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.
Latest Middle East War Has Far-Reaching Consequences for Osaka
It’s easy to become indifferent to the horrors of war when it all seems so far away from us. Such is the case with the war now being waged in Iran by a combination of US and Israeli forces.
However, even just a few days into this latest conflict, thousands of miles away in Osaka, the impact is already here.
Kansai Airport has seen flights to Dubai and Doha, via Emirates and Qatar Airways respectively, cancelled until at least next weekend.
The airways are offering free rescheduling or refunds for anyone who has plans to travel up until March 10th. The situation will be reviewed on March 6th. By that time the airlines hope to have a clearer picture of the longer-term implications of the current conflict.
Osaka Residents Decry “Ghoulish Opportunism” of Oil and Gas Companies Amid War
Cancelling flights and shuttering airports makes sense at this time, as inconvenient as it may be for many travelers. What is harder to explain away however, is the impending spike in gasoline prices in Japan. According to statements in the media this week, consumers in Osaka are advised to fill up their cars by Friday. Thereafter, prices will rise “as a response to the instability in the middle east.”
Osaka’s drivers aren’t buying it though. The war in Iran only kicked off a few days ago. We we all know that crude oil shipments take weeks, sometimes even months, to make their way around the world. Even if Iran continues with its pledge to blockade The Strait of Hormuz, it would still be several weeks before supplies in Osaka were affected.
Energy companies are also, according to numerous reports, planning to hike utility bills. Again the rationale is as a “consequence of the current war in the Middle East”.
One irate Osaka resident, who as a taxi driver relies on his car for his livelihood had this to say:
“How can they get away with this?
“These companies make plenty of money all year round. Yet the minute there’s even a hint of trouble they hike prices. I can’t suddenly start charging my passengers more because its rainy today, can I?
“No, I have to keep my prices competitive otherwise people will go elsewhere. That’s the problem with these oil companies. They can do what they want and consumers have no power to stop them.”
Another Osaka resident, concerned about the rise of already expensive utility bills added: “This is nothing more than ghoulish opportunism. While innocent people are dying in a war, all they can think about is how to squeeze more money out of their customers!”
Angry words indeed. However, Osaka needs oil as much as any other major city. There seems little that customers can do about impending price hikes.
High Court Confirms Liquidation of Cult Linked to Abe Assassination
It’s now almost 4 years since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed near Osaka. His killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, was sentenced to life imprisonment in January. He is currently being held at a prison in Osaka.
Yamagami stated his hatred for the religious cult known as the Unification Church as a reason for his killing of Abe.
Abe’s grandfather Nobusuke Kishi, also a former Prime Minister, is said to have aided the church, originally from South Korea, in gaining a foothold in Japan.
Abe’s untimely death and the allegations that followed prompted widespread investigations. Several high-ranking members of Abe’s own political party, the LDP, found themselves linked to the church.
A ruling handed down by the Tokyo High Court this week confirms a lower court ruling ordering the liquidation of the unification church and all its assets.
The church has said they will appeal this decision to the Supreme Court. Despite this, Japan’s laws regarding such cults mean that liquidation proceedings will begin immediately in any case.
One can only hope that the final demise of this vile institution will bring some sense of closure to this whole, horrifying episode.
And Finally
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the start of Osaka’s World Expo, which concluded in October, one of the event’s most popular attractions is making a comeback, for a limited time.
The “Sora Cruise” was an immersive, interactive experience, allowing visitors to experience what it feels like to ride a flying car.
The attraction returns this month, thanks to the backing of Japan Airlines and several other firms. Osaka Vertiport in the city’s Minato Ward will host Sora Cruise from March 8th until 25th. The exhibition hopes to prepare the public for the eventual commercial launch of these flying cars, currently planned for sometime in 2027 or later.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
