Each week, here at Osaka.com, we bring you a selection of some of the top stories about Osaka making the local and national news here in Japan. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s funny, but it’s always direct to you, from Osaka.
Four Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide
Police in Osaka Prefecture continue to investigare a shocking case of suspected murder suicide this week. A 26-year-old man was found collapsed on a bridge in Suita, near Osaka City on Monday of this week. Police responded to an emergency call around 6:20 am. The man later died in hospital.
The circumstances of his violent death prompted police to visit his home where they made a grisly discovery.
Police found 3 dead bodies in the residence, a 26-year-old woman and two infants. They all had wounds to their abdomens.
Police also found what they believe to be a suicide note at the residence. Investigations are continuing, and police offered no further comment at this time.
Controversial Politician Provokes Backlash in Osaka: “Politicals Ethics are Dead”
A top Osaka academic spoke out this week ahead of the upcoming Upper House National Elections. Kazue Muta, a Professor Emeritus at Osaka University condemned the ruling LDP for their endorsement of hate-speech peddler Mio Sugita.
Sugita was named as one of the LDP’s proportional representation candidates for Prime Minister Ishida’s party in the Hyogo. Sugita has a history of making racist, historically revisionist and false statements. She has, on multiple occasions defamed Professor Muta and been legally sanctioned for doing so.
In 2023, the Sapporo and Osaka legal affairs bureaus recognized her statements as human rights violations. However, Sugita herself now denies that this ever happened.
Professor Muta said, speaking to the press this week: “Prime Minister Ishiba likely endorsed Sugita due to the situation within his party and the election strategy. But that represents the death of political ethics. The bottom has fallen out with regards to political ethics.”
Sugita is rated by most political commentators as, at best, a 50/50 shot in the upcoming election. If she loses, then almost certainly, her political career is dead.
However, her mere presence has prompted protests in Osaka and elsewhere. It also creates a further headache for an under pressure Prime Minister Ishiba, as he seeks to balance the demands of the moderate general public, with the volatility of right-wing firebrands like Sugita who carry far more sway within the LDP than they do with the general public.
It remains to be seen what impact this will have on the elections in Osaka or indeed nationally. As unpopular as the LDP are at the moment, none of their rival parties seem to offer much of a viable alternative.
Midge Outbreak the Latest Problem at Osaka Expo
As the summer draws closer, The Osaka World Expo 2025 has another problem to contend with. There is a reported outbreak of midges: tiny insects that can cause irritation to the skin upon contact.
Thankfully, they are the non-biting kind. Nonetheless, they will still cause an irritation to visitors already contending with heat, large crowds and, since last week, passive smoke.
Shiga governor Taizo Mikazuki, whose domain includes Lake Biwa which is also prone to midge infestations at this time of year, tried to put a humorous spin on things.
Mikazuki said on Tuesday: “This is the time of year they appear. As someone from a prefecture where we live with Biwako mushi, I’m not sure what good it will do making too big a deal out of it. I’m sure the midges want to see the Expo too.”
In any case, the outbreak is likely to be short-lived. Most of the midges will likely be dead within a few weeks.
And Finally…
Osaka’s other top tourist destination this summer has a new leader as of this week. Universal Studios Japan has a new Head of Operations. 53-year-old Taku Maruyama assumed his new leadership role with USJ on Sunday. He has been with the organization since 2000. He replaces outgoing chief executive JL Bonnier, who assumed the post in 2015.
Maruyama said this week that he looks forward to building on USJ’s recent successful expansions. The Harry Potter and Nintendo World areas of the park have both proved highly successful with visitors since their opening. Maruyama says he wants USJ to showcase more character-led attractions, such as Nintendo’s Mario. He did not, however elaborate as to which characters he has in mind.
However, Universal may well expand beyond their own IP. Nintendo is a separated entity and the Harry Potter brand is owned by Warner Bros.
With a new Superman movie due to debut in theaters next month, some have speculated a possible DC Studios (also a WB subsidiary) tie-up with USJ happen in the future?
Could it happen, we’ll have to wait and see.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
