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.
Here’s a look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in Osaka this week.
Attack in Park Leaves Pensioner Seriously Hurt
Nishinari Ward, the site of the brutal hammer attack.
Things took a rather strange and brutal turn in Osaka this week, as police reported one attack after another. In Nishinari Ward this past weekend, an elderly man was the victim of a vicious attack while feeding stray cats. A passer-by became annoyed at the man feeding the cats, which only causes more of them to gather. This soon degenerated into an argument between the two.
However the assailant went well beyond acceptable limits as he beat the old man around the head with a hammer. The attack left the victim in a serious but stable condition in hospital. The instigator of the attack was arrested shortly after. Toshiyuki Murakami, also from Nishinari Ward, was charged with attempted murder.
Stabbing Attack Leaves Young Woman Dead, Boyfriend Arrested
Sakai City bore witness to brutal crimes over the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, and even more brutal crime took place this week in the commuter town of Sakai City. In the second such case in as many weeks, a woman died after a stabbing attack from her boyfriend. Kojiro Yamamoto, a 23-year-old student from Osaka City, stabbed the victim multiple times in the stomach.
The horrific attack came at the end of a lengthy argument between the two. What makes this attack all the more shocking is that it took place on a public street. Yamamoto carried out his attack at around 10.40pm last Friday evening. He remained at the scene of the attack until police and paramedics arrived. Despite the valiant efforts of medical staff, the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Yamamoto stands charged with murder. He remains in police custody.
As we mentioned earlier, this is the second such tragedy to come to Sakai City in the past two weeks. 29-year-old Manami Aramaki and her 3-year-old daughter Riiri were killed at their home in Sakai’s Higashi Ward in a similar attack on August 24th. Their suspected killer, Aramaki’s 33-year-old husband, remains at large.
Government Announces Travel Restrictions Will Ease from September 7th
Hopefully it won’t be long now until tourists become a familiar sight in Osaka once again.
Last week, we reported that Japan’s Central Government came under increasing pressure in the past few weeks to ease restrictions on tourism in Japan. Well, this week, the Kishida administration finally announced the next step forward. From September 7th, the number of daily tourists allowed into Japan will increase to 50,000. The present limit sits at 20,000.
This news comes as a major boost to Osaka, as hopes rise of a return to some kind of normal by the New Year holiday period. After spiking at over 200,000 new cases per day, the average daily number of Covid-19 diagnoses finally seems to be falling off. Experts hope we may have now passed the peak of this latest wave.
In related news, the government also said that it plans to begin rolling out a new round of Covid-19 vaccines from the end of September. These new formulas, developed by Pfizer and Moderna specifically target the now-dominant Omicron strain of the virus.
Anyone who has had at least 2 vaccines so far will be eligible for these new shots.
And Finally…
Daizen Maeda’s Celtic begin their quest for the European Cup next Tuesday against holders Real Madrid.
The next few days could prove to be the defining moments of Japan striker Daizen Maeda’s career. The Osaka-born striker provided another assist, his 6th of the season, in Celtic’s 9-0 demolition of Dundee United last weekend. Maeda will now turn his attention towards two upcoming matches that could define both his and indeed Celtic’s season.
On Saturday, Celtic face their fierce rivals Rangers in the Glasgow Derby. However, this is just the appetizer for an even more enticing main course. Next Tuesday, defending European Champions Real Madrid come to Celtic Park in the opening round of this season’s UEFA Champions League. Maeda and his fellow Japan striker Kyogo Furuhashi will spearhead Celtic’s attack on the Spanish giants.
Of course, were they to even take a point from this match, it would represent one of the biggest upsets in recent European football memory. Real Madrid have won Europe’s top prize a total of 14 times. Celtic won the trophy just once, in 1967.
However, the precedent for a shock is there, especially with Japanese players leading the line. Back in 2006, in similarly unlikely circumstances, Shunsuke Nakamura sent Celtic through to the last 16 of the Champions League with his long-range free-kick winner against Manchester United.
More recently, Celtic have also turned over AC Milan and Barcelona at Celtic Park. One thing is for sure, the atmosphere at these next two matches will likely eclipse anything Maeda experienced in all his time with Yokohama Marinos and Matsumoto Yamaga here in Japan.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
For Expo ’70, the international exposition held in Osaka Prefecture in 1970, two time capsules were buried outside Osaka Castle. The location was a great choice, because in many ways, Osaka Castle is like a time capsule itself, offering a window into life in the area for over 1000 years. After Osaka Castle was first built in the late 16th century, the city of Osaka flourished around it, but even before the castle existed, the place where it stands had a long history as an important site.
Now, let’s take a trip through the history of Osaka Castle, from the imperial capital and warrior monk stronghold that preceded it, to the castle’s role in the age of samurai and its position today as a popular tourist site and symbol of Osaka City.
Before Osaka Castle
Most of today’s Osaka City is built on a plain, but Osaka Castle is on the north end of a raised section of land called the Uemachi Plateau. Long ago, most of that plain was underwater, and the Uemachi Plateau was a peninsula. To the west of the peninsula was the Seto Inland Sea, and to the east was a body of water called Kawachi Lake. The plain later became liveable land too, but early settlements in the area were all on the Uemachi Plateau.
Maps showing Osaka’s changing coastline through history.
Naniwa-zu was a port town in roughly the area where Osaka Castle is today, probably founded at some point before the 7th century CE. At that time, the imperial capital was often moved, but they were usually in what is now Nara Prefecture. Being on a peninsula by the sea, near where boats would come in to sail up the river to those imperial seats of power, Naniwa-zu had a convenient strategic location.
The town was even made into the capital itself at least once. The semi-legendary Emperor Nintoku supposedly used Naniwa as his capital in the 4th century, and ordered the excavation of a canal crossing the Uemachi Plateau. Later, during the 7th century, Emperor Kotoku returned the capital to Naniwa and established an imperial palace there. Then, even though the capital was moved again after Kotoku’s death, the site was used for other official purposes including diplomacy and naval campaigns, and the palace was even rebuilt several years after being destroyed in a fire.
Most information about Emperor Nintoku comes from records which also include myths and legends, and even the dates of his reign are dubious. Because of this, it is hard to say whether it’s true that Naniwa was his capital. On the other hand, there are clear archaeological records from the time of Emperor Kotoku and later. An excavation project beginning in the 1950s uncovered evidence of the palace buildings. One surprising finding of the project was that the palace seemed much bigger than expected, suggesting that Naniwa was a more significant political centre than historians had realised.
Excavation of Naniwa palace remains in 1993. Source: Nikkei
In ancient Japan, the Osaka Castle area was an important location for diplomacy and other political affairs. Naniwa declined and disappeared over time after later emperors moved their capitals further away, but other settlements in the area continued as fishing villages. Centuries later, the strategic value of the Uemachi Plateau became important again.
Ishiyama Honganji
The immediate predecessor to Osaka Castle was Ishiyama Honganji, a temple founded in the late 15th century. That was a period of major social upheaval in Japan, as nobody had clear political control over the entire country. Local warlords held sway in their provinces or domains and regularly fought each other for authority.
A model of Ishiyama Honganji (north is on the right). Source: Wikipedia
At that time, there were many popular uprisings against the samurai class, led by groups known as ikko-ikki. They had no central authority figure either, but they were influenced by Rennyo, the leader of a Pure Land Buddhist sect. He was originally based near Kyoto, but he and his sect were forced to move several times, eventually ending up in the Osaka area. In 1496, not long before Rennyo’s death, the sect founded a new fortified temple called Ishiyama Honganji on the former site of the Naniwa palace. The town that grew there was called “Osaka”, literally meaning “big slope”, as it was built on the sides of the Uemachi Plateau leading to the stronghold.
