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.
Table of Contents
Expo Announces Several Updates
The much-maligned Osaka Expo 2025 is going ahead. That much is certain now. Despite its many detractors, organizers remain focused on trying to put the expo in a positive light. So, the flurry of update announcements for the event this week wasn’t entirely unexpected. It’s a bit of a mixed bag though, with some elements no doubt set to build enthusiasm among an indifferent population. However it’s not all good news, as we will discover today.
Martian Meteorite Set for Public Debut
One announcement guaranteed to build expo enthusiasm is the public display of a rare Martian meteorite. The meteorite was originally discovered in Antarctica back in the year 2000 by a Japanese research team. Testing concluded that the 22cm rock count its way to Earth after being ejected from Mars’ atmosphere.
Since its discovery, the mineral-rich meteorite has been the source of intense study. Its unique composition, containing many of the chemical signatures of water, points towards the growing consensus among experts that Mars was once a water-filled world.
Despite almost 25 years passing since its initial discovery, the Osaka Expo marks the first time that this fascinating find will go on public display.
This mirrors a similar exhibit from Osaka’s last World Expo in 1970. Back then, one of the centerpiece exhibits was samples of moon rock gathered during humankind’s first voyage to our lunar neighbor, just 1 year earlier.
With the cooperation of NASA, this moon rock will also return to Osaka during next year’s Expo.
Sushi Chain to Feature Largest Ever Conveyor Belt at Expo
Of course all this gazing at extra-terrestrial rocks may leave one feeling rather hungry. Tokyo-based Sushi chain Kura Sushi has you covered though. The company will debut the largest conveyor belt it has ever deployed to distribute sushi at its new restaurant at the Expo site. The purpose built culinary facility will feature a 135 meter long conveyor belt for distributing sushi to waiting customers.
This new belt surpasses Kura Sushi’s current record of a 123 meter long conveyor belt at its flagship restaurant in Tokyo. As an additional feature, and as part of the Expo’s commitment to sustainability, the outer walls of the restaurant will utilize some 336,000 discarded clam shells from the nearby port of Sakai in their construction.
The announcement does, in a sense, bring things full circle for Kura Sushi. Although not the first venue to feature the technology, it was Expo ’70 in Osaka that first brought the idea of conveyor belt-driven sushi restaurants to the wider public. Since then, this method of distribution has become synonymous with sushi. Restaurants all over the world use conveyor belts as a gimmick, giving sushi restaurants a unique charm and sense of sophistication.
Disappointment as Expo Bans Pets
Unfortunately, there was one sour note this week for Expo attendees. Particularly, for anyone hoping to bring their four legged friends along. Last weekend, the Expo’s organizing committee confirmed, as many had long suspected, that pets would not be allowed at the event.
Former Osaka mayor Ichiro Matsui is well-known for his love of cats and support of animal charities. He hoped to allow limited access for some pets at the event. However, in the end Expo organizers decided that the plan was too logistically complicated. There were also questions raised about the possible health impacts for pets. Having small animals attend such a crowded, loud and busy event raises many issues.
So, unfortunately it looks like our cats and dogs will have to sit this one out. At the moment, the only confirmed non-human attendee at Osaka Expo 2025 will be its monstrous mascot.
And Finally…
Osaka’s favorite soccer son was on the scoresheet once again this week. Wednesday saw matchday one of the newly formatted 8-game UEFA Champions’ League Group Stage. Celtic hosted Slovakian Champions Slovan Bratislava. Osaka’s Daizen Maeda was one of five different scorers for the Scottish champions, as they ran out 5-1 winners.
The win marks the first time in 13 attempts that Celtic have achieved a victory on the opening night of the UEFA Champions’ League. The performance capped an excellent few weeks for Maeda. He not only helped Celtic to a decisive league win over city rivals Rangers, he also got on the scoresheet for Japan’s national side earlier this month as they routed regional rivals China.
There’s a long season ahead. However, whatever may come for both club and country, Maeda is sure to be front and center.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
