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.
Schools in Osaka Face up to Growing Japanese Language Problem
Osaka has a long and distinguished track record of welcoming foreign residents both long term and short term. However, educational facilities often fail to keep pace with the realities of increased inward migration.
Statistics released this week by the Japanese central government confirmed that almost 85,000 public elementary, junior and senior high school students required Japanese language support.
The issue of Japanese language learning, and access to it remains a major point of contention for foreign residents, and their children in Osaka.
There are moves to change the rules to tie long term visa renewals to progress in learning Japanese language. However, despite promises that previously reported huge price hikes in visa fees will be used to “help foreigners better acclimatize to Japanese society”, there is no solid plan for a comprehensive Japanese learning program either for kids or adult immigrants.
School Language Dilemma One Facet of a Far Bigger Problem
Of course, Japanese language education for the thousands of foreign-born children living in the greater Osaka area is just one small part of the problem.
Osaka provides an extensive network of Japanese language classes via local community centers and city ward offices. However, these classes are often taught only once or twice a week. Additionally, the teachers, whilst their effort and dedication cannot be faulted are mostly volunteers.
They do not have the expertise or experience of professional language instructors. Japanese tuition, taught by professionals is available, but the costs are highly restrictive. This is especially true for migrant workers in the manual labor sector, and students.
Ultimately the stats released this week are a wake-up call. Not just for Osaka, but for Japan as a whole.
Rhetoric about raising language standards for migrants will grab headlines. However, nothing will actually change unless the government puts forward a serious and workable plan for getting these people the Japanese classes they need.
Osaka.com contacted the mayor’s office and the Governor of Osaka’s office for comment on this matter, but at time of writing we have received no response.
Three Osaka Stars Named in World Cup Squad
With just a couple of weeks to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico and North America, Japan finalized their final squad last week.
In a squad very light on domestic talent, where all but four of the members play overseas, 3 stars from Osaka have made the grade.
First up, we have central defender, and occasionally defensive midfielder Ayumu Seko. The 25 year old native of Osaka City’s Taisho Ward currently plies his trade with French top flight side Le Havre.
Two of Osaka’s most prolific forwards of recent times have also made the grade. Ritsu Doan comes into the squad off another strong season in Germany’s Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt. He hopes to add a few to his international goal account this summer.
Osaka’s footballing man of the hour, Daizen Maeda, who scored the opening goal in last Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final, rounds out Osaka’s trio. After a difficult season, in which both he and his team-mates struggled to hit previous heights, Maeda has come into a rich vein of form at just the right time.
The left sided forward has hit 9 goals in his last 8 games, as Celtic won 8 matches in a row, to emerge as unlikely champions and cup winners.
And Finally
No sooner has the early summer heat arrived, than the typhoon season also appears to have begun in earnest.
Meteorologists identified Typhoon Jangmi earlier this week. At time of writing, the typhoon is on a direct course for the southern island region of Okinawa. It is set to hit Japan’s southernmost prefecture on Saturday, with the storm possibly strengthening over the weekend.
If the typhoon does make landfall on Japan’s main Honshu Island, it would be Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. At the moment, the chance of the typhoon passing directly over the Kansai region is rated at around 50/50. However, as always, experts advise caution. They also advise residents to avoid non-essential travel at those times, and prepare for possible cancelations and delays.
We’ll have more on this, if indeed the typhoon does head for Osaka next week.
That’s all for now, but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
