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.
Abe Widow Addresses Osaka Event as Murder Trial Draws Near
With just over a month before the trial of the man accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo begins, his widow spoke in Osaka this week.
Akie Abe spoke about the importance of moving past the tragedy and not bearing grudges. She said: Instead of harboring a grudge against the other party, or hating him, I would like to think about how we can make our society a better place.”
A tearful Mrs Abe added: “If my stories as a bereaved family member strike a chord with other parties, prompting them to think that they will never commit a crime again, then I’ll have a reason to live.”
Since her husband’s brutal murder, during a campaign rally in Nara, about 20 minutes outside Osaka, in 2022, Mrs Abe has devoted much of her time to helping criminals reform.
In addition to visiting prison facilities, she has also corresponded with inmates and worked on numerous rehabilitation initiatives.
Her bravery is an example to us all. She closed out an emotional speech by saying: “Anyone who has committed a crime, no matter what the offense is, can reform themselves. I’d like to support them with that.”
Shinzo Abe’s alleged killer, 45 Tetsuya Yamagami will go on trial next month.
Race for New PM Kicks Off with Monday Event, Osaka Party Could Play “Kingmaker”
The race to decide who succeeds outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba officially began this week. The five candidates launched their official campaigns at an event in Tokyo on Monday.
However, whilst the candidates spoke to press and supporters in the capital, it may be Osaka’s own political forces who decide their fate.
The ruling LDP lost their house majority at the last election in July. Indeed, this was the event that led to Ishiba resigning.
However, this lack of a majority also has implications for any wannabe new Prime Minister. Whoever wins the backing of LDP members, isn’t necessarily guaranteed to become Prime Minister.
The vote to choose a new party leader will take place on October 4th. However, the vote is limited to the 295 parliamentarians in the LDP, as well as the 1 million or so paid-up party members.
The current make-up of both houses of the Japanese parliament means that whoever the future leader of the LDP is, they will need to come to some kind of “understanding” with one or more of the opposition parties in order to become Prime Minister.
This is where the Osaka-based Japan Innovation Party comes in. Their current leader, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura could play a crucial role in making this happen.
The JIP are aligned with the LDP on a number of issues, however, whether or not the JIP back the winning candidate probably depends on who wins.
Koizumi Makes Big Show of Visiting Osaka Event
The current favorite, Sanae Takaichi was a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe. However, the faction of the LDP she hails from was heavily implicated in a corruption scandal last year. Her hawkish views on China and Korea also put her at odds with the JIP.
Whilst also a right-wing party, the JIP believes a more pragmatic approach is necessary, especially in the Kansai area where tourists from these countries are a major source of revenue.
Takaichi’s biggest rival is Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Koizumi Jnr has already made a very public effort to get the JIP and other Osaka political parties on board.
He visited the Osaka Expo event in August, and reportedly met with a number of JIP officials at that time.
Koizumi may also benefit from a split in the hardline vote, between Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi, another conservative traditionalist who opposes reforms.
And Finally…
Despite the Osaka International Expo winding down, as it prepares to close its doors on October 13th, the future looks bright for the many staff employed at the event.
Reports indicate a number of Osaka’s largest employers are lining up to offer these staff new work when the event ends.
The hospitality sector is especially enthusiastic about these staff. Their language and event hosting skills would be an asset to any venue. H20 Retailing, the owners of the Hankyu and Hanshin Department Stores also pledged to “hire a number of staff” from the expo candidate pool.
Universal Studios is another possible destination for these workers. A representative for USJ told press this week: The Expo work aligns well with theme park operations and is appealing. Before the Expo opened, we were worried as new applicants for our company decreased, but the approaching end to the Expo presents an opportunity. These individuals are truly industry-ready, so we intend to actively recruit them.”
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
