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.
Osaka Water Works Benefit from Massive Gold Donation
Osaka’s ageing waterworks got an anonymous helping hand this week. An unknown, well to do private citizen donated 21 kilograms of gold bullion to the Osaka Municipal Government this week. The donor’s only precondition: that the money be spent on renewing the city’s ageing water pipes.
The total value of the hugely generous donation sits, according to estimates, at around $3.6 million US. This will have a massive impact on the city’s water infrastructure. Indeed, rusting and worn-down water pipes have become something of a national problem across Japan.
This came into stark focus last year when a driver tragically lost his life after his vehicle fell into a sinkhole in Saitama Prefecture. Deteriorating water mains and sewage pipes played a major role in the road collapse leading to the incident.
Osaka Mayor Heaps Praise on “Unprecedented” Donation to City Water Works
Recently re-elected Osaka City mayor, Hideyuki Yokoyama was emphatic in his response to the anonymous donation. He said, addressing local media this week: “Tackling aging water pipes requires a huge investment. So, I have nothing but appreciation.”
The city government have yet to comment on how exactly the money will be spent, but officials are adamant the funds will be used exclusively for water works renewal projects. They also sought to assure residents that any projects making use of the donation will be documented in a fully transparent and publicly accessible way.
Ukrainian Sumo Hero Hopes to Make History in Osaka
We are a little under 2 weeks away from the opening of the Osaka Basho, the annual Grand Sumo Tournament. The finest exponents of Japan’s national sport will descend on the city’s Edion Arena, for the 2-week tournament beginning March 8th.
While a host of tremendous athletes will be on show, most eyes are fixated on one individual: the Ukrainian Ozeki Aonishiki.
The 21-year-old has had something of a meteoric rise up the Sumo ranks. A relative unknown until fairly recently, back-to-back tournament wins in January mean that he could ascend to the pinnacle of Sumo, the rank of Yokozuna, as early as next month, in Osaka.
Aonishiki’s exploits have captured hearts not just in Japan, but also in his homeland, where his compatriots continue to fight a brutal and bloody war against Russia. The war recently entered its 5th year.
Indeed, it was the outbreak of these hostilities in 2021 that first prompted the young wrestler to move to Japan. He initially joined the Sumo club at Kansai University, before being recruited into the renowned Ajigawa Sumo Stable.
This past Tuesday marked 4 years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The country’s newest sporting icon was in contemplative but determined mood as he addressed local media on the anniversary. He said simply: I hope to deliver a strong performance and bring good news to the Ukrainian people.”
Osaka will be just the 16th professional tournament in which Aonishiki has competed. If he does manage to win the tournament and reach the grand champion Yokozuna rank, he would absolutely obliterate the current record. In modern times, the fastest ascension to Yokozuna thus far is the Mongolian legend Asashoryu. He went from beginner to Yokozuna in 25 tournaments.
So, even if Aonishiki doesn’t quite make the grade this time around, time is very much on his side. At just 21 years old, he has plenty of time to set a new Sumo standard.
And Finally
While Aonishiki will try to make history in Osaka next month, another, longer term resident of the prefecture has already done so. Wain, the world’s oldest wombat celebrated his 37th birthday this week. The Australian marsupial, donated to Osaka Prefecture’s Satsukiyama Zoo in 1990, earned formal world record holder status in 2022. However, despite now being well over 100 years old in equivalent human terms, he shows no signs of slowing down.
Zoo director Kozo Sejima said, “He’s a legend in the wombat world. We will continue to look over his long life.”
The city of Ikeda, where the Zoo is based, commemorated the event with a livestream of Wain’s birthday party. Local residents also flooded a message board with good wishes for Osaka’s oldest marsupial.
Wombats in the wild typically live between 20-25 years, depending on their habitat.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