Soon, warlords appeared who intended to bring all of Japan under their control. The first of the three “great unifiers” was Oda Nobunaga, who is remembered as a merciless leader. The ikko-ikki groups were a problem for Nobunaga, and in 1570 he tried to defeat them with an assault on Ishiyama Honganji from a base in nearby Sakai. As there was a lot of outside support for Ishiyama Honganji, this turned into the longest siege in Japanese history. After more than ten years, Nobunaga’s forces finally made the monks surrender and had the temple razed to the ground.
Depiction of the siege of Ishiyama Honganji. Source: Wikipedia
Less than two years after that victory, at the height of his power, Nobunaga died after being betrayed by one of his generals. His successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, continued his mission of uniting the country under one leader. One of Hideyoshi’s first projects was returning to the site of the Naniwa palace and Ishiyama Honganji, to build a new castle.
Hideyoshi’s castle
Construction of Osaka Castle began in 1683 under Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s orders. It was designed to be similar to Nobunaga’s stronghold of Azuchi Castle, but even more impressive. It had a five-storey main tower with a further three levels below and was surrounded by several moats, making it both awe-inspiring and difficult to attack. Hideyoshi was fond of using gold to show off his power, and he did the same with the castle, decorating the main keep with gold leaf. Osaka Castle, as built for Hideyoshi, was apparently several times bigger than what remains today, and took over ten years to complete.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Source: Wikipedia
Osaka Castle in Hideyoshi’s time. Source: Samurai World
Osaka Castle was Hideyoshi’s headquarters as he used diplomacy and military strategy to try and unite the country. That goal was not finished within his lifetime, but he made an enormous impact while he was effectively ruler of Japan. He instituted a new class system, carried out Japan’s first census and outlawed slavery. Cultural traditions like tea ceremony developed and flourished under Hideyoshi’s leadership too.
Hideyoshi’s castle and the surrounding town of Osaka would have been the political centre of a newly united Japan if he had accomplished his goal. However, he died in 1598, while his son and heir was still a child. Hideyoshi had appointed five powerful lords to take over temporarily, but one of those lords, Tokugawa Ieyasu, had other plans. Ieyasu increased his power and soon openly began his own war of unification, officially becoming Japan’s shogun in 1603.
Depiction of attacks on Osaka Castle during the Osaka Campaign. Source: Wikipedia
After Tokugawa Ieyasu established his new regime in Edo (Tokyo today), there continued to be tension between him and the remaining Toyotomi clan. This came to a head in 1614, when Ieyasu launched the Osaka Campaign to put an end to the threat posed by Hideyoshi’s son and his allies. There was another major siege against Osaka Castle and many battles in and around the town. When the castle finally fell, it marked the end of serious opposition to the Tokugawa clan, making way for over 200 years of relative peace in Japan.
Osaka Castle after Hideyoshi
During the Tokugawa clan’s rule, Osaka Castle declined in importance. The castle buildings were severely damaged as a result of battles in the Osaka Campaign. It was rebuilt, only for lightning strikes to destroy more of the main buildings later in the 17th century. The castle then fell into disuse for many years.
On the other hand, this was the time when Osaka grew from a small castle town into a bustling city. The merchant class had a lot of influence in Osaka, and their trade networks made them very wealthy. By the time the samurai-led social order came to an end in the 19th century, Osaka merchants were able to spend money in ways even the government couldn’t. Their wealth made it possible to carry out long-awaited repairs on Osaka Castle in 1843.
A map of Osaka in the 17th century (north is on the left, Osaka Castle is near the top). Source: Asia453
At that time, the military government of Edo was under pressure from all sides. The final two shogun used Osaka Castle as a base for suppressing rebels and for conducting diplomacy with Western ambassadors. The castle was also central to the fall of the old regime. The last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, prepared his troops for battle in Osaka, before fleeing to Edo. When the rebels then took the castle and reduced it to ruins once more, it was a crucial symbolic victory. Soon afterwards, Japan’s first modern government was formed.
Osaka Castle in modern Japan
Osaka Castle has been destroyed many times, like a lot of other Japanese castles. As well as the ones that were damaged or burnt down during various wars, many were deliberately destroyed or dismantled early in the modern era, because they were seen as symbols of outdated traditions. Even after they gained more public support in the 20th century, air raids in the Second World War caused damage to many castles too.
Because of this, only 12 castles in Japan today are described as “original” – ones where the main keep, made using traditional techniques, has survived. Most others, including Osaka Castle, are modern reconstructions built with steel-reinforced concrete. The current main tower dates back to 1931, when it was one of Osaka mayor Seki Hajime’s various construction projects. Public funds were running low at the time, so once again it was thanks to the donations of Osaka residents that the reconstruction went ahead.
Osaka Castle in the 1930s. Source: Old Tokyo
The grounds of Osaka Castle were also used by the army in the 20th century. It was home to the Osaka Army Arsenal, which was one of Japan’s largest armouries by the time of the Second World War. Near the very end of the war, the arsenal was destroyed, but the actual castle buildings survived. The site of the arsenal later became Osaka Castle Park.
Visiting Osaka Castle today
Nowadays, Osaka Castle is among Osaka’s most popular tourist destinations. Together with Tsutenkaku, the lights and signs around Dotonbori, and the Expo Park’s Tower of the Sun, the castle is also one of the most recognisable symbols of the city. Getting there by train is easy, with a few stations near the castle. Osakajokoen Station is on the JR Loop Line, Morinomiya Station is on the JR Loop Line as well as the Osaka Metro Chuo and Nagahoritsurumiryokuchi lines, and Tanimachiyonchome Station is on the Chuo and Tanimachi metro lines. Visiting the castle costs 600 yen.
The main keep of Osaka Castle today
Even though today’s castle is the 1931 reconstruction, the main keep is still very impressive to look at. Meanwhile, inside is a sleek museum teaching visitors about the castle’s history over several floors. This leads to the top, where there is a viewing platform with astounding views of the city in all directions. Elsewhere, there are also various other structures which are significantly older than the concrete main keep, 13 of which are designated as Important Cultural Properties. Together, the old castle buildings and the museum offer a fascinating look into the history of Osaka Castle and the city.
Part of the wall and moat around the castle.
Around the castle is Osaka Castle Park. The park features many other attractions too, like a concert hall and the Osaka Museum of History. You can also see the site of the Expo ’70 time capsule mentioned earlier, and between February and April, the park is a popular destination for seeing plum and cherry blossoms.
Plum blossoms in Osaka Castle Park.
If you’ve visited Osaka Castle and want to check out other Japanese castles, there are other options in the area as well. Other castles you can visit in Osaka Prefecture are Ikeda Castle and Kishiwada Castle, while the newly reconstructed Amagasaki Castle is also just a short train ride away. For more passionate historians, there are some remaining ruins of Takatsuki Castle, Ibaraki Castle, Akutagawasan Castle and Chihaya Castle too. Finally, the nearest original castle is the beautiful Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, which is an hour or two from Umeda by train.
Boat carrying visitors on the moat around Osaka Castle.
Except where otherwise noted, graphics are by Rachel Stewart and other images are photographs taken by the author.
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.
Here’s a look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in Osaka this week.
Administration Error Leads to Lost Osaka Stats
Two and a half years on, Covid-19 remains a daily concern for Osaka.
An error in the administration of Covid-19 data left Osaka officials confused this week. According to reports, released on August 23rd, more than 2,000 covid-19 cases were wrongly attributed to Tokyo instead of Osaka. Across Japan, this same administration blunder saw around 17,000 covid cases wrongly assigned to Tokyo.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government elaborated further on the situation this week. They said the administration issues stemmed from outsourcing test analysis to a company in Tokyo. Overburdened medical facilities in Osaka, Kochi, Niigata and Chiba continue to struggle to balance administration with providing treatment.
To try to alleviate this, a number of medical institutions in these prefectures brought in a Tokyo based firm to provide test analysis services. Unfortunately, since the lab is in Tokyo, any positive results produced at the lab added to Tokyo’s total case numbers.
