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.
Table of Contents
Subcontractors Protest Unpaid Expo Work, Problem Unresolved for Months
Despite crossing a much-needed milestone in visitors’ numbers earlier this month, some problems remain at the Osaka International Expo.
One ongoing problem, which has come to head this week, is the unpaid salaries of subcontractors to the event.
Protestors gathered outside GL Events Japan’s Osaka headquarters this week. They protested unpaid wages for work carried out at 8 different foreign nation pavilions at the Expo.
Workers affected have been at pains to stress that this, very public, form of protest is an absolute last resort. Victims raised greivances with the Expo organizers, and the national and prefectural governments.
However, in what appears to be an absolutely shameful abdication of responsibility, Prefectural government officials claimed it was a “private matter”. Expo organizers have also washed their hands of responsibility despite relying heavily on these subcontracted laborers to complete the pavilions on time, under ever changing conditions.
A spokesman for the unpaid workers said: “We worked in harsh conditions at the strong urging of the expo organizers and the prefectural government. It’s infuriating that they dismiss it as a private matter despite it being a national project,”
From the outside looking in, one would have to say, it seems these workers have a very valid grievance.
Subway Problems Leave Osaka Visitors Stranded
The Osaka Expo really didn’t have its problems to seek last week. In addition to unpaid salary disputes, there was also a widespread failure of transport infrastructure last week. Osaka Metro Subway lines went down, leaving visitors stranded for several hours.
The incident, which occurred late last Wednesday continues to create friction between visitors and organizers over a seeming lack of communication and what some Expo entrants branded “a total disregard for visitor safety”.
The problem stems from Yumeshima station, the main point of entry to the Expo for visitors, having only one line of access. That line is the Osaka Metro Chuo Line. The Chuo Line experienced a mechanical fault leading to the suspension of services around 9:30pm on Wednesday last week.
Osaka Metro Company went through the usual ritualistic bowing and token apology routine at the end of last week. However, affected customers remain unimpressed. Expo staff did their best to cope despite there seemingly being no plan to handle such a situation.
Buses out of the Expo were overcrowded, and unavailable to many. Train services did not resume until the next morning.
Thankfully, a number of pavilions stepped up and offered their spaces as shelters to those looking to escape the outside heat and humidity.
By Thursday morning, 36 people went to hospital as a result of heatstroke, dehydration and other related ailments.
About 70% of all visitors to the Expo use the Chuo line via Yumeshima to get to the event.
Firefighters Make The Ultimate Sacrifice to Contain Dotonbori Fire
Two Osaka firefighters bravely gave their lives this week, to bring a dangerous fire under control.
Two buildings were consumed in the fire, near the famous Glico Neon sign in Osaka’s famous canal-side entertainment district.
The two firefighters entered the building to contain the blaze, but were trapped after part of the structure collapsed. Despite the heroic efforts of their colleagues, the two were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigations continue as to the cause of the blaze, which started at some point early on Monday morning. 4 others suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital. They remain in a stable condition.
The blaze made national news headlines on Monday. Such a large fire in such a built-up urban area is something of a rarity in Japan these days, as are firefighter fatalities.
And Finally…
Moving back to the Expo, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed this week her plan to visit Osaka next month.
The Italian PM plans to visit Japan from September 7th as part of a wider Asian tour. Her meeting with Prime Minister Ishiba, due after she visits the Osaka Expo comes at a difficult time for Italy in international relations.
Meloni was elected on a platform of skepticism towards the EU and right-wing populism. However, she is also strongly in favor of ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible, a goal shared by Ishiba and The EU, but in contrast to other, politically similar leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
Both leaders will be hoping the meeting, and any new trade initiatives it leads to will boost flagging domestic approval ratings.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
