday, including a self-proclaimed spiritual leader and fortune teller, on suspicion of inciting two men to kill themselves five years ago.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 12, 2025
'Spiritual leader' and accomplices arrested over suicides of two men
The "spiritual leader" and her suspected accomplices were also arrested for allegedly forging a suicide note for one of the men.
Yumeshima Station, connected directly to the Osaka Expo venue's east gate, opened in January on Osaka Metro's Chuo subway line.
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2025
Osaka Expo organizers working on ways around traffic gridlock
The association expects daily visitors to peak at 220,000, with some 130,000 forecast to use Osaka Metro's Chuo subway line.
The Osaka Expo site on Yumeshima island in December.
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2025
Osaka Expo-linked spending expected to hit ¥1 trillion
The estimated spending related to the expo was based on the assumption that 28 million people will visit the event through October.
South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun speaks during an interview on Feb. 27 in Seoul.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 11, 2025
South Korean lawmakers to visit Osaka Expo
Lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said he will encourage South Koreans to visit Japan for the expo.
Bar Bota, the 37th-floor watering hole at the Four Seasons Osaka, looks out on a glittering cityscape better known for its cheap eats and drinks.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Mar 9, 2025
Slowly but surely, Osaka emerges from Kyoto’s fine-dining shadow
The majority of tourists go to Osaka with street food on their minds, but the city is rapidly improve its elevated dining options as well.
Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato. Subject to the Moritomo document disclosure are paper documents of 17 pages or more, as well as electronic data, Kato told a parliamentary meeting.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 5, 2025
Government to release controversial Moritomo documents
The government will start disclosing documents related to a controversial state land sale to school operator Moritomo Gakuen in a month's time at the earliest.
The iconic ring-shaped roof at the venue of the World Exposition in Osaka on Friday
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2025
Osaka Expo ring roof recognized as world's largest wooden structure
The 60,000-square-meter Grand Ring has the largest building area on record for a wooden structure, according to Guinness World Records.
Osaka Prefectural Police headquarters. A man was arrested on Saturday after the body of a child was found in an apartment unit in Yao, Osaka Prefecture.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 3, 2025
Osaka police arrest man after child's body found encased in concrete
An unemployed man who lives in Hirano Ward in the city of Osaka allegedly abandoned the child's body in the city of Yao, Osaka Prefecture.
Hoshoryu holds up the latest "banzuke" sumo ranking chart in Osaka on Tuesday.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 26, 2025
Latest sumo ranking sheet has plenty to catch the eye
The release of every new "banzuke," or ranking list, signals the imminent arrival of the next official tournament — and the latest has some striking changes.
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said that the same-day tickets for the Osaka Expo will be sold every day in front of the entrance gate.
JAPAN
Feb 25, 2025
Same-day tickets to be introduced for Osaka Expo: Ishiba
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said that the same-day tickets will be sold every day in front of the entrance gate.
While Osaka’s 2025 World Expo may strengthen Japan’s global ties through diplomatic engagements, its success will depend on fostering long-term innovation, economic cooperation and international collaboration beyond visitor numbers.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 25, 2025
Will Expo 2025 in Osaka be a success?
Osaka has hosted the Expo twice before, in 1970 and 1990, with the 1970 affair in particular occupying a special place in many local residents’ hearts.
Hiroto Oki leaving the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters for prosecution on Tuesday in Osaka's Chuo Ward.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 23, 2025
Man served fresh warrant over murder and robbery in Osaka Prefecture
The suspect, Hiroto Oki, 28, has remained silent over the murder and robbery allegations, according to the Osaka Prefectural Police.
The Osaka District Court sentenced former hospital employee Tomoya Yanagimoto, 28, to life in prison on Tuesday for raping and injuring 10 girls between the ages of 8 and 12 over a six-year period from March 2016.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 19, 2025
Osaka court jails former hospital employee for life for raping 10 girls
Tomoya Yanagimoto, 28, raped and injured the girls — who were 8 to 12 years of age — between March 2016 and May 2022.
The city of Settsu in Osaka Prefecture, which has distributed "randoseru" to elementary schoolchildren for free for 50 years, marked the milestone with a redesign of the school backpack.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 16, 2025
City marks 50 years of free school bag project
The city redesigned the traditional backpack for the first time, increasing its capacity, in the fiscal year that started in April 2024.
Police believe there is a bigger party involved in making and selling counterfeit products behind the latest arrest of three suspects.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 13, 2025
Osaka police arrest three for online sales of counterfeit eyelash serum
As the products were shipped from China, police believe there is a bigger party involved in making and selling counterfeit products.
The Osaka Prefectural Police headquarters in the city of Osaka
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 12, 2025
Osaka police arrest man for abandoning his wife’s body
His wife was last seen leaving work early at around 2 p.m. on May 26 last year.
Travel officials from the Middle East experience test cutting for Japanese swords in Setouchi, Okayama Prefecture, in January.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2025
Government touts exchanges with nations participating in Osaka Expo
Local governments expect their plans to boost youth exchanges, accelerate overseas expansion and promote tourism.

Longform

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From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past