Central Government Administration “Concerned” With Osaka Death Rates
Medics in Osaka continue to do a heroic job, but their workload isn’t getting any lighter.
Whilst Tokyo remains the epicenter of new infections, Osaka outscores the capital in total numbers of Covid-19 deaths. Experts have offered a number of possible reasons for this. Firstly, Osaka’s demographics lean towards a far older average age than Tokyo. Covid is known to pose a specific, elevated risk, to those over the age of 65.
Companies and offices in Osaka have also been slower to embrace a “work from home” culture. This may be due to more Osaka-based firms following a traditional Japanese “top-down” management structure. In Tokyo, multinational companies are more common. With multi-national companies also comes less rigid and more adaptable administration from senior management.
Nevetheless, administration errors such as those discovered this week, make establishing a true picture of the virus in Osaka more difficult. Accurate statistics are essential as the central government continues to allocate limited supplies of both medicines and vaccines.
Pressure Grows on Government to Ease Travel Limits
Japan Airlines teetered on the brink of bankruptcy in 2020, with travel off the table for almost everyone.
A common problem throughout the two and half years of this pandemic has been striking the right balance between public safety and economic sustainability. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the travel industry. The Kansai region, especially Osaka and Kyoto, has suffered considerably as Japan’s doors, for the most part, remain closed to tourism.
However, across the world, an ever increasing number of countries continue to loosen entry restrictions. In their view, the world has shifted from the prevention to the perseverance phase of the pandemic.
A survey published this week revealed that more than 70% of those hoping to visit Japan specifically cited the current restrictions as their reason for not doing so. Chief among the restrictions imposed by the Kishida administration which most irked potential tourists are 2 factors.
Firstly, 38% of respondents objected to having to provide a negative covid-19 test result within 72 hours of travelling to Japan. Many countries now allow entry without testing, so long as the passenger can produce proof of vaccination. Additionally, 39% took issue with being forced to join a government-mandated tour group. Whilst tour group holidays are popular among older Japanese travelers, their appeal is limited when dealing with foreign tourists. Most people see the ability to come and go as they please as fundamental to enjoying their vacation.
For their part, the central government pledged to loosen restrictions soon. However, they have yet to elaborate on exactly what form this will take and when it will happen. With daily covid-19 infections still hovering around the 200,000 mark, it may be quite some time yet before Japan fully opens its borders again.
And Finally…
Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring for Celtic last season.
Osaka’s Daizen Maeda will find out this week who he will face in his first foray into the UEFA Champions League. His team, Scottish Premiership Champions Celtic have already assured their place in the draw for Europe’s premier club soccer competition. The likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and a host of other great names lie in wait for Maeda and his teammates. Celtic are in Pot 4, the lowest ranked of the 4 seeding groups. So whoever they get, they are in for a tough time.
Maeda has been in fine form recently, providing 3 assists in Celtic’s first 4 games this season. His link up play with fellow Kansai native Kyogo Furuhashi has given the Glasgow side a renewed vigour in their attack. Back in 2006, Japanese football legend Shunsuke Nakamura scored one of the most memorable goals in Celtic’s history. His long-range free kick earned the green and white hoops a 1-0 win over Manchester United. If Maeda and Furuhashi can even come close to emulating such a feat, then Celtic have a bright season ahead.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
They say that having a wedding, moving house, and changing your job are the three most stressful things you can do in your life. During my time in Osaka, I met people who managed to do all three at once, and that was without a step by step guide! Weddings in Osaka
Hopefully, you won’t find yourself in this situation. When the time comes for your big day, follow our step by step guide and you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
However, in the event that you do, then hopefully this handy guide to weddings in Osaka will help ease your stress. At least a little.
First, let’s make sure that your papers are in order.
Step 1: Pre-Wedding Documents
An example of the document you and your partner will need to complete to marry in Japan
If you are a Japanese national, then getting married is a very simple process. All you need to do is take some family documents along to your nearest city ward office, and fill out a few forms. The whole process can be over in about 20 minutes.
In the case of foreigners, when marrying a Japanese national, we go through the same process. However, there are a couple of extra steps required beforehand.
In addition to the documents Japanese nationals have to submit, foreigners also need the following:
Proof of your nationality and identity (ordinarily this would be your passport and Foreign Resident Registration Card).
Documentary evidence that you are free to marry from your country of origin.
A certified copy of your birth certificate.
Planning Ahead
This is the step in the process where things can get a little complicated. You should allow at least a couple of weeks ahead of your wedding date in order to get these papers prepared. The birth certificate is self-explanatory. Point 2, however, is a little more complex. Basically, you need to obtain a certified document from your country’s consulate or embassy in Japan. This certifies that you are legally single and free to marry. In the case of UK or US nationals, this involves making an appointment to visit the embassy in Tokyo. You can then obtain the relevant document there. Forms can be found online for the UK here, and the US here. You’ll need to obtain the copy of your birth certificate (if you don’t already have it) before beginning this process.
The complete application must then be submitted in person at the embassy. To do so, you will need to make an appointment at the UK or US embassy using the links above.
Depending on your country of origin, and that country’s diplomatic presence in Japan, you may have to also request other documents from your home country. In this case, allow at least 6 weeks for this to come through. It is probably a good idea to go to your local ward office with your partner a month or two ahead of your intended wedding date to double check exactly what documents you need to obtain. These can vary from country to country. Without a doubt, this step is the one that holds up more applications for marriage than any other.
Step 2: Getting Documents Translated
Knowing who is and who isn’t legally qualified to translate your documents is essential.
Once you have obtained your documents, they all need translating into Japanese. Though it may seem like a simple procedure, this is where many marriage applicants in Osaka can come unstuck. It is very important to use only a legally certified translator.
The documents you will submit form part of a legally binding document under Japanese law. As such, the translator who translates them from your native language into Japanese needs to be qualified legally to do so. Your ward center should be able to provide a list of locally available translators who are appropriately certified.
Also, when commissioning translations, always make sure to double check with the translator that everything is correct before they send you the final documents. Even a minor error could lead to your translated document being rejected, depending on how officious the person at the counter in the ward office wants to be that day.
A note on Translation Companies
A quick google search will also show a number of companies who offer to do these translations. The amount they charge can vary drastically. In my own case, I paid just over 12,000 yen to have both my birth certificate and my affidavit from the UK Embassy translated into Japanese. However, this was through a Nagoya based translator, who works independently.
If possible, I recommend that you avoid using the larger translation firms based in Tokyo that you will most commonly find online. Not only do these agencies charge you a lot more, but they also pay the translator a lot less.
I would recommend the services of my translator, Masafumi Yamada. His contact details can be found on his homepage. His rates are very reasonable and he was able to complete and send out my documents within a week.
Step 3: Go to the Ward Office and Formalize Everything
The Ward Office in Osaka’s Minato Ward. Not exactly the place where most people would envisage getting married. However, thousands do exactly that every year.
If there’s one thing the Japanese have a flair for, it is drenching even the most mundane of tasks under waves of bureaucracy. However, assuming that you have carried out all the above preparation with due diligence, the actual formalizing of your marriage is a very straightforward process. On the day, be sure to bring your passport, your ID card, your personal seal (known in Japanese as a hanko), all the necessary documents (both originals and translations) and of course your husband or wife to be!
Your Japanese partner should have completed a form from the ward office already. You will need to sign this and add in some of your own details too. When you collect this form from the ward office ahead of your wedding, take a few copies. This way, you can have at least a couple of attempts to get everything written down correctly before preparing your final draft.
Do all you can to make sure this is completed entirely and accurately. Again, it will save a lot of time and unnecessary hassle later.
Provided the ward office isn’t too busy that day, you can step in and out of the building in well under an hour. In some cases, I know of friends in Osaka for whom it only took about 20 minutes.
Step 4: Do you Want to have a Wedding Ceremony or Celebration?
