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.
Worry Grows Amid Quake Alert
Osaka’s citizens faced increased worry and anxiety this week. In an unprecedented move, recent tremors prompted the government to issue a general advisory regarding a possible, high intensity earthquake happening soon. It is important to point out, that as much as this may cause worry among the Osaka populous, this advisory does not mean a massive earthquake is imminent. Also, the advisory extends for the entirety of the Nankai Trough. This tectonic plate intersection spans much of Japan’s Pacific coast, including the Kansai region. The government chose to issue the advisory in response to a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan’s southern region of Kyushu last week. Kyushu sits at the southern tip of the 800-kilometer-long trough. The Nankai Trough stretches as far north as Suruga Bay, in Central Japan.
If you’re not a seismologist, then much of the jargon in the advisory may seem like utter gibberish. Indeed, this lack of clarity has heightened worry among many in Osaka and elsewhere.
In essence, even before last week’s activity there was a 70-80% likelihood of a large-scale earthquake along the Nankai Trough sometime in the next 30 years. Experts say recent seismic activity has increased this risk. However, they later followed this up on Tuesday of this week with a further report saying that, following last week’s events in Kyushu, they have detected no further abnormal activity along the Faultline
Osaka Citizens Urged to Continue as Normal, Despite Quake Worry
Prevailing advice seems to be: there will be a big quake at some point. It could be in three hours, or it could be in three decades. However, there are some steps citizens can take not just to get ready, but also to ease their own worry and increase their personal peace of mind. Citizens were advised to stockpile bottles of water, enough for about a week or so. They also suggested stocking up on non-perishable food, portable chargers for electronic devices, and hiking equipment, in case it becomes necessary to leave your home for an extended period.
For their part, local emergency services and government agencies are also taking steps to increase preparedness. The government’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency asked the 707 municipalities within the Nankai Trough’s potential range to review and if necessary, update their procedures.
Many supermarkets reported shortages of the aforementioned products this week, as quake worry dictates many Osaka citizens’ shopping lists.
Further Worry for Consumers as Kobayashi Pharma Admits More Deaths
Last week we provided an update on the scandal engulfing Osaka-based pharmaceutical firm Kobayashi Pharma. Procedures are underway to process compensation claims regarding the death and injury of hundreds of people who took their Beni Koji, red yeast rice supplement. Kobayashi’s leadership admitted this week that they withheld details on a further eleven deaths suspected of being linked to Beni Koji. Company President Satoshi Yamane said the failure to report the additional deaths was down to a “simple mistake.” Speaking to the press this week, he said: “There was a lack of data coordination within our company. We will work harder to address this.”
However, many remain unconvinced. Afterall, this is the second time that Kobayashi has “failed” to report a series of deaths under investigation in a timely manner.
Investigations continue, as Kobayashi tries to accelerate its exit from the Beni-Koji business.
And Finally…
Osaka once again ranked among the best places to visit in the world this year. In a survey of 15 different countries, announced this week, Japan ranked number one as the country most people wanted to visit. 34 percent of respondents said Japan was the country they most wanted to visit in the future. This put Japan out far ahead of the competition. Singapore and the United States came a distant second and third on 14 percent and 13 percent respectively. Within Japan, Osaka ranked as the second highest choice for visitors’ destination. This placed the city ahead of local rivals Kyoto and Kobe, and second only to Japan’s capital city, Tokyo. This bodes well for a resurgent tourism market, as Osaka continues to leave the worry and travel restrictions of the past few years in the past.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
