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.
Election Result Has Big Implications For Osaka and Surrounding Areas
Pollsters predicting a decisive win for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Sunday’s general election turned out to be right. However, perhaps even the staunchest of the LDP’s supporters wouldn’t have predicted just how big a win this would prove to be.
In the end, the election result gives the LDP a comfortable overall majority in parliament’s lower house. Not only this, but it also means that, for the first time since World War II, a single party now holds a two thirds majority in the House of Representatives.
We speculated last week that such a result could mean the end of the short-lived partnership between Osaka’s Japan Innovation Party and the now-dominant LDP. However, in a rare case of political goodwill, Prime Minister Takaichi has graciously offered the JIP a position in her cabinet. JIP Leader and newly returned governor of Osaka Hirofumi Yoshimura has said he intends to accept her offer.
JIP Moves Forward Despite Mediocre Result
On a day when almost every other party suffered heavy losses, The JIP actually made modest gains. The party increased their own number of seats in Parliament from 34 to 36. However, with the LDP now having a super-majority it remains to be seen what actual impact the JIP will have on Takaichi’s administration moving forward.
Party leader Yoshimura was pragmatic if somewhat humble in his discussion of the election results this week. He said to the press on Tuesday:
“I think we should join, to share responsibility and workload, and to act as an accelerator for the administration’s aims.”
Whilst speaking enthusiastically of the new administration’s aims, he was surprisingly quiet about his own party’s aims. The JIP’s status as the LDPs new Junior Coalition Partner remains in place, and a cabinet post will give them at least some input into policy formation. However, the chances of advances their previous “red line” issues of reducing the number of seats in parliament and finally moving forward with their longheld ambition to turn Osaka into Japan’s second capital, appear to have taken a significant backward step.
Takaichi will allow the JIP access, but it remains to be seen if she will actually listen to any of the demands they may make. Indeed, such was the result at the weekend, the JIP may be the ones having to make concessions now. This would be almost a direct role reversal from last October, when they propped up Takaichi’s minority government.
As Election Result Deepens China Divide, Osaka Airlines Look Elsewhere
Results on Sunday would suggest that the majority of voters in Japan back the Prime Minister’s aggressive posture against China. However, for Osaka and its close neighbor Kyoto, this has had a massive impact on inbound tourism. Up until last autumn, Chinese tourists typically flocked to Osaka for shopping and dining, and Kyoto for cultural and historical experiences. Since October, a boycott of sorts has ensued massively impacting the number of tourists from China.
However, realizing the way the political winds are currently blowing in Japan, airlines operating out of Osaka are adapting. Thai Viet JetAir, a low-cost carrier based in Southeast Asia, announced the introduction of a new, direct route between Bangkok and Kansai airport.
This new route will allow Thai visitors to travel overnight. The five-and-a-half-hour flight departs Bangkok at 12.25am local time, arriving in Osaka just before 8am Japan time. This allows travelers to effectively add an extra day to their trip.
It’s not just Thais who will now look to Osaka as a new tourism option either. Ironically, considering that this whole travel spat was started on the back of comments about Taiwan, Air Asia is increasing flights between the country and Osaka.
Air Asia announced a new route between the northern Taiwanese City of Kaohsiung and Kansai International Airport.
Going the other way, these new routes also offer fast and reasonably priced getaway opportunities for Osaka’s residents too. All three nations will hope that these moves increase tourism and cooperation as a counterbalance to China.
And Finally
It was a national holiday in Japan this past Wednesday. However, as many across the country celebrated the foundation of the nation, Osaka had other ideas. February 11th means one thing for fans in Osaka: Pro-Wrestling is back!
New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s New Beginnings Event took place on Wednesday evening.
Fans were treated to a feast of action, with the likes of heavyweight champion Yota Tsuji leading an all-star card.
Pro-Wrestling has always been a popular form of entertainment in Japan, going back decades. However in recent years, the international emergence of stars like Kenny Omega has seen NJPW reach a wider, international audience.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