A bride and groom in traditional Shinto wedding attire.
This is where opinion my split among our readers. Depending on your financial status, the size of your family and friends circle and the logistics involved, you may decide that a formal wedding ceremony is unnecessary. When we married last year, my wife and I concluded that the money for a wedding party should instead go towards getting our own home and visiting my family back in Europe.
However, if you’re in Osaka and you want to have that special wedding day event, then there’s no shortage of venues waiting to accommodate you.
For your consideration, here are Osaka.com’s recommended top 5 wedding venues in Osaka.
Sumiyoshi Taisha
The entrance to Sumiyoshi Taisha
If you want to go for the full-on, traditional Japanese wedding, then there is no better place to do so in Osaka than Sumiyoshi Taisha. A traditional Japanese wedding can be very expensive however and includes only the ceremony itself. You also have the option of including a meal for your guests in the package, but this will also add to your final bill. The affordability of a Shinto wedding at a shrine depends largely on your own budget and how many people you plan to invite. Prices at Sumiyoshi Taisha start from 810,000 yen for a wedding ceremony only, and the ability to invite up to 30 guests.
At the other end of the scale, a wedding followed by a reception and meal for up to 80 people will set you back 2.8 million yen.
There are numerous options in-between these two extremes to suit a variety of budgets. For example, a wedding ceremony and smaller scale reception (30 guests) will cost you 1.3 million yen. Almost all options include a wedding photoshoot as well. Japanese wedding kimonos are, in some cases, even more expensive than the ceremonies themselves. So many couples opt to hire wedding attire rather than buy it.
Castle Garden Osaka
Osaka Castle forms the perfect backdrop to weddings at Castle Garden Osaka.
Perhaps you and your beloved want something a little more westernized, whilst still capturing that unique Osaka charm. If that’s the case then Castle Garden Osaka could be the place for you. Located within the Jo-Terrace Osaka Shopping Mall, Castle Garden Osaka is a high-class restaurant specializing in French cuisine. The restaurant is one of the few in Osaka to have a Michelin Star to it’s the name. Their adjoining wedding chapel allows couples to have their ceremony and reception all under one roof. The chapel also affords guests beautiful views of the nearby Osaka Castle and its park complex.
Travel is convenient too, as the venue is only about 2 minutes’ walk from Osaka-Jo Koen Station, on the JR Loop Line. Prices vary seasonally, and depend also on whether you want a formal or more casual wedding setting. For a direct consultation, please check out Castle Garden Osaka’s homepage.
Avancer Lien Osaka
Just one of the luxurious decor options offered at Avancer Lien.
If, like me, you’re a big fan of movies and the wonders they conjure up in our imaginations, then perhaps you’ve always dreamed of a wedding at Universal Studios Japan.
Well, the theme park itself doesn’t offer on-site weddings unfortunately, but Avancer Lien is probably the next best thing. The venue lies right next to USJ, just outside Universal City Station, on the JR Yumesaki Line.
The venue offers excellent value for money too. Depending on the season when you get married, a package including the ceremony and dinner for up to 60 guests will cost just under 1.7 million yen. There also optional discounts covering the often hidden extras such as wedding attire, flowers, and the services of a wedding administrator, depending on how many guests you bring.
Perhaps you have more of a traditional church setting in mind for your wedding. If so, then undoubtedly one of the most visually striking wedding venues in the city of Osaka is St. Raphael Chapel. With its décor reminiscent of Renaissance Era Europe, and a layout that will make anyone who has ever visited a Catholic church feel right at home, St. Raphael is definitely one for the more religiously inclined. However, even if you’re not that way inclined, just the aesthetics alone make this beautiful venue worthy of consideration. It’s stain glass windows and gorgeous altar are some of the most beautiful modern interpretations of classical church style you will find in Osaka.
Again, prices vary wildly here, though they still tend to be cheaper than the likes of Sumiyoshi Taisha. For more information consult the St. Raphael homepage.
ArtGrace Wedding Coast
With palm trees and open seas, Suminoe Ward provides a little slice of paradise, amidst Osaka’s urban sprawl.
Our final option will be music to the ears of those feeling somewhat rattled by the figures being banded around in this article thus far. ArtGrace Wedding Coast offer classical European-style aesthetics and the kind of stunning, panoramic sea views that only Suminoe Ward can offer. Perhaps more importantly, they also offer a “best value” guarantee, promising to match or better any price you’ve been offered for a similar ceremony elsewhere.
Having spent my early childhood in a seaside town on the English Riviera, there’s something strangely nostalgic about ArtGrace Wedding Coast that resonates with me personally. Anyone else who loves a good sea view will, probably feel similar when they visit. It is my personal pick of the venues showcased here today.
A Final Note About Wedding Costs
While the cost of weddings in Japan may seem nightmarish, especially if you are also trying to set up a home and relocate at the same time, there is a positive twist to this story.
Japanese etiquette dictates that when you receive an invitation to a friend or work colleague’s wedding, you should bring along a financial gift to the tune of 30,000 yen.
Now, take some of the prices quoted here today and divide that cost amongst your guests. Suddenly, the amount doesn’t seem anywhere near as daunting, does it?
In fact, truth be told, it’s not that unusual for couples in Japan to actually turn a profit on their wedding. So, with a bit of luck and some good forward planning, you may actually have some money left over to start your new life together.
In any case, if you’re planning a wedding anytime soon, then please think of Osaka when choosing your venue. It may not have the most romantic story in the world, but this great city has a character few places on Earth can match. And in the long run, isn’t that what makes true love last a lifetime?
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.
Here’s a look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in Osaka this week.
Church Science Course Cancelled
Minoh City, where education officials acted to sever links with the Unification Church this week
The controversy engulfing links between the Japanese Government and the secretive religious group, the Unification Church, reached Osaka this week. Following concerns from parents, Minoh City Board of Education cancelled plans for an annual science course led by church members. Since the death of former prime minister Shinzo Abe earlier this summer, investigators uncovered widespread links between the Unification Church and various senior government officials. As a result, there has been widespread unease among the Japanese public regarding the church’s clandestine influence on society.
In a statement this week, the Minoh Board of Education clarified the situation. They said: “Issues surrounding the Unification Church are being highlighted in the national press. So, it is not good to continue a course being offered by this organization. At the moment, many children and their parents feel uneasy about it.”
Church Links Only Identified Recently
The elementary school science course taught, among other things, how to make “slime”.
The links between the church and these kids’ science courses, which Minoh have offered since 2005, only came to light last week. In a social media post, made earlier this month, allegations emerged that the group running these courses, targeted at elementary school kids, was comprised entirely of Unification Church members. The Board of Education investigated these allegations. They concluded that indeed the courses were run by church members. As a result, the 12 courses per year offered by this group were all cancelled.
The Board of Education was keen to emphasize, however, that none of the children taking part in the courses ever joined the church as a result. Additionally, no one running the courses ever encouraged them to do so.
Religious education is expressly forbidden in public schools in Japan. As such, any links between religious organizations and schools are viewed with extreme suspicion among parents’ groups. This goes back to the fallout from the “Aum Shinrikyo” religious cult which first rose to prominence in the 1980s. Their reign of terror culminated in the deadly Tokyo Subway sarin gas attack in 1995. There is no suggestion that the Unification Church is engaged in any such acts of violence. However, secretive religious groups carry huge negative connotations among much of the Japanese populous to this day. Parents are worried, and the Board of Education acted decisively this week to quell those concerns.
Covid Patient Abandoned by Medical Staff at Accident Site
It has been a rough couple of years for ambulances in Japan, with many hospitals being uncooperative.
A recurring problem throughout the two and a half years of the Covid-19 pandemic in Japan, has been the reticence of certain hospitals to accept infected patients. However, this problem dredged a new low this week. In Amagasaki, on the border of Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures, an accident victim was abandoned by ambulance staff. The 21-year-old was involved in a traffic accident while riding his motorcycle. A fellow rider called an ambulance. However, when he tested positive for Covid during his ride to the hospital, staff there refused to accept him.
