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.
Man Dies Following Rare Police Shooting in Osaka
A man died after being shot by a police officer during a confrontation in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, on the evening of August 4.
According to The Mainichi, police received an emergency call at around 7pm reporting that a blood-covered man carrying a kitchen knife was behaving violently near the entrance to a supermarket.
Five officers attended the scene. A police officer in his 30s repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon. However the suspect reportedly continued moving towards them.
The officer initially fired a warning shot into the air. When the man continued to approach, the officer fired again, striking him in the left side of the chest.
The man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of obstructing police officers in the performance of their duties. He would also have faced charges for violating Japan’s swords and firearms control law. He was transported to hospital but was later pronounced dead. No members of the public or police officers were reported injured.
Osaka Prefectural Police said the use of the firearm appeared to have met the legal requirements for such action, while also expressing regret that the man had died. An investigation is continuing into his identity and the circumstances that led to the incident.
The incident occurred in an area containing both commercial properties and homes, adding to the concern among local residents. Investigators will now seek to establish why the man was already bleeding when he appeared outside the supermarket and what happened before officers arrived.
Osaka Woman Arrested Over 2,000 Cancelled Manga Orders
In a rather different crime story, a 32-year-old restaurant worker from Osaka was arrested this week. Police arrested her on suspicion of disrupting the online business of major manga publisher Shueisha.
The Mainichi reported that Mayu Yoshida allegedly placed more than 2,000 orders for manga-related merchandise. She later cancelled them all, without completing payment or accepting delivery.
The orders were reportedly placed between July 2024 and May 2025. They included figurines and other goods connected to popular series such as One Piece and Naruto. Police believe Yoshida used more than 200 different accounts during the alleged scheme.
The repeated cancellations reportedly disrupted Shueisha’s ability to sell the merchandise to genuine customers. Limited-edition manga goods can attract enormous demand in Japan, and products reserved through a fraudulent order may remain unavailable to other buyers until the transaction is cancelled.
Yoshida reportedly admitted the allegations and told investigators that she acted this way due to stress.
The case is a reminder that deliberately placing false orders can have consequences beyond frustrating collectors. Repeatedly reserving stock without any intention of buying it may constitute fraudulent obstruction of business, particularly when conducted on such a large scale.
For disappointed One Piece fans, the real treasure may simply have been finding an item that remained available long enough to reach the checkout.
Female Umpire Makes History at Koshien
A significant milestone was reached at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in neighbouring Hyogo Prefecture this week. Maki Morita became the first woman to officiate a game at either Japan’s spring or summer national high school baseball tournament.
Morita, 49, served as the second-base umpire during the opening game between Sapporo Nihon University High School and Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School.
As The Mainichi noted, Morita once played baseball herself and began umpiring at the age of 26 after helping during a high school practice game. More than two decades later, that path brought her to one of the most celebrated stages in Japanese sport.
The summer Koshien tournament is more than an annual sporting competition. It is a deeply established part of Japanese culture. The games attract nationwide television coverage and young players frequently become household names.
Morita’s appearance therefore represents considerably more than one umpiring appointment. It places a woman directly inside one of Japan’s most tradition-conscious sporting institutions and could encourage more women and girls to consider roles in baseball beyond playing.
Fittingly, Morita’s historic achievement was made without disrupting the event around her. She simply took her position, made the calls and demonstrated that the person judging events on the field should also be judged by ability.
And Finally…
The Osaka-Kansai Expo may have closed, but one Osaka woman has found a delicious way to keep its international spirit alive.
The Expo Food Passport sends participants around Osaka Prefecture to restaurants connected with the former Expo pavilions. The event began on June 12 and runs until August 11.
Participants can collect stamps from 12 establishments serving food from countries including Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Kuwait and the Philippines. Four stamps earn a drink, eight unlock small restaurant gifts. Those completing the entire culinary circuit can receive a limited-edition pin badge while supplies last.
The passport costs 400 yen and includes recommended dishes and spaces for diners to record what they ate. It transforms the Expo’s international legacy into a food tour. Hopes are high this food tour will boost local restaurants and encourage residents to continue exploring cultures introduced at the event.
It is also perhaps the most Osaka solution imaginable. Other cities might preserve an international exposition with plaques, exhibitions or solemn academic conferences.
Osaka hands you a passport, points towards 12 restaurants and says: “Your mission is to eat everything.”
Some legacies are written in history books. This one comes with stamps, snacks and possibly a larger waistline.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