As such, the man was returned to the accident site by the ambulance and left to fend for himself. Thankfully his injuries were not life threatening. Finally, two hours later, he was taken to a different hospital. He was found to have a broken leg.
This week’s Obon holiday has seen a surge in both traffic accidents and Covid-19 cases. The situation is much worse than last year. Ambulance callouts from July to mid-August in the area are up by around 25% based on last year’s numbers. However, even in such circumstances, abandoning a clearly injured patient does seem somewhat irresponsible.
And Finally…
A Go gameboard and playing pieces.
In lighter news, one Osaka youngster set a new record this week. Reo Fujita, from Chuo Ward, became the youngest ever person to turn professional as a “Go” player. Go is a Japanese boardgame. It incorporates similar elements to both chess and checkers.
Fujita reached the rank of 1st dan in the game. At 9 years and 4 months old, he breaks the previous record set by 13 year old Sumire Nakamura. Nakamura was 10 when they turned pro in 2019.
The Osaka prodigy’s success means he is, not only Japan’s youngest professional Go player, but also the youngest in East Asia. China, South Korea and Taiwan also have recruitment programs for young Go players and Fujita is younger than any of their current recruits, by quite some way.
Expect great things from this extremely talented young man in the years to come.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
Osaka University is one of the nine imperial universities that existed before the outbreak of World War II. Of these nine universities, seven were in Japan and two were in Korea and Taiwan. After the end of the war, the seven imperial universities in Japan were all transformed into national universities (総合大学). Although they have been gradually forgotten by modern people, these seven imperial universities can be said to have been a major research center during the Pacific War. Among them, Osaka University has preserved many research documents from the war. In this article, you will be able to understand the unknown connection between Osaka University and the war, exploring the history of Japan and the development of Osaka University in its context. Some of my perspectives of being a foreign student will be included, and you are welcome to think about how you see the evolution of Osaka University.
The origin of The Faculty of Science and The Faculty of Engineering
(Source: The Ofiicial Website of Osaka University)
According to the official website of Osaka University, the University’s predecessor was established in 1838 as “Tekijuku” (適塾). It was a private school in the Edo period, and its curriculum was mainly focused on medicine. Some of the famous students included Fukuzawa Yukichi (福澤諭吉), Ootori Keisuke (大鳥圭介) and Hashimoto Sanai (橋本佐内). Who is Fukuzawa Kakichi? It is the person appearing on the 10,000 yen bill replaced by Shibusawa Eiichi after Reiwa (令和). After the Meiji Restoration, Tekijuku was transformed into Osaka College (大阪医学校) and Osaka Prefectural Medical University (大阪府立医科大学), and only in 1931 did it officially become Osaka Imperial University. In addition to the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Science, followed by the Faculty of Engineering, was also established at an early stage, while the Faculty of Arts and Law was not formally established until after the war. Unlike Kyoto University, Osaka University has a very strong engineering focus back then. Because of this, some humorous Osaka University students would joke that only students in the medical, science, and engineering departments are considered pure-blooded Handai (阪大) students.
At the same time, because of its long history, there are many urban legends about Osaka University’s Faculty of Science and Faculty of Engineering. According to legend, there are complete underground tunnels hidden underneath the science and engineering departments of Osaka University. There are many different stories as to why there are underground tunnels. Some say it was an ancient water conservation facility, others say it was used to store radioactive weapons during the war, and others say it was dug as a route to prevent student social movements after the war, so that outside police could enter. Considering the relationship between the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Engineering, and the War Department of Osaka University, the second theory has been supported by many students. But don’t forget, the above are some of the rumors that have been put together. You can think of these rumors as the cant or neta (ネタ) of Osaka University students, and they can be used as the topics for discussion at izakaya reunions.
Forget urban legends for a moment, you might want to know the real story about the war. I happen to know one. In 2007, Osaka University absorbed Osaka University of Foreign Studies and established the Department of Foreign Languages. There is an anecdote about Osaka Foreign Language University during the war. When Osaka was attacked by the first Osaka Air Raid in 1945, the faculty members of Osaka University of Foreign Studies fought to the death and closed the library to prevent the books in the collection from being burned by napalms. I have heard many stories like this when I was at the National Taiwan University in Taipei, and some of them have even become urban legends as well. Legend has it that these heroic teachers would take the form of ghosts and haunt the night, telling students to flee to bomb shelters. Unfortunately, I never encountered these war ghosts at either Taiwan University or Osaka University.
(Source: The Ofiicial Twitter Account of Osaka University)
The gate the faculty members fought to close up is still there, and you can see it if you visit the campus of Osaka University’s Foreign Language Department. I always have mixed feelings when seeing the remaining gate. Without the gate, the precious documentary record would have been plunged into the fire, which would undoubtedly be a loss to humanity. This door is reminiscent of the tragedy of war. Some people think that the door is a remembrance of the war perpetrators, while others think that it has nothing to do with the war. Personally, I see it as a reminder every time walking past it. Human beings are too forgetful. If we don’t see it with our own eyes, it is easy to forget the damage that war brings to all of humanity. As a Taiwanese, I especially feel this, because after all. Taiwanese were colonized by Japan before the Pacific War and are legally Japanese. However, Taiwanese were not generally regarded as the perpetrators of the war. At the same time, although many Taiwanese fought in the war, the families of those who fought did not consider them to have volunteered to serve their country and sacrificed their lives for it. As a Taiwanese born and raised in Taiwan, it is difficult to describe the emotions I felt when I saw the remnants of the war when I studied in Osaka University. This is what I feel as a Taiwanese after seeing the gate. How about you?
The iron gate of Osaka University Foreign Language University Address：3-5-10, Senbahigashi, Minoh city, Osaka
Osaka University and Industrial Development
Some people may think that Osaka’s industry developed rapidly because of the war. In fact, before the war, Osaka started to establish industrial schools for economic development. At that time, the technical schools taught a wide range of subjects including mechanics, applied chemistry, ceramics, brewing, mining, shipbuilding, electricity, and textiles. It was because Osaka had an industrial base during the Meiji era that the government was able to use educational institutions to create an ecosystem of war equipment during the war. Although there are many studies surrounding the Pacific War, the war was a gloomy past for Japan, and war studies are still not very welcomed, so that many courses deliberately omit the participation of educational institutions during the war period when describing the development of Osaka’s industry.
(Source: The Ofiicial Website of the Faculty of Engineering of Osaka University)
Think of it this way. War requires equipment, equipment requires technology, technology requires research and development, and research and development requires human resources. Therefore, industrial education institutions can be said to be the cradle of ready-made talents. In fact, Osaka Imperial University became the center of various industrial education institutions in Osaka. Hidetsuji Yagi (八木秀次), who was the Director of Science at Osaka Teikoku University, was also a member of the so-called “Committee for the Utilization of Land and Naval Technology (陸海軍技術運用委員会)”.
In 1942 and 1943, a group of researchers from various fields, including private companies, universities, and official research institutions, was assembled in Japan to form the so-called “Research Tonarigumi (隣組),” in which 30 people from Osaka University participated. I mentioned the Osaka air raid in the previous chapter. Osaka University was not spared from the Great Osaka Air Raid. For example, the Faculty of Engineering lost its buildings and shipyard. This also gave rise to limericks. It is said that the credits from Kyoto University fell from the sky, the credits from Kobe University fell on the road, and the credits from Osaka University sank to the bottom of Osaka Bay. This limerick is mainly about the difficulty of obtaining course credits at Osaka University. However, it is also reminiscent of the fact that Osaka University, as a major war research center, did lose many artillery and shipbuilding factories during the Osaka air raid.
(Source: The Ofiicial Website of the Faculty of Kaitokudo)
Also, one of the buildings related to Osaka University was also damaged during the Osaka Air Raid. The name of that building was Kaitokudo, which was built in 1724 during the Edo period and was once a major center of academic development in Osaka. The building was donated to the Faculty of Letters of Osaka University, which was established after the war, and many commemorative lectures were given in cooperation with Osaka University. The official website of Kaitokudo currently states that Kaitokudo will carry on the spirit of respecting ethics as well as morality, emphasizing freedom and originality. Isn’t this interesting? The contrast between the Faculty of Engineering, which was under the command of the military during the war, and the Faculty of Letters, which emphasized freedom and independence after the end of the war, is an interesting contrast that highlights the transformation process of Osaka University. The 1/50th model of the restored Kaitokudo can be seen in the main entrance of the Faculty of Letters at Osaka University. The symbolic meaning of the building is self-explanatory. Kaitokudo, which was burned down during the Osaka Air Raid, is now a modern building located a seven-minute walk from Osaka Subway Tanimachi Yonchōme Station.
The 1/50th model of the restored Kaitokudo Address：1-5 Machikaneyama-cho Toyonaka Osaka
Handaisei (The Student of Osaka University) Tezuka Osamu
(Source: The Ofiicial Website of Museum of Osaka University)
In 2011, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Osaka University, a commemorative exhibition was held. The theme of the exhibition was “Handaisei Tezuka Osamu”. The subtitle was “A Doctor or a Comic Artist”. Tezuka Osamu was a student at Osaka University and entered the medical school of Osaka University in 1945, and made his debut as a manga artist the following year. He graduated in 1951 and obtained his national qualification as a doctor. Have you read any of Tezuka Osamu’s works? I have read a lot of them since I was a child, and although I have forgotten most of the stories, the sad aftertaste still exists today. Many people describe Tezuka Osamu as an anti-war manga artist because he portrayed the tragedy of war to human beings in a straightforward manner through his manga. Many of these comics also depict the Osaka air raid. Tezuka Osamu himself has also been interviewed by NHK, which clearly describes his experience of the raid.
“Suddenly, a formation of B-29s darted in from the clouds, and I was holding my head in my hands, thinking, “I’m screwed, I’m going to die here. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by holes, and incendiary bombs were flying through me. I ran as hard as I could toward the embankment by the Yodo River. There were human limbs and necks scattered all over the place, burnt to a crisp. I felt like I was dreaming. I felt that I was in another dimension than the air raid, that I was somewhere in the universe, and that this was a lie. It was such a terrible sight.”
According to Tezuka Osamu’s autobiography, he was a doctor by profession and a comic artist as a simple side business. To him, comics may be a kind of documentary tool. Nevertheless, through his comics, he broke through Japan’s post-war publication restrictions and saved many people who were previously afraid to talk about the war. Through his work, many people became willing to talk about the Pacific War and establish the positions of various organizations. In the past, Osaka University would have kept the war materials hidden due to government restrictions. Thanks to Tezuka Osamu’s manga, many people began to want to learn more about the war. Those who wanted to study the war naturally wanted to obtain more information about the time. Those who want to obtain information will naturally experience more of the brutality of war in the process of searching. In this way, the memory of the war will not be forgotten forever. Ignorance gives rise to violence. My personal interpretation of Tezuka Osamu’s work is that the more people understand war, the more they will want to prevent it. To sum up, the importance of peace is better understood through the artifacts, materials and works that have survived the war.
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.
Here’s a look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in Osaka this week.
School Principal Feels the Heat Over Bus Punishment
School buses come in all shapes and sizes in Japan
A school principal in Osaka Prefecture faced a severe reprimand this week for endangering students. The incident occurred during a school trip in June. The school in question was a junior high school in Izumiotsu, According to testimony from students and parents, two students were confined to the bus as a punishment for breaking accommodation rules during the trip. Allegedly, one female student stayed at the male students’ accommodation for one night during the trip. She, and the male student who invited her were ordered to stay on the bus while the rest of the school party went sightseeing.
In total they were confined to the bus for around 2 hours. Due to local rules around traffic pollution, the bus’ engine was off throughout. So, there was no air conditioning on the bus during this time. School officials emphasized however that the students were given drinks and windows were open throughout. However, upon returning home the school students detained on the bus complained of headaches. Additionally, the also exhibited other symptoms conducive with heatstroke.
School “Disregarded Dangers” of Situation
The heat wave has hit harder than usual this summer in Japan.
The school principal was given “the strictest possible warning” by the Izumiotsu Municipal Board of Education.
A spokesperson for the prefectural board said: “This was a life-threatening incident and should not have happened.” In response, the school principal said: “We provided food and drinks to the students, and they were supervised at all times.”
“It’s not as if we just locked them up”.
However, the guardians of the students concerned were not convinced by the school response. The guardian of the female student spoke of her anger at a press conference this week. She said: “This is a form of corporal punishment. The school put these children’s lives in danger.”
Terror Suspect Identified as Osaka Student
The US Embassy in Tokyo.
Japan continues to grapple with the fall out from the recent assassination of Shinzo Abe. As such, terrorism prevention continues to take on a growing significance. So, riot police near the US Embassy in Tokyo acted quickly when they saw a man acting suspiciously outside the premises. After detaining the suspect, police discovered he had gunpower in his possession. The suspect admitted to police that he intended to target Americans. “I learned how to make gunpowder on the internet. I came to throw it at the embassy”.
The suspect is a university student in his 20s from Osaka. His exact motives remain unknown, however the parallels with the home-made weapon used to kill Mr Abe are undeniable.
Hatred and resentments towards Americans is a fairly common trope among extreme elements of Japan’s far right. However at the moment, it remains unclear if the student had political inclinations or motivations. Police are treating the case as a possible violation of the explosives control act. They did not rule out further charges as the investigation continues.
And Finally…
The infamous “highball”, the cause of many a night of drunken revelry in Japan.
We’ve all done crazy things after a few too many alcoholic beverages. However, one young police officer in Osaka took things a bit too far this week.
The officer, a 22 year old from Osaka’s Kita Ward, was arrested for trespassing. He scaled a high fence and broke into the premises of a transport company.
By his own account, the officer had spent the evening drinking at a local hostess bar. Having had a few too many, he claims he “blacked out”.
“I lost my memory, I thought this transport company was my home.”
“When I came to, I had been arrested.”
Considering that the wall he scaled was 2 to 3 meters in height, one wonders what kind of external security his home has! In the meantime, the officer has been released and is cooperating with police investigations.
He admitted to having 6 drinks, including a number of “highballs” (a particularly potent whisky based cocktail). Police issued a statement in response to the incident. They said: “This is a very regrettable incident. We apologize to all those affected by this officer’s conduct.”
In a grim turn for the officer concerned, the statement added: “We will respond to this in matter strictly. We take breaches of officer discipline very seriously.”
So remember folks, next time you’re out having a night of drinks and partying, leave the wall crawling to Spider-Man!
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
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.
Here’s a look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in Osaka this week.
Car Kills Child in Korea Town Tragedy
Osaka’s Ikuno Ward, the site of this week’s car tragedy.
Tragedy struck Osaka’s Ikuno Ward this week, when a car struck a one-year old child. Police confirmed the victim’s identity as Mei Nakayama, from Nagoya. She had been shopping in Ikuno Ward with several family members when the car hit them. Under Ikuno Ward’s traffic regulations, at the time of the incident, around 11.40 am on August 1st, the area should be a no car zone.
The driver of the car involved in the collision fled the scene. However, the victim’s mother noted the license plate number and a description of the car. Police arrested the owner of the car, Yoshikazu Koshiro, a short time later. He initially denied any involvement in the incident.
However, upon seeing the irrefutable evidence linking his car to the scene, he changed his story. Instead, Koshiro, 74, said he “did not see the child” at the time of the accident. So, he didn’t realize his car had hit her. He also explained the reason he fled the scene. He claimed he did so because the registration and insurance for his car expired. Police arrested Koshiro and are treating the incident as a “hit and run”.
“Car Crash Like Injuries” Sustained at Water Slide
Water Slides are hugely popular in Japan.
A water slide in Sakai City looks set for a redesign after injuring 4 people recently.
The slide, located at Sakai’s municipal swimming pool, injured 4 people after they slid down it too fast. One victim likened the cuts and bruises received to “being in a car accident”. The problem with the slide appears to lie with one specific high speed corner. In response, officials announced plans to alter the surface of the slide. They hope that by slowing the speed of the ride, they can prevent any further accidents in the future.
The slide closed on July 10th after the final of the four reported accidents. Officials concluded their initial investigations this week and announced changes to the slide. A smaller slide at the venue remains in use. No accidents were reported there over the same period.
Osaka Police Confirm Scammer Arrested in Ghana
Accra, where the suspected scammer was arrested this week.
After an international manhunt, Osaka Prefectural Police confirmed the arrest of the suspected leader of a romance scam this week. The suspect, Hikaru Morikawa, was arrested in Ghana alongside several other accomplices.
Police believe he has strong links with Ghanian organized crime. The scam involved swindling vulnerable Japanese singles out of large sums of money, with the promise of international marriage.
So far, police revealed that the gang swindled two male victims for a total of 1.5 million yen. However investigations continue into several more instances of alleged fraud.
The scam involved Morikawa and his associates posing as foreign women to lure Japanese men into sending them money in the form of “living expenses” and “package shipping fees”. Though such schemes are fairly common on online dating sites, Osaka police said it was unusual to find one so elaborate and involving such a large group of people.
The investigation continues. Morikawa remains detained in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on charges of staying in the country illegally. The most likely next step is his deportation back to Japan. From there, Osaka Police can formally arrest him and press charges. At the moment it remains unclear how long this process will take.
And Finally…
Ritsu Doan on international duty for Japan back in 2019.
There was joy for two of Osaka’s best known sportspeople this week.
Naomi Osaka, made a return to winning ways in the first round of San Jose’s Silicon Valley classic. Her 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 win over China’s Zheng Qinwen was Osaka’s first match since May. A string of injuries have hobbled Osaka’s attempts to return to the form that saw her claim the world number one spot a couple of years ago. The confidence boosting win will, her supporters hope, lead to a resurgence in her overall career.
Meanwhile, another of Osaka’s sporting exports, former Gamba Osaka academy soccer star Ritsu Doan, made an immediate impact with his new club. The 24 year old winger recently joined German side Freiburg after leaving PSV Eindhoven. His first match last weekend was a German Cup first round tie against Kaiserslautern. Doan proved the hero as his 111th minute free kick saw Freiburg secure a 2-1 win after extra time. With the World Cup just a few months away, he could hardly have chosen a better time to find his form!
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
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.
Here’s a look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in Osaka this week.
Pandemic Hits Record Levels
Covid-19 is back and wreaking havoc in Osaka once again.
This week saw the beginning of the school summer holidays for kids in Osaka and indeed most of Japan. Unfortunately, with this there also came a return to worst levels of infection since the pandemic began more than 2 years ago.
Whilst most headlines proclaiming Japan to be the number one in the world would be greeted with cheers here, this is not one of those cases. In statistics released on July 28th, Japan ranked as number one in the world for covid-19 infection numbers. In the 7-day week ending Sunday July 24th. Japan recorded 960,000 new infections.
Compared to other countries currently contending with the resurgent pandemic, these numbers are unprecedented. In second place on this pandemic table of infamy was the United States with 860,000 new infections. However, it should be reiterated that the US has more than double the population of Japan. This makes Japan’s place at the top of the pandemic charts even more distressing.
Pandemic Pattern in Osaka Mirrors National Concerns
The school holidays, which started last week add an extra level of problems for the government in containing the virus.
Tokyo continues as the epicenter of this pandemic, from a Japanese viewpoint. However, Osaka is not far behind in second place. As a sample figure, Tokyo recorded a daily average of around 25,000 new infections per day over the last week. Osaka sat at around 21,000, well ahead of Kanagawa in 3rd place, with an average of 15,000.
In total, since the pandemic began, Osaka recorded a total of 1.29 million covid-19 cases. This accounts for almost 10 percent of the total pandemic infections in Japan. However, with Japan nationally recording around 200,000 new cases per day as of July 27th, these numbers will continue to grow exponentially.
In response the government continues to prioritize a 4th vaccine dose for care workers, elderly, and other vulnerable individuals.
Despite Pandemic Panic, No New Restrictions for Osaka, Yet
Governer Hirofumi Yoshimura asked citizens to remain calm, but vigilant.
For the time being, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura remains reluctant to reimpose any restrictions on businesses or citizens. However, in light of the sharp upward trend in infections, the prefecture raised its pandemic threat level to red. This is the highest level of alert. The governor previously pledged to do so if hospital bed occupancy levels surpassed 50 percent. As of Tuesday this week, the most recent figures available at time of writing, the occupancy level sat at 49.6 percent.
Whilst no new measures to restrict the pandemic’s spread were forthcoming, Governor Yoshimura did not rule out restrictions to protect the elderly. He said the government was monitoring the situation. He pledged to do all in the government’s power to rollout more vaccines as soon as possible. He also vowed to give the strained medical system all the support it needs.
Experts believe we are still about 2 to 3 weeks away from the peak of the seventh pandemic wave. However, they also acknowledged that the upcoming Obon holidays could be a complicating factor. Obon usually runs through the second and third week of August. Traditionally this is when people in urban centers like Osaka return to their ancestral hometowns, to honor deceased relatives. Of course, the government advises against any unnecessary travel this week.
Girls Handed More Prominent Role at Koshien
The male dominated sport of baseball will soon have young women on the sidelines.
Previously relegated to the role of cheerleaders, girls will have a more hands on role in this year’s high school baseball championships. The annual tournament, at Koshien Stadium on the outskirts of Osaka, is a male only affair. However, this year, to encourage greater female participation, they will become “ball kids” for the first time.
Ball kids hand new balls to umpires during games. In a sense the role is similar to the “ball boys” often seen dotted around the pitch at soccer games. While there continues a growing movement to allow girls to actually participate in the sport more directly, as with many things in Japan, this baby step forward is a sign of progress.
And Finally…
Despite the 6-2 loss, Gamba Osaka fans were treated to a footballing feast last week.
In lighter news, Osaka soccer fans were treated to a footballing feast last weekend. Unfortunately, it was one that didn’t quite go as planned for the hosts, Gamba Osaka.
The French champions, and world’s richest club Paris Saint Germain, brought a cavalcade of stars with them. The all-star attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Killian Mbappe were all among the goals. In a scintillating display, PSG ran out 6-2 winners.
The Paris side will return home after a highly successful Japanese tour. They begin the defense of their Ligue 1 title on August 6th at Clermont. As for Gamba, they will have to pick themselves up again quickly. Their next game at the Panasonic Stadium is a Kansai derby. They host newly promoted Kyoto Sanga this weekend.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
The Summer Sonic Festival is a two or three day rock festival held in Osaka and Chiba at the same time. The line up usually contains a mix of major rock Japanese artists, smaller indie groups as well as international artists. It is an independent festival, owned by Creativeman Productions Ltd but Live Nation Entertainment took over in 2014. Furthermore a spin off festival, Sonicmania (with an EDM focus) started from 2011.
Timeout says that Sonicmania, “Held as a warm-up for Summer Sonic each year, the all-night Sonicmania party caters to dance kids who aren’t so well served by the main festival itself.”
Sonic Mania
Sonic Mania is a seperate festival to the Summer Sonic Festival and is almost considered a “warm up” to the main event. This festival begins a month before Summer Sonic, usually in August. There are three stages, Crystal Mountain, Sonic Wave and Space Rainbow, which are all lively until the early hours of the morning. There are tow tickets: regular for ¥12,000 plus a required ¥500 drink purchase, or platinum for ¥20,000. The platinum ticket allows for a free welcome drink, shuttle bus transport between Zozo Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe, a special lounge and viewing area as well as a few other benefits. The show starts at 10pm, with the grounds opening at 8pm.
Photo Credit: kobakou at Flickr
History of the Summer Sonic Festival
The Summer Sonic festival started in 2000 originally held in Yamanashi Prefecture and Osaka. The popular amusement park, Fuji-Q Highland in Yamanashi could only hold a maximum capacity of 20,000. This quickly became a problem as the venue was too small. Therefore from 2001 onwards, Chiba Prefecture and Osaka hosted the festival. Although it is in Chiba, people refer it as the “Tokyo venue”. The initial concept of the festival was an “urban summer festival”, which you can easily on a day trip. It takes inspiration from the Reading and Leeds Festival held in the United Kingdom.
In the early 2000s, Western rock was a pivotal trend in the lineup of the musical acts – Green Daay, Guns N’Roses and Radiohead were some of the popular acts. However, as musical genres and trends changed over time, more J-Pop and idol bands began performing at the festival. Initially, the audience age group was mainly in their 20s and 30s. With the expansion and diversification of music genres, people in the teens and 40s upwards began attending the festival. The organisation anticipated around 30,000 festival goers at da, which reached to 120-130,000 in the 2010s.
Photo Credit: kobakou at Flickr
How to Enjoy the Summer Sonic Festival
Tickets for previous events sold for 14,000 yen for a 1 day pass, however there is no update for the 2022 festival as of yet. At the venue, staff will exchange the tickets for wristbands and will serve as your access pass to the event – so don’t lose them! Primarily, people enjoy their favourite bands and artists from all over the world. The first artist starts at around 10:30-11:00am all the way till the evening at around 9-10pm. Alongside this, there are plenty of food and drink stalls to keep you ready for all the partying and dancing. Finally, there are official merchandise available to purchase – from various t shirts to hats.
Unfortunately, the Summer Sonic festival was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, a limited time online show was available to watch. It showed archived footage of each artist for a limited time of 24 hours.
In 2021 the festival “Super Sonic” took its place. This started on September 18th (Sat) and 19th (Sun), at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba. However, the festival in Osaka was cancelled. Limited tickets were available and strict guidelines were in place to prevent the spread of COVID 19. As of today, the 2022 Summer Sonic festival is going ahead.
2000 – The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Green Day 2001 – Beck, Marilyn Manson 2002 – Guns N’Roses, The Offspring 2003 – Bur, Radiohead 2004 – Green Day, Beastie Boys 2005 – Nine Inch Nails, Oasis 2006 – Metallica, Linkin Park 2007 – Black Eyed Peas, Arctic Monkeys 2008 – The Prodigy, Coldplay 2009 – My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, Beyonce 2010 – Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder 2011 – The Strokes, Red Hot Chill Peppers 2012 – Green Day, Rhianna 2013 – Metallica, Muse 2014 – Arctic Monkeys, Queen + Adam Lambert 2015 – The Chemical Brothers, Pharrel Williams 2016 – Underworld, Radiohead 2017 – Calvin Harris, Foo Fighters 2018 – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Beck 2019 – B’z, Red Hot Chill Peppers, The Chainsmokers
Osaka – Ookini Arena Maishima
The Ookini Arena Maishima is an indoor sporting arena in Maishima Sports Island, Osaka. The arena was foremally known as the Fumin Kyosai Super Arena.
The surrounding Maishima Sports Island is an artificial island on Osaka Bay. The luscious island has a wide variety of sports facilities – from a football training ground, which is used by the professional football team Cerreso Osaka, to the tennis centre Seaside Tennis Garden. Furthermore, it’s the home area for Osaka Evessa, a professional B. League basketball team, and was the first dedicated basketball arena in Japanese history to be under the exclusive ownership of a pro basketball team.
Outside of sports, there is Lodge Maishima, an auto camp site and a barbecue garden. In addition, there are plenty of places to relax and enjoy the surrounding views. Shin-Yuhigaoka (a popular as a top sunset viewing spot), Maihama Shore (where sea breezes and waves create relaxing sounds) and the Seaside Promenade make for great places to stroll around.
Finally, there is Maishima Pottery Village – a pottery centre for making Naniwazu-Yaki, equipped with a climbing kiln, the only kiln of this kind in Osaka City. The pottery village offers 2-hour hands-on classes in hand-formed pottery, as well as workshops for beginners and those hoping to become professional potters.
Access
From Tokyo
Departing from Tokyo station, it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to get to Shin-Osaka Station on the Nozomi bullet train. The JR Kushiro limited express takes you from Shin-Osaka Station to Nishikujō. The No.81 bus takes you to Maishima Higashi bus stop, just a few minutes walk from the Ookini Arena.
From Osaka
Leaving from Osaka Station, take the Osaka Loop Line to Nishikujō Station. From there, the No.81 bus takes you to Maishima Higashi bus stop, just a few minutes walk from the Ookini Arena.
There are two major airports in Osaka, Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Itami Airport. The Kansaikuko Line takes a little over an hour to Nishikujō Station. From there, the No.81 bus takes you to Maishima Higashi bus stop.
Makuhari Messe is a Japanese convention centre, just a little outside of Tokyo, in Chiba prefecture. Makuhari is the name of the area and Messe derives from a German language word meaning “trade fair.” It hosts a wide arrange of events including high-technology as well as certain sports during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
During the end fo the 1980s, the surrounding district was built on reclaimed land. This began a new, modern style of architecture, that includes elevated promenades, walkways and stylish streets. The district hold many attractions such as a baseball park, seaside park, shopping malls, and the Makuhari Messe convention centre. This is themain attraction in the area, which is also the second largest convention centre in Japan behind Tokyo Big Sight. Surrounding the convention centre is a series of elevated pathways, which connects nearby hotels, restaurants and shopping outlets. These are mostly found in Kaihin-Makuhari Station long with the Plena Makuhari Mall and the Mitsui Outlet Park. Here, you can buy international and domestic apparel and accessories.
Furthermore, there are numerous park and recreational grounds to relax in. The main attraction is the seaside park, which splits into the “central section” and “seaside section”. The central section includes large playing grounds, making it perfect for children to enjoy themselves. There is also a gorgeous and immaculately maintained Japanese garden with only a 100 yen entrance charge. Finally, the seaside section is located next to Makuhari Beach. A sequence of meandering pathways make for a nice walk.
Photo Credit: nakashi at Flickr
Access
The main station to access Makuhari Messe is JR Kaihin-Makuhari Station. If you can not get access to this station, close-by are Makuhari Station and Makuhari-Hongo Station, which is a 15-20 minute bus ride away.
From Central Tokyo
From Tokyo Station, take the JR Keiyo Line, which goes directly to Kaihin-Makuhari Station. A one way trip costs 570 yen and takes around 30 minutes by express train (it will take a little longer by local train).
In addition, there are the JR Sazanami and Wakashio express trains. These also runs between Tokyo Station and Kaihin-Makuhari Station. However, they cost a little extra, at 1090 yen per ride but are slightly faster and less crowded. These two trains are limited and depart hourly, so be sure to check your timing! All of the above trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
From Narita Airport
If you are flying into Narita airport, the Keisei Bus is a direct link to Makuhari Messe. The one way trip takes about 40 minutes, costs 1000 yen and depart approximately every hour. The Keisei bus is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
The Summer Sonic festival is the perfect event to enjoy your favourite rock artists from Japan and around the world. Both the Maishima Sports Island in Osaka and Makuhari Messe in Tokyo have wonderful recreational parks and shops around to enjoy before or after the festival.